What readers think of Amy Falls Down, plus links to write your own review.

Getting older has its challenges and unforeseen mishaps can certainly bring unique opportunities to test one's abilities and patience. Thank goodness, Jincy Willett created a wonderful, insightful, humorous, and straightforward description of some of the joys of adding years to our lives and learning that others' opinions are not as important as we once thought. Yes, we do not want to be rude; however, we don't need people steering us in directions we may not want to go.

I thoroughly enjoyed the style of the writing and the rhythm of the story...if not for having a job, I would have read this in one sitting. Great read!

I took this book with me to read on vacation. I am a writer myself so I was looking forward to having the protagonist a writer. Amy is fun, very intelligent and definitely quirky. The book made me smile often and I enjoyed the ironies throughout. It was a view into the pseudo intellectual literary circuit and the honesty of the main character as well as the instant celebrity acquired on the internet for anything the slightest bit unique. We have at the beginning an author who is being interviewed in one of these "where are they now?" segments and ironically because she is not herself and interviewing with a concussion she suddenly becomes an instant celebrity. I enjoyed the book but found Amy somewhat limited as a character because she is either writing or caring for her dog most of the time. We should know more about her. While I enjoyed most of the book (I did find it repetitive and tiresome in places), I'm not sure it's for mass market readership even though most readers on here enjoyed it. I liked it but wouldn't be interested in recommending it to my book club because I think it is more limited in scope that her earlier book on the writing life.

Yes, the book was humorous in many places throughout. But that's about all I received from this novel. I believe the story got lost in all the extra adverbs and phrases...and the seemingly trying too hard to entertain the reader. I would have loved to get to the heart of Amy's story more...a good mixture of humor with seriousness. If I could have seen the human side of Amy, the one more serious about her health and her writing career, etc...then I think the humor would have been even funnier and I WOULD HAVE gotten a good story out of it. Let's have a mixture of humor and seriousness. My opinion...too much humor is distracting and too abstract. I got tired after awhile of reading all the jokes. On the other hand, a light hearted read for those who enjoy these kinds of books.

Jincy Willett's new book, Amy Falls Down, is an interesting read about a random accident that changes the life of a reclusive author. I must admit that I was challenged by Amy's complex, paradoxical nature: she's cloistered, yet gregarious; fearless in her writing, but fearful of life's obstacles; principled and opinionated, although and at times, halfhearted or apathetic. Even the book's synopsis describes her as "endearingly bitter." While reading, I was never quite sure which Amy would appear -- for an interview, during a phone conversation, or in her own thoughts. Having said this, I must admit that I liked her very much, incongruities, eccentricities, and all and I would love to have her for a friend. (Yes, I'm aware of the irony here!).

Amy Falls Down is the story of Amy Gallup, who falls down, hits her head on a birdbath and then comes awake just in time to give an interview while concussed. The interview is very peculiar and sets off a firestorm of interest in Amy and her writing, but mostly in Amy and her way of stating, what to her, is obvious. This is a very funny book. It is all about writing and the publishing industry, but is also about a person who lived like a hermit for 30 years suddenly rediscovering the human race, and liking it....for the most part. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy and have a fairly odd sense of humor. I think, if people look close, they can learn a lot from this book and not just about writing.

As I continued to read, I became more engrossed in the story. In a way it's similar to the movie "Being There" with Peter Sellers. A series of ridiculous events are misconstrued by others as brilliance! ....and no one is more surprised than the main character.

I don't think this book would appeal to younger readers because you need to have some life experience to appreciate it. It would be a GREAT book for discussion as so many comparisons can be made between the character and the readers own lives. The ending leaves you considering the story long after you've finished the book.

After a slow start I really found myself enjoying the witty (though very dry) humor in this book. Amy grows on you as you discover more of her character and background. I especially enjoyed the names of the chapters, trying to see if I could find the relationship as I read. Another part I liked was the "topics" Amy lists as story ideas/titles. They give another clue to Amy's persona. Amy's students are delightful, clearly and carefully drawn.
While the entire book is a put down of pretentious authors, it is also the story of a very human woman who has great sorrows to surmount. As is true with all good humor, there is also tragedy to provide contrast. Willett deals well with both. (spoiler alert – Maxine's recovery is the one deviation from realistic outcomes in an otherwise well-paced and plotted tale.)
Anyone who enjoys a "good read" and, equally, a "bad read," will enjoy this writer's delight. If you are a potential novelist, there is much food for thought.
Book groups will have a field day with a variety of topics – truth vs fiction, honest criticism, how you see yourself as opposed to how others see you, marriage of convenience, dealing with rude/stupid/ignorant people (and being rude/stupid/ignorant yourself), personal growth and change, phobias and others.

Amy Gallup -- Jincy Willettt's fabulous creation -- would be appalled to hear me describe her as "compelling" or "scathingly funny" or "wickedly good." This laugh-out-loud book captures the bathos of the publishing industry as only an insider could, and along the way, has several gleaming insights into the work of a writer as well. It helps to know Ms. Willett's previous book, The Writing Club, since some of the characters are the same, but this one still stands on its own. A great read for would-be writers and readers alike!