Rating: 3 stars

Heather Havrilesky’s romp down memory lane is both refreshing and familiar. As child growing up in the 70s, many of Havrilesky’s observations and experiences were similarly reflected in my childhood—and I expect in thousands of other peoples’ as well—especially the family discussions that started with, “Life isn’t fair…” and ended with “tough shit.”

Looking back, with today’s standards and practices in mind, growing up in the 70s was akin to living life on the edge and staring danger in the face. There were no seatbelt, bike helmet, or child safety seats laws that only scratch the surface of the cautionary coddling that swaddle today’s children; but somehow we made it through.

As a child, young Heather and her siblings were concerned with the impending catastrophe of natural disasters in every imaginable form; from the untested fire ladder in the family attic, to the potential of a city-leveling earthquakes, and giant man-eating sharks. Even more alarming was her parents’ lack of concern regarding the imminent world-ending doom.

Less of a chronological memoir and more in the way of personal essays, Havrilesky writes of childhood experiences both good and bad. Clearly recalling a handful of experiences that imprinted on her young psyche and helped mold—or perhaps was the catalyst—for making her into the person she is today.

Though the journey wasn’t always sweet, considering her parent’s tumultuous divorce, and living with a rather emotionally-distant and overly pragmatic mother, Ms. Havrilesky managed to keep her sharp wit and well-tuned sense of humor.

Each story is delivered in Havrilesky’s straight forward, no-nonsense style, with topics that elicit more than a few laughs; from her parents’ macabre sense of humor in scaring the daylights out of their children, to a fear mongering teacher who would tell wide-eyed tales of an impending World War III.

In Disaster Preparedness, Heather Havrilesky lays her life bare for the entertainment and commiseration of fellow 1970s compatriots.

Though she didn’t find a cure for cancer or overcome a debilitating injury, the fact that Ms. Havrilesky lived a fairly ordinary life, makes reading about her experiences that much more relatable and reflective.
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Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Riverhead Trade; Reprint edition (December 6, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1594485466