Sophia Rose Reviews: I Hate Everyone by Michelle Franklin

It's once again time to turn the blog over to the very capable hands of Sophia Rose, today she's reviewing a non-fiction about how an introvert handles humanity and is a sequel to I Hate Summer.
Take it away Sophia Rose!

I Hate Everyone:  An Introvert’s Miserable Adventures With Mailmen, Children, Chocolate, The Outdoors, and The Human Condition by Michelle Franklin

Non-Fiction

Publisher:  Self

Published:  1.30.18

Pages:  351

ASIN:  B079HB53X1

Format: eARC

Source: Author

Sellers:  Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

GoodReads Blurb:

This is a book about how one introvert tries to understand humanity.

It is also about chronic illness, biscuits, tea, strangers, metal, and death.

While the previous book in this series was about my war with the seasons, this book is about my trials in trying to relate to people and how I brook the nonsenses of humankind more than it deserves. The world has become a cacophony of complaints, a morbid symphony with too many untuned notes, and though I might not understand why the orchestra plays the way it does, I still listen, trying to decipher some sort of purpose in the upper notes.

Sophia Rose's Review:

Following on the heels of I Hate Summer, I Hate Everyone reprises the woeful tale of an introvert's misadventures in the world around her with humor and a bit of verbal pizzazz. 

"As someone who cannot drive for various reasons, I am at the mercy of public transit, a system that has worse side effects than over the counter medication."

I Hate Everyone is sorted into a journal style that follows one calendar year and the events that ensue from beginning to glorious end.  Several key players are familiar to me from my earlier introduction- Mailman, the mortal enemy of the duchess of the castle (the authoress), the Bad Men (the apartment's hired handymen), Jose the Supe, the Opera singer on first floor, the Troll living in the basement keeping his keen eyes out for the laundry room panty thief, the Oracle of Scandal (the old Scottish neighbor lady) and the Foghorn across the hall (loud neighbor). 

"I know a kindred spirit when I see one. Also, when I hear one, because we generally complain about the same things."

Along with these familiar characters are familiar places- the apartment building, the nearby park, the library, the tea shop, the library, and the dreaded public transit.

All brought into vivid life.

"When the heat comes around, my misanthropy increases exponentially."

The author's writing style invites the reader into her misanthropic, introverted world of solitude.  Or at least her fondest unfulfilled wish for that state- peace, quiet, cats, chocolate, a good book or new game, cool tempts, and no interruptions. 

"My idea of making friends is going to the library and hugging all the books, and then sitting down in a garden of cats.  I have a dreadful time with people. "

"My doctor gets to put a camera on a fifteen inch wand in my pleasure trove and I am the one who gets to pay.  There's injustice for you."

There are frank discussions about finances, career, health, barrenness, wavering friends and past dealings with family all woven in with fervent and oft-times comedic situations involving wild hare children (and indifferent parents), nosey or interfering strangers, inconsiderate neighbors, and the woes that exposure to the outside world can bring. 

"(No) is a magical word, whose beauty and malleability make it the army knife of conversation...."

"The best gift you can give me on my birthday is no disappointment."

Happy entertainments with the Irish dancing and music on St. Patrick's Day, glorious campaigning for the Veterans around Remembrance day, whimsical witchery on All Hallow's Eve. 

So many times I chuckled or sighed in close to complete understanding.

"Volunteering is a great way to see how many parsimonious people there are in the world."

"Are you going to take him out of the box?"

I stopped immediately and wanted to set the wolves on him.  "Did I hear you rightly? You just suggested I take a limited edition figure out of the box?"

"Well," said he, uneasily....

I found the book riding a gamut of emotions and sensations, as it should, because it is a window into life, a story of a person, a building, a neighborhood, and a city- all brought to life.  It reads like a fictional journal of a whimsical woman who dares to be silently courageous about her health and likely fears, depressions and frustrations, seasonal challenges, but vocally staunch as an advocate for others and the communal environment.  The wry and narrow-eyed view into this world and the inherent wisdom gained from life experience made for a thoughtful, sometimes entertaining, but emotionally engaging book.

Author’s Bio:

A woman of moderate consequence who writes many things. Scientist. Knight of the Spade. Agronomist. Bibliothecary. Lucubrator. Philologist. Professor Emeritus. Burgeoning Valetudinarian. A Wit.

As a great student of the world, I have studied classics, agriculture, archaeology, history, literature, linguistics, and a myriad of natural sciences. I don't dare count how many courses I have taken or books I have read; they would only betray how violently boring my life is. Being the wretchedest old being in the world, however, only gives me permission to disdain everyone for my amusement and be more interesting on the page. Authors are meant to be read anyway; no one ever wants to actually see us. I adore people as subjects, and absolutely despise the public collective; all my ambition is to be an old solitudinarian, blessed with all the joys of unquietness, tea, and more cats than my sanity should admit.

Author’s Website:  http://thehaanta.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheFrewynHerald/

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Sophia’s Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose