How Did You Get This Number: 07/25/13

How Did You Get This Number is Sloane Crosley's follow up collection of essays. I listened to the audio, read by the author. Although I do plan to listen to her first book, I Was Told There'd Be Cake, I chose to start with number two because I had heard the author read from it on NPR.

The book starts off with an exploration of her name. It's certainly one I've not heard before, although I did get the pronunciation correct before hearing her say her own name. She recounts her parents' attempt to explain where her name came from, and her eventually discovery that they must have misremembered or just created the reason out of whole-cloth.

Much of the book, though, focuses on her problems with spatial reasoning. As it so happens, I read (listened to) the book right after reading (listening to) Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. I couldn't help but find similarities between Crosley and Tammet in their learning disabilities and in their coping mechanisms — as well as their dry senses of humor.

This memoir was definitely enhanced by hearing it read by the author. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read essays or likes off the wall memoirs.

Five stars

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