I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom

Rachel Bloom’s “I Want to be Where the Normal People Are” is a collection of essays and memoirs that brings together elements of pain and joy, beauty and ugliness, to celebrate the power and fragility of our individual stories. In this powerful and often raw collection, Bloom opens up her struggles with mental health and the power of resilience. With the help of storytelling, Bloom conveys to the reader that it’s okay to be human, and to live life in a messy and untidy way.

The book starts by telling us that Bloom’s journey began when she was a child. Her parents, immigrants from Russia and Ukraine, made every effort to make sure she and her sister had the best childhood possible. Bloom appreciated their efforts, but found herself isolated from her peers due to her family’s cultural norms. As a result, she grew up feeling like an outsider and desperately wanting to fit in. This was further exacerbated by her diagnosis with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at age eleven. She felt stuck between two worlds, unable to feel like she belonged in either one.

The rest of the book follows Bloom’s journey as she learns to embrace and celebrate her differences. She recounts experiences of struggling in school due to her anxieties, her despondent teenage years, and the role that stories and writing have played in her healing journey. Bloom also discusses her decision to pursue a career in comedy and what it means to be an “outsider” in the world of stand-up.

Throughout the book, Bloom emphasizes the importance of resilience and acceptance in facing struggles. As she writes, “Life offers more resilience than many of us think. We underestimate ourselves, because we too often limit our expectations to what we think ‘normal’ people are capable of.” Bloom encourages the reader to accept where one is, make small changes for betterment, and not become resigned to their fate.

Part of the beauty of “I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are” is the honest and often humorous approach Bloom takes in telling her story. She does not shy away from the difficult moments, but acknowledges them and finds the humor in them. This helps to make the book highly relatable and comforting as one makes sense of their own story.

At the end of the book, Bloom concludes that in the end, being normal is whatever one decides it to be. From embracing her own identity to pursuing her comedic career, Bloom reminds the reader that our differences should be celebrated and that we all have the power to redefine our own version of “normal.”

Rachel Bloom’s inspiring collection of essays and memoirs encourages readers to embrace their individual stories with courage and resilience. Through her narrative, Bloom is able to create an uplifting and inspiring story that celebrates the power and beauty of our individual lives. Whether one is struggling with a mental illness, considering a career shift, or simply looking for inspiration, “I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are” is sure to encourage one to expand their expectations of what is “normal”, and to embrace whatever journey they find themselves on.