After reading the title of Lorna Lee's book, How Was I Supposed to Know? The Adventures a Girl Whose Name Means Lost, a Memoir, I wondered whether I would be reading a memoir or a self-help motivational book. On the back cover Lee asks the prospective reader a number of questions. Have you ever "felt as if you've never gotten over your childhood" or "looked at your life choices and asked 'what was I thinking?." Have you ever "wished you knew then what you know now" or "had trouble maintaining a [...]

Lorna Lee has achieved something unusual in her first non-fiction book. She has taken the material of her life, a life that will be recognisable to many readers, and made of it both a poignant coming-of-age tale and a vigorous thriller.How Was I Supposed to Know? The Adventures of a Girl Whose Name Means Lost is the story of her childhood growing up in a trailer in rural New York State after the mysterious disappearance of her father; through marriage, motherhood, academic success and illness, a [...]

Lorna Lee's How Was I Supposed to Know is a remarkable read. There is so much talent in the writing and way the story of the author's life is woven together that it was hard to put the book down. There were so many wonderful, poignant, heartbreaking, funny, delightful and sexy parts that take the reader into what it is to be human, without pretense; the raw open honest authentic facing of all that one is, is brilliantly expressed.This is an intelligent read where Lee takes us into relationships [...]

"How Was I Supposed to Know?" by Lorna Lee was recommended to me by a friend and as always, she did not disappoint me.This memoir is in parts sad and melancholic but it is also hugely inspirational and cathartic.The author grew up to please people and to achieve rather than making problems, which leads her to having problems in her relationships and with alcohol. Hit by actual lightning twice and by proverbial lightning all through her life Lorna Lee has to brave many storms before learning the [...]

A first take on this memoir may give the impression that it could be anyone's storyor at least that of those of us who grew up in the 2nd half of the 20th Century. It is indeed an adventure (do you know anyone else who was struck twice by lightning?) and it evaluates the angst of coming-of-age with clarity and humor. Humor it is that makes Lorna Lee's telling such a compelling read.The author, who has a doctoral degree in sociology, sheds insight that enables readers of diverse backgrounds to id [...]

How Was I Supposed To Know? is a memoir that occasionally elicits a chuckle, often empathetic distress, and always appreciation for the author's struggle to deal with adversity and for her self-insight. It was enjoyable but sometimes the pain of some of the situations despite the author's attempt to present them humorously, was difficult.

First of all, this is a very funny book. There are things that happen to Ms. Lee that are not funny at all, and it can get serious, but she handles her challenging life with grace and humor. I was amazed at how open she was about things-we-do-not-talk-about-in-public. (Or anywhere else, either). She just laid it all out there, and that honesty and bravery made me love her. This was a great read.

What got me the most was how you were/are able to look at your life and stitch together how one thing affects another and how everything is related. And you are genuinely happy right now!!

The book is funny, savvy and smart! Glad I read it. I'm honored to have gotten to meet the author too! I recommend this book as a rainy Saturday read.

Genre: MemoirBlurb: (from ) (from ) Lorna is like everyone you’ve ever known. She is also like no one you’ll ever meet again. She’s just an ordinary person trying to make the best of the predicament du jour. What makes her different? The answers are revealed in this, her first, book. Here’s a hint: Lorna finds herself in more knotty predicaments than a novice knitter, yet she tells her often grim life story with a grin. Was Lorna born curious and insecure or did her father’s mysterious [...]

“How Was I Supposed To Know? The Adventures of a Girl Whose Name Means Lost” is a beautifully-written memoir by author Lorna Lee.Lorna captures the turbulence of her life in a candid, no-holds-barred story that reads like a novel, except the heroine in this particular story is a real person complete with a myriad of human flaws as well as a multitude of strengths and attributes that make her unique.Lorna’s voice is witty, self-deprecating, wry and brutally honest, and she uses this wonderf [...]