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Perfectly Imperfect: A Life in Progress Audiobook
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(3.12) - 321 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“You can tell a woman’s whole life story from the possessions in her jewelry box. Like reading a palm, you can trace the points where her life has intersected with memorable events, people, places, and loves. You can speculate on the essence of her personality, all from what she has accumulated in that box.”—from Perfectly Imperfect
In her acclaimed first book, In an Instant, Lee Woodruff, along with her husband, ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, wrote eloquently and honestly about the struggles they faced together as Bob recovered from a traumatic brain injury sustained in Iraq. Now, with the same candor and clarity, Lee Woodruff chronicles her life as wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.
Woodruff’s deeply personal and, at times, uproariously funny stories highlight such universal topics as family, marriage, friends, and how life never seems to go as planned. On raising teenagers: “Now with a boy and girl on the precipice of serious adolescence, the bathroom door is sealed tighter than a government nuclear testing ground.” On her changing body: “Over the last ten years my own knees had begun to form those dreaded smiley faces, sagging underneath.” How she copes with tragedy: “Swimming surrounds me in the velvet wet of a bluish green world where I can dive deep down and sob with no trace.” Even her sense of style: “I’ve always been more Leave It to Beaver than Sex in the City.”
In a voice that is fresh, irreverently funny, and irresistible, Lee Woodruff traces the quiet moments and memorable events that have shaped her life in progress. Perfectly Imperfect is the testimonial of a woman who embraces the chaos of her surroundings, discovers the splendor of life’s flaws, and accepts that perfection is as impossible to achieve as a spotless kitchen floor.
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"I like the way Lee writes. She is very funny and a lot of her family stories made me laugh and I could often relate to what she had experienced especially as I get older. It was a much more uplifting read after "In An Instant" that dealt with the traumatic brain injury of her husband."
— Cynthia (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Lee Woodruff is a modern day truth-teller. She is a laugh-out-loud funny, complex, contradictory, compassionate sister in the struggles and sweet successes of contemporary motherhood, sisterhood and wife-dom. An immediately relatable group of recollections and reflections on the often unfair, unexpected and unbelievably beautiful paths of a woman’s life.”
— Jamie Lee Curtis -
“I want to snuggle up with a cup of tea and Lee Woodruff herself. Perfectly Imperfect is like having an old, dear friend who you haven’t seen in awhile regale you with stories about life that you swear could be your own. This book will become my constant companion.”
— Rita Wilson -
“Lee moves fluently from deep to lighter subjects…Self-deprecating and modest, Woodruff is certainly likable, and this collection will broaden her appeal.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Woodruff considers childbirth, a hysterectomy, aging, pets, and awkward gifts in this winning and intimate look at the imperfections of family life.”
— Booklist -
Lee Woodruff is a modern day truth-teller. She is a laugh-out-loud funny, complex, contradictory, compassionate sister in the struggles and sweet successes of contemporary motherhood, sisterhood and wife-dom. An immediately relatable group of recollections and reflections on the often unfair, unexpected and unbelievably beautiful paths of a woman’s life.
— Jamie Lee Curtis“Nora Ephron + Erma Bombeck = Lee Woodruff. This is the book for all the women in your lives!
Perfectly Imperfect Listener Reviews
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" This book was okay, just stories about life. "
— Angie, 2/18/2014 -
" These were amusing and sometimes serious essays about family life from a Mom's perspective. In an essay about a close friend's husband's death: "But if I couldn't have them, if Bob were to have died in that hospital...I knew that I would have my children, my family, and the power of friendship...They would all help to pull me back out into the light, eventually. And that was a mighty powerful feeling. It was much more than a consolation prize." I know that feeling and she said it so well. "
— Laura, 2/13/2014 -
" Any mother will identify with the oh-so-true life lessons found within these pages. Lee writes with wit and insight and has you laughing and crying. "
— Jonette, 2/12/2014 -
" While I found many parts of Woodruff's story to be wise and thoughtful, I found much of what she wrote about her children, particularly her teens, and some of what she wrote about her husband, to be an invasion of their privacy, even though they gave her permission to do so. "
— Susan, 1/23/2014 -
" Inspirational account by news correspondent Bob Woodruff's wife, Lee, of the traumatic brain injury he sustained in Iraq while working as an imbedded report in the early days of the Iraq war. She's a bright, funny woman with a great attitude and wonderful perspective. "
— Barbara, 1/21/2014 -
" Absolutely wonderful book! Funny, sad, and wise, Lee Woodruff's ''Perfectly Imperfect'' is practically perfect in every way "
— Ruth, 1/11/2014 -
" Written by Bob Woodruff's wife (he suffered a near fatal bombing), it is like a series of vignettes about life, parenthood, friends, sagging knees, etc. "
— Rosie, 1/11/2014 -
" I was surprised and delighted by this book. Heartwarming, funny, and inspiring. I laughed and cried. Spend an afternoon with this book and feel like you are hanging out with an old friend. "
— Nicole, 1/9/2014 -
" Loved it - real life insight from a real life gal. "
— Katie, 1/7/2014 -
" Wonderful book! Makes you laugh out loud! "
— Sue, 1/3/2014 -
" I would give this 2.8 stars. It was fun to read about her life. Decent read nothing I would ever read again but not a waste of time. "
— Leah, 12/28/2013 -
" i loved the first book she wrote with her husband bob woodward, so i was excited to read her new book out. i like the way she rights and says it like it is! she has some good points too! "
— Traci, 12/24/2013 -
" I just could not get into this book. I read the first book about her husband's accident, and that was great, but this was just about stories about her kids, and so on. I honestly didn't finish the book, because I was bored!! "
— Ryanjuliep, 12/8/2013 -
" Gift from Josh-Read on plane to Costa Rica-laughed out loud-totally identified- "
— Ellanor, 10/12/2013 -
" This was a fantastic book! I really learned a lot from it. "
— Alyson, 10/2/2013 -
" Smart, witty, and insightful Lee Woodruff has created a book that is enjoyable to read but also deeply moving and inspiring. Two thumbs up! "
— Elisa, 9/18/2013 -
" A sweet book filled with peeks into the authors life. Witty and honest. "
— Stephanie, 8/30/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this collection of essays, mostly about being a mother and wife. Lee Woodruff is smart, engaging, and funny. "
— Heather, 8/15/2013 -
" Really great non-fiction book. I picked it up thinking it would be humorous, which a lot of it was. It also talks about her experiences taking care of her father with alzheimers, her husband with a brain injury, and other serious matters. It is very well written and interesting. "
— Annmarie, 3/24/2013 -
" I just love Lee Woodruff! This was a quick and enjoyable read. A great follow-up to her and Bob's first book. I'd recommend for an easy, feel good womanly book. "
— Beth, 1/26/2013 -
" Just somehow spoke to me... She is the wife of Bob Woodruff, who was injured reporting from overseas (head injury). They have written a couple of books together, but this is her first solo book. It is an easy read and made me both laugh and cry. "
— Linda, 11/24/2012 -
" Lee has a fresh and welcoming voice, as if she's just including you in a conversation. Her writing is open, and she shares hopes, dreams, disappointments, and triumphs of everyday life. I truly enjoyed this book! "
— Sonja, 6/13/2012 -
" This book was awesome. It was hysterical at many times and I laughed a lot which was great. I listened to In an Instant by Bob Woodruff and I saw this on the shelf so I picked it up and I was glad I did. "
— Chris, 5/29/2012 -
" Like reading a friend's blog. Good tips at the end for helping a family in a life-changing crisis. "
— Tracie, 3/18/2012 -
" a must read for any wife/mother "
— Amy, 2/20/2012 -
" Loved it. Lee speaks the truth in the way I understand it. "
— Laura, 7/15/2011 -
" Interesting stories from her past. I thought it was the one about her husband's accident but it was the one after that. I just picked up the other one today. "
— Teri, 7/6/2011 -
" Lee has a fresh and welcoming voice, as if she's just including you in a conversation. Her writing is open, and she shares hopes, dreams, disappointments, and triumphs of everyday life. I truly enjoyed this book! "
— Sonja, 5/21/2011 -
" While I found many parts of Woodruff's story to be wise and thoughtful, I found much of what she wrote about her children, particularly her teens, and some of what she wrote about her husband, to be an invasion of their privacy, even though they gave her permission to do so. "
— Susan, 5/8/2011 -
" Listened to this in the car in small snippets and was entertaining, light fare. Good writing, humor and reflections on various aspects of life. The author did an excellent reading. "
— Cindy, 2/12/2011 -
" Absolutely wonderful book! Funny, sad, and wise, Lee Woodruff's ''Perfectly Imperfect'' is practically perfect in every way "
— Ruth, 2/7/2011 -
" Gift from Josh-Read on plane to Costa Rica-laughed out loud-totally identified- "
— Ellanor, 1/1/2011 -
" I heard Mrs. Woodruff speak this summer, and she just brought the house down talking about her life story. I also received a copy of her book. It was a good read of some of the challenges in her life, and each chapter is almost like a stand alone story. "
— Rachel, 8/26/2010 -
" Loved it. Lee speaks the truth in the way I understand it. "
— Laura, 7/29/2010 -
" I enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted in spite of all that Lee experienced with her husband's tragedy. It was inspiring and reflective for tips while helping someone going through tragedy and grief. "
— Nancy, 7/19/2010 -
" Perfectly Imperfect is a laugh-out-loud funny book which will have you nodding in agreement as Lee Woodruff truthfully recounts the struggles and successes of being a mother, a sister, a friend, and a wife. "
— Jennifer, 6/3/2010 -
" Loved it - real life insight from a real life gal. "
— Katie, 5/4/2010 -
" Wonderful book! Makes you laugh out loud! "
— Sue, 4/5/2010 -
" Like reading a friend's blog. Good tips at the end for helping a family in a life-changing crisis. "
— Tracie, 2/5/2010 -
" A sweet book filled with peeks into the authors life. Witty and honest. "
— Stephanie, 1/15/2010 -
" Any mother will identify with the oh-so-true life lessons found within these pages. Lee writes with wit and insight and has you laughing and crying. "
— Jonette, 1/6/2010
About Lee Woodruff
Lee Woodruff is the life and family contributor for ABC’s Good Morning America and a freelance writer. She is on the board of trustees of the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides critical resources and support to our nation’s injured service members, veterans, and their families, especially those affected by the signature hidden injuries of war: traumatic brain injury and combat stress. Lee lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband, ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, and their four children.