The First Ten Years audiobook

I loved this - the idea of it, the structure, and the entire execution. Joseph and Meg meet and fall in love in 2009. This is their story- well, each of their stories from the very start, without talking to the other about what they would share. Their first kiss, marriage, touring the world, a death in the family.This one will warm your heart, make you laugh, and definitely entertain you. If you are familiar with Welcome to Night Vale, I think you’d be even more interested in this memoir. I also enjoyed how it addresses body image and mental health, and it’s a joyful, uplifting read.I received a gifted copy.Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

Audiobook....read by Joseph Fink, and Meg Bashwiner“A strapped squirrel and a guy with a runny nose……was all it took for Meg to tell Joseph she loved him”.Eye-catching book cover - it brought thoughts of the squirrels in our yard: I love them as Pets. Paul wants them gone (traps them with peanut butter- then carries them to a neighbor park to eat their flowers and plants - instead of ours). This joint memoir was cute...sweet....but mostly - MOST- memorable to the couple themselves. I enjoyed it.....but honestly - that was about it.The premise was unique- a side-by-side joint memoir (of their first ten years), without seeing each other‘s work, until they were finished. Perhaps they will write volume two of their next ten years together ten years from now From first dates...first kiss....first time having sex....their families, their career, house choices....moving,.....( eventually having a house on East Coast and one on the West Coast)....Meg was a theater girl....She also shared about her struggles with binge eating - later replacing it for a nicotine addiction.... along with other drug substances…..until in time, not needing drugs or binge eating to control her life. Joseph shared his own insecurities, worries, allergies. mental health concerns, and the grief from his fathers death. They both shared love for each other - beautiful solid love-partnership - committed love. The ending was a letter to the unborn ‘maybe’ child....( should they have one).... it was a moving part … with hopes that their child would be one to make a difference in our very complicated disturbing world. Not an earth-shattering must read book - but Meg and Joseph are likable ——and I didn’t mind spending an afternoon in their company. 3.5 sweet stars.

I cried. And then I laughed. And then I laughed until I cried. My heart is full, and I want to be best friends with the authors.

Although neither half of this duo would want me to use this word, I found their joint memoir kind of endearing. Their often tough exteriors belied their sweetness with each other. Although they wrote their event essays with no collaboration, they often interpreted the situation similarly by using their manta, “Home is wherever the two of us are.” Once they were both successful in their creative endeavors, life had more options and more complications. Anxiety reared its head in both of their lives but they were usually able to move forward or modify their expectations for themselves. Their utter dismay at DT being elected was certainly understandable to me. I think many of us had near collapses during the election and those interminable 4 years. As this delightful, eccentric couple navigate their thirties, I feel certain that life changes will not change their love of life and each other.

I feel like when you read the story of 2 people's lives you can't really rate it in terms of how many stars it deserves. I'm giving the full 5 because they were open, honest, real and entertaining and because everyone's story deserves 5 stars (cheesy enough?)As I got to 2019 all I could think was man I want to read 2020. We need a follow up novella on this one to hear what they would each say about it. I found the differences in their recollections entertaining at time when they were quite different from one another. And when they both got it the same there was a different sense of happiness in reading that as well. I should note I am not a podcast person, I have never listened to their podcast. I am not a theater person either and yet I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories just as much as the other aspects. Thank you to Harper Perennial and the authors for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so this was a really satisfying memoir. It is well-written and at turns both poignant and funny. Memoirs are hard to rate, because how do you “rate” a life? If trying on someone else’s life for a few hundred pages provides some insight into a world different from your own, then it’s worth the experience.I often choose to listen to memoirs as audiobooks rather than choosing the print version. Given that these two are podcasters, it felt even more appropriate to do so this time. The narration is excellent and adds a personal touch to an already personal story.In some ways, this book feels like one of the “create” assignments that Joseph and Jeffrey might give at the end of an episode of their podcast Start With This—“in so many words, tell the story of an important event or period of time, then have someone close to you describe the same important time. How are your stories similar? How are they different?”One of my favorite musicals is The Last Five Years, which showcases, in reverse order, the opposite sides of a failed love story (Kathy’s side is told from the frayed end looking back to the romantic beginning, and Jamie’s side from the joyful start to the bitter end) — I suspect, given the similarities of title and formatting, and the fact that both Meg and Joseph are New York artists involved in the experimental theater scene, that this is intentional. Instead of being a record of the “last” years, this book is the record of a beginning, from different perspectives but always heading in the same direction. As it happens, I feel like this book can stand up to being read by anyone, but I am not entirely sure I would recommend it to people who have no knowledge of our interest in Night Vale or its creators. It provides a lot of insight into the intentionality of a long term relationship and how to navigate building a life together, heavy on the practicality behind a romance, and I think that approach to telling a love story is both unusual and valuable—it doesn’t shy away from the friction inherent in the transitional steps between a new relationship and becoming a family together. But also, so much of their lives is tied up in their careers in a way that may be more rewarding to hear about if you have an investment in the trajectory of those careers. Having been to three of their live shows, I was fascinated by the evolving logistics behind their tours as the show gained popularity. I was equally interested to see through their eyes how the tumblr-inspired word of mouth recommendations suddenly skyrocketed their download numbers all those years ago—a skyrocketing popularity I remember watching with fascination as practically out of nowhere this show became practically the entirety of my tumblr dashboard that year. I think a part of my enjoyment of this memoir was in seeing where my bits of knowledge about their careers overlapped with what they show us here.The dedication and Meg’s final chapter were especially moving. This book is a testament to their relationship, but it is also a love letter to the daughter they haven’t had the chance to meet yet.

Thank you to @harperperennial for my gifted copy of The First Ten Years. This joint memoir, a love story told from different perspectives, is out on May 11th. The full synopsis is in the comments section.I found this memoir to be sweet and entertaining, especially since I remember a lot of the events going on in the world during the time in which it is told. A lot of millennials will be able to connect to it for this reason. Bashwiner and Fink also go through several issues that couples often face, which will help readers connect as well. My one critique is that I think they should have added in a chapter when they discussed the differences in their stories after reading them, in an epilogue of sorts. It could be a transcript of a conversation, or two essays written after the discussion. I think this would’ve added another dimension to the book, and put a nice endcap on a beautiful love story.

As a longtime listener of the Welcome to Nightvale podcast, I was eager for a glimpse into this creative couple’s relationship. The very concept of this book is beautiful- telling the story of each year, with each partner taking turns recounting their memories of the year in question. What a gift! As with the Nightvale podcast, there is both humour and deeply profound insight into love, life and what it means to be human. The ending had me tearful.

In the last three months I have gotten married, lived with a romantic partner for the first time, moved to a new state, adopted a dog, and started my first full-time “big-kid” job. When I finished this book, I was sobbing. I’ve known Joseph Fink was a brilliant writer for years. This story, at this time in my life, absolutely gutted me.

Bought the book because I loved the cover. Happy to say that the story was equally intriguing and fun. Husband and wife are equally likable and seem like people that would be fun to know. I found myself rooting for them through their ups and downs. Great light reading.

I definitely needed this book in my life right now and it was everything I wanted and more. They tell such an enjoyable lesson on relationships and love and the fear that comes with it. It also helped me see myself a little more clearly as a partner and woman. It was nice reading the words of someone u would actually enjoy talking to.

Listened to this while doing a puzzle with my partner for our anniversary and it was perfect.

A wonderful concept (both members of the couple write 10 essays, one for each year) that shows the slippery and (mostly) endearing qualities of memory, love maturing, and what it means to come into adulthood.

Such a lovely view of a relationship from 2 sides. Being they're both artists, you get such different perspectives of similar events, and shows how priorities and lives can change even when you think things are the same. Great recc for anyone looking for a story of love, art, and some sneaky fun behind the scenes of the Welcome to nightvale tours (but really, we're all in it for Meg)