Martha Kimes

If you think this just another memoir, think again. Martha Kimes’ memoir of her journey through Columbia Law School is much more just legal stories and anecdotes. Martha’s recounting of her experiences, thoughts, and memories are often funny, sometimes depressing, and always have a ring of authenticity – even though the she states that “certain details were fictionalized, and some specific dialogue was exaggerated.” Martha shares her feelings of being out of place, in over her head, and also her desire to achieve her goal in a compelling, humorous, and, ultimately, inspirational memoir.… (mehr)

A number of people have written about this book as a portrait of law school and its depiction of the unique experiences of law students. It would be a mistake, however, for the potential reader to consign this entertaining and irresistible work to the niche of legal anecdotes.

Martha Kimes has written a memoir of her days in the high pressure world of Columbia Law School that transcends its specific setting. You don't have to be a law student to identify with her persistent feeling that she is in over her head and doesn't belong, nor to appreciate her tenacious pursuit of her goal despite her lingering self-doubts. Ultimately, Kimes has penned a quest story, a journey through hallowed halls peopled by characters familiar to anyone who has ever studied with the best and brightest and most competitive of their chosen field.

In the end, Martha Kimes finds success without pretention, and no one seems more surprised by that than herself. The book is like that as well. It's a fun and compelling journey through a lofty world most of us will never experience, guided by the girl next door.… (mehr)