Brutally Funny: A Dark Collection of Dysfunctional Family Stories is a collection of comical tales by Lynda West. The work was inspired by the author’s twisted and at times scandalous family happenings. The first part covers stories that paint a picture of a dysfunctional family that does not get along and yet experiences funny moments. In the second section, the author reveals their twisted nature and the horrors she went through at their hands. The book covers domestic abuse and violence, mental abuse, intimidation, and bullying. The account also covers her family origins and describes the relationship dynamics between each family member. Lastly, the author explains how the book cover reflects the way she views her family.

Brutally Funny is an aptly titled book that mirrors Lynda West’s family history and upbringing perfectly. The juxtaposition of tragedy and comedy was unusual and made for an eye-opening read. Most authors choose to tell their stories using a single perspective, either funny or tragic, but Lynda does both. The things her family did were shocking. I could not stop reading this book because I wanted to understand why they were so twisted, and my patience paid off. In the last section, the author discusses her mother’s traumatic time in an orphanage, her father’s relationship with his neglectful mother, her brother's mental condition, and how her sister and brother-in-law shared a creepy relationship. These revelations partially explained their behavior, but did not justify their actions. There was no mention of proper therapy or medical intervention, although her family members were mentally unstable. I was happy that she managed to find love and have her own family. This book has many life lessons, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves stories that combine the dark and comical sides of life.

Lynda West’s Brutally Funny is a memoir with a unique twist. Instead of writing about her past chronologically, she presents the dysfunctional family memories in two parts: Comedy and Tragedy. Comedy contains eleven stories with funny moments. A memorable quote is a precursor to each story. She shares how her parents and siblings clashed in several instances. These range from her sister’s engagement to a funeral director who was thirteen years older to her schizophrenic genius brother being declared a domestic terrorist. Comedy ends with her Sunday school punishment and an adult revelation as to why her parents didn’t attend church. Tragedy includes five stories about each member of her family and their role in her life. She includes an epilogue to provide insight into her life’s work and how she would paint her family.
 
Lynda West held nothing back about her experiences with her family. I liked how her stories were effective at portraying each family member’s personality. The photos included throughout were interesting and gave a face to each person, despite the fictional names they were given. My favorite stories were Identity Theft and Our Ted. Her mother made some valid points by not signing her credit cards to avoid her name being forged. Her brother’s portrayal in Our Ted made me laugh. It was entertaining to see how Lynda built suspense around the moments of levity in Comedy. Tragedy was realistic and eye-opening. The titles Truant, Jezebel, and The Enforcer fit her depictions of each family member’s influence on her life. Her mother was the driving force behind the dysfunctional family. Marguerite seemed trapped in the past treatment she received as a child, which she used against everyone. Brutally Funny is a creative autobiography that readers will find relatable.

Inspired by her traumatic and comical upbringing, Lynda West has written Brutally Funny, a memoir that blends dark humor and satire elements. The book is divided into two parts, the first being a narration of her family’s memorable moments like childhood pranks, learning how to play the piano, shopping with her stubborn mother, and hysterical vacations. The last section exposes the dark and cold nature of her mother, her suppressed father, her violent brother, a crude brother-in-law, and an indifferent sister. The stories are linked and give two contrasting perspectives of the same situations and characters. Get a copy of this book and join Lynda as she divulges her family's twisted and comical nature.

Brutally Funny is a well-written and captivating book. I loved how the author structured the book because it was unique and added to the shock factor of the stories. This book gave me whiplash when the second part began. The image I had built of Lynda West’s family from the first collection of stories was utterly shattered by the stories in the second section. The story about her father’s funeral appears in both parts of the book, and how she wrote the events painted two different pictures of her family. The stories took me on a wild roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, cried, got mad, and by the end, I felt at peace because her art was the ultimate comical revenge. I am in awe of this author’s work and hope to read more from her. This book was amazing.