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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
challenging
fast-paced
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This was a top-notch memoir by a seriously funny comedian who is half-Korean, half-white, and all-trauma. An alternate title could be this line from the book: "A Small Victory Against a Relentless and Agonizing Mortal Existence." The author being near my age also made this resonate even more - I, too, remember the shame of being too fat for the Delia's catalog clothes!
Youngmi Mayer instantly had me hooked with the bananas grandparents story. Here is just one part of the family lore, matter-of-factly explained: her grandmother, who was coerced into marrying her grandfather, had a large amount of male children, an unknown number since some died as infants, and her mother does not know how many male siblings she had. It is perhaps 7 - 10.
I marveled at the difference in importance Koreans and Americans place on names and I cracked up at the derogatory example she gave of a white name (it's Jenifer with one n!) because that is literally my sister's name and the exact spelling and it *does* matter to her. I was amazed that Youngmi did not speak English as a child and her father didn't bother to learn Korean, so there were years she and her father could not meaningfully communicate. (However, even after they both could speak the same language, was he capable of having an honest conversation with her?)
This book pulls no punches. It can deliver a hilarious few sentences like, "I am Irish. I am German. And I have the mark of the beast. A hairy butthole." Then it can reveal a crushing, traumatizing memory on the very next page: "At fifteen, my mother decided to kill herself after a 'bad thing' happened." I was laughing, I was horrified, I couldn't put this book down. I don't remember how I heard of this memoir, but I'm grateful to whatever list this was on because this was a fascinating read.
Stray thoughts:
Was Youngmi's first standup performance the incident where the boys paid her? She shook her butt in a silly way, did a jig, and had the audience in tears.
I demand to have a continental breakfast named after me!
"As soon as you said you were bringing your fat kid, I started boiling hot dogs."
LOL at the stuffed animal named Ryan.
Mike Judge voiced both Beavis and Butthead - we cannot minimize this talent!
Youngmi Mayer instantly had me hooked with the bananas grandparents story. Here is just one part of the family lore, matter-of-factly explained: her grandmother, who was coerced into marrying her grandfather, had a large amount of male children, an unknown number since some died as infants, and her mother does not know how many male siblings she had. It is perhaps 7 - 10.
I marveled at the difference in importance Koreans and Americans place on names and I cracked up at the derogatory example she gave of a white name (it's Jenifer with one n!) because that is literally my sister's name and the exact spelling and it *does* matter to her. I was amazed that Youngmi did not speak English as a child and her father didn't bother to learn Korean, so there were years she and her father could not meaningfully communicate. (However, even after they both could speak the same language, was he capable of having an honest conversation with her?)
This book pulls no punches. It can deliver a hilarious few sentences like, "I am Irish. I am German. And I have the mark of the beast. A hairy butthole." Then it can reveal a crushing, traumatizing memory on the very next page: "At fifteen, my mother decided to kill herself after a 'bad thing' happened." I was laughing, I was horrified, I couldn't put this book down. I don't remember how I heard of this memoir, but I'm grateful to whatever list this was on because this was a fascinating read.
Stray thoughts:
Was Youngmi's first standup performance the incident where the boys paid her? She shook her butt in a silly way, did a jig, and had the audience in tears.
I demand to have a continental breakfast named after me!
"As soon as you said you were bringing your fat kid, I started boiling hot dogs."
LOL at the stuffed animal named Ryan.
Mike Judge voiced both Beavis and Butthead - we cannot minimize this talent!
dark
emotional
funny
informative
tense
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
What a complete story with so much context in a tight narrative. Humor, reflection on societal norms, and the pain of figuring out who you are in mid-life.
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Several dark moments, but also funny and full of genuine love. Incredible self-exploration of generational trauma, mental health, history, motherhood, and so much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Racism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape, Abortion
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Rape, War
fast-paced
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced