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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
medium-paced
I hate complaining about someone’s memoir, because I recognize the intensely personal story being shared. Yet this was just a meandering mess of a book. Chronological, except when it wasn’t. Full of name drops and “behind the scenes” moments that weren’t particularly exciting. I want to recognize Wilson didn’t have the most upper class of upbringings, and her goal of bringing relatability is admirable. But a private school experience? A family trip from Australia to Disney? The freedom to turn down scholarships and opportunities, only to have those opportunities still come through in the end? There was definite financial privilege on display.
Her best chapters were those describing her infertility journey, and breaking down her Year of Health. The chapters describing her career careened all over the place—and even in her chapters on growing up, she couldn’t seem to settle on a consistent thread or theme. This read like a giant stream of consciousness that was chopped into chapters.
Her best chapters were those describing her infertility journey, and breaking down her Year of Health. The chapters describing her career careened all over the place—and even in her chapters on growing up, she couldn’t seem to settle on a consistent thread or theme. This read like a giant stream of consciousness that was chopped into chapters.
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
When Rebel Wilson writes about her childhood, it feels like old-school [a:David Sedaris|2849|David Sedaris|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1656395801p2/2849.jpg] (not as funny or as well-written, but still fascinating). This was the best part of her memoir and was a 5-star read, especially about her time living in South Africa after high school with a Rotary scholarship.
But once she makes it big in Hollywood (and in the boring, unnecessary first chapter), it reads like current David Sedaris. Completely out-of-touch and tone deaf. I love reading about celebrity gossip, but there's a difference between that (telling an anecdote about an interaction with another celebrity) and name-dropping (sitting court side at a Lakers game and getting a selfie with LeBron James who she later went to Iceland with him...but no stories about what he was like in Iceland!! It's just bragging name-dropping if all you do is drop a name). She also talks about a second house whose only purpose is to hold her stuff (!!!); celebrating herself for a week on a private island (she wants you to know that Kim Kardashian ALSO had a birthday celebration on this private party but Rebel Wilson planned hers first); and spending $25K on lamps for her baby's bedroom. It's like Mariah Carey's memoir, but Mariah is a known diva, so it's expected that her memoir would describe her materialism. Celebrity memoirs have taught me that many celebrities who grow up poor often become shopaholics and very materialistic once they have the money to support it (Mariah, Elton John, Rebel Wilson).
Even Wilson's work to lose weight, going through infertility issues in her 40's, and realizing she's also attracted to women - all relatable topics! - are drowned out by her talking about how she called up Disney's CEO Bob Iger so she could have a sleepover at Disneyland and going to Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn's Aspen party. She also very uncomfortably writes like a sex pest (talking about meeting Brad Pitt: "Would it be too much to touch his ass? Yeah, probably.").
Wilson is an excellent audio narrator. She reads with her good comedic timing, and it helped cover the awkward similes and metaphors ("It was like I was carrying them all around with me, like a woman coming out of a grocery store walking to her care with twenty heavy bags.") and the incessant bragging.
I rate celebrity memoirs on basically three aspects:
(1) Did I find the celebrity more interesting than when I started the book? Yes. I think an editor needed to tell her how she was coming across and cut a lot out, but her background is super interesting and I didn't know she had a law degree.
(2) Was there tea spilled? Yes - but not as much as I had thought there would be, except for Sacha Baron Cohen's harassment.
(3) Was it entertaining? Yes regarding her childhood. No regarding the past 5-10 years.
But once she makes it big in Hollywood (and in the boring, unnecessary first chapter), it reads like current David Sedaris. Completely out-of-touch and tone deaf. I love reading about celebrity gossip, but there's a difference between that (telling an anecdote about an interaction with another celebrity) and name-dropping (sitting court side at a Lakers game and getting a selfie with LeBron James who she later went to Iceland with him...but no stories about what he was like in Iceland!! It's just bragging name-dropping if all you do is drop a name). She also talks about a second house whose only purpose is to hold her stuff (!!!); celebrating herself for a week on a private island (she wants you to know that Kim Kardashian ALSO had a birthday celebration on this private party but Rebel Wilson planned hers first); and spending $25K on lamps for her baby's bedroom. It's like Mariah Carey's memoir, but Mariah is a known diva, so it's expected that her memoir would describe her materialism. Celebrity memoirs have taught me that many celebrities who grow up poor often become shopaholics and very materialistic once they have the money to support it (Mariah, Elton John, Rebel Wilson).
Even Wilson's work to lose weight, going through infertility issues in her 40's, and realizing she's also attracted to women - all relatable topics! - are drowned out by her talking about how she called up Disney's CEO Bob Iger so she could have a sleepover at Disneyland and going to Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn's Aspen party. She also very uncomfortably writes like a sex pest (talking about meeting Brad Pitt: "Would it be too much to touch his ass? Yeah, probably.").
Wilson is an excellent audio narrator. She reads with her good comedic timing, and it helped cover the awkward similes and metaphors ("It was like I was carrying them all around with me, like a woman coming out of a grocery store walking to her care with twenty heavy bags.") and the incessant bragging.
I rate celebrity memoirs on basically three aspects:
(1) Did I find the celebrity more interesting than when I started the book? Yes. I think an editor needed to tell her how she was coming across and cut a lot out, but her background is super interesting and I didn't know she had a law degree.
(2) Was there tea spilled? Yes - but not as much as I had thought there would be, except for Sacha Baron Cohen's harassment.
(3) Was it entertaining? Yes regarding her childhood. No regarding the past 5-10 years.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment
This book deserves more than 5 stars! Rebel’s memoir is by far the most interesting life story I have ever heard. I was a huge fan when she got into acting in Pitch Perfect, but I never knew much about her backstory, it’s just amazing. Also the audiobook with her narrating is wonderful. Rebel should definitely get into book narration.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
I listened to the audio book. I love listening to memoirs on audio, especially when read by the author. The several chapters towards the end made me cry happy tears. A book hasn’t made me cry in a very long time.
Kudos to you, Rebel. You overcame a lot to get where you are, all without losing yourself. Thank you for sharing your struggle with fertility, from an IVF mom, and that you for sharing your coming out, from a woman who helped her sister come out to the rest of the family.
Kudos to you, Rebel. You overcame a lot to get where you are, all without losing yourself. Thank you for sharing your struggle with fertility, from an IVF mom, and that you for sharing your coming out, from a woman who helped her sister come out to the rest of the family.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced