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booksnwhiskey's review against another edition
5.0
I love Jane Lynch and freak out when I see her in something. The book was very fast to read and left me wanting more. I wanted to sit down with her and get the inbetween facts. It seemed like she went from her early work to Glee in am matter of pages (I'm not complaining as this made it easy to read and not boring at all), but I want to know more. I am hoping she comes out with some other stuff like Ellen does. Crossing fingers!!!
docchia's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting autobio, though not as I expected it to be. First of all, I didn’t really know that Jane was a lesbian, though I think someone mentioned it to me once. That being said, I don’t think Jane knew Jane was a lesbian for a while, and she’s sort of a prude (for a Hollywood biography) so it wasn’t a typical gay-trials story. Her sexuality seems to be secondary to her need to find her own niche, which it seems she has carved in improv and comedy. It appears she didn’t mean to deliberately have the career that she has, but she still remains hard working and driven.
I found it challenging to identify with Jane because she seems content with herself as a person, yet afraid of what others think. I am not like that, I’m far more like the characters she’s been typecast-ed to play over the years, which she explains is not her own persona.
The most interesting part of the book, which earned all the points here, is that she describes the process of the improv-comedy methodology which I have often enjoyed. I’m talking about the Christopher Guest style of movie-making where the characters and events are scripted, but the lines are improvised. This seems like a fantastic way to make a movie, where you’re letting your actors actually be actors. The explanation of that process, how it works, and the banter backstage really made this book fantastic.
In addition, I find a great moral behind the message she tells of family. She’s a happily married gay woman, which is more than most celebrities who are straight. She has a healthy relationship with her step-daughter. She loves her family, and her other (parents, etc.) family, and has a prosperous career. She didn’t need to sexualize, compromise, or devalue herself to do it. I appreciate the message, though I didn’t find it to be a page turner.
Entertaining? Somewhat.
Deeply Moving? Probably Not.
Worth reading? Yes, especially if you like improv, or if you are interested in that style of entertainment production.
Overall score: 6 / 10
I found it challenging to identify with Jane because she seems content with herself as a person, yet afraid of what others think. I am not like that, I’m far more like the characters she’s been typecast-ed to play over the years, which she explains is not her own persona.
The most interesting part of the book, which earned all the points here, is that she describes the process of the improv-comedy methodology which I have often enjoyed. I’m talking about the Christopher Guest style of movie-making where the characters and events are scripted, but the lines are improvised. This seems like a fantastic way to make a movie, where you’re letting your actors actually be actors. The explanation of that process, how it works, and the banter backstage really made this book fantastic.
In addition, I find a great moral behind the message she tells of family. She’s a happily married gay woman, which is more than most celebrities who are straight. She has a healthy relationship with her step-daughter. She loves her family, and her other (parents, etc.) family, and has a prosperous career. She didn’t need to sexualize, compromise, or devalue herself to do it. I appreciate the message, though I didn’t find it to be a page turner.
Entertaining? Somewhat.
Deeply Moving? Probably Not.
Worth reading? Yes, especially if you like improv, or if you are interested in that style of entertainment production.
Overall score: 6 / 10
jessica_lam's review against another edition
3.0
I usually cannot function with audiobooks, but I definitely recommend the format whenever a comedian reads his/her own memoir. This book proves the rule. Definitely darker than expected, Happy Accidents is surprisingly honest. She's absolutely charming now but it's refreshing to see the messy and treacherous road that got her here. Lynch doesn't try to make you like her, in fact, the younger iterations of herself seemed, from her own descriptions, rather unbearable. She is hyper self-aware of her diva moments and weaknesses and is simultaneously thankful for what she calls the happy accidents. Ultimately, it's a good read for someone in their 20s and 30s who may feel a little adrift and lost. The ultimate take away? Lay down the foundation and do the work so that you're prepared when opportunity hits you in the face.
jmanchester0's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I have to apologize when I write a review like this for a perfectly adequate book.
It was an interesting book - but I keep coming back to the fact that I just wasn't drawn in. I guess I was more drawn to certain parts, but as a whole, it just didn't grab me like I hoped - like sometimes happens when someone tells their own story. And, I guess I was hoping it would be funnier. It's a decent read, even if you're not necessarily a huge fan, and I'm sure it's even better if you are.
I liked it. It just didn't hook me.
It was an interesting book - but I keep coming back to the fact that I just wasn't drawn in. I guess I was more drawn to certain parts, but as a whole, it just didn't grab me like I hoped - like sometimes happens when someone tells their own story. And, I guess I was hoping it would be funnier. It's a decent read, even if you're not necessarily a huge fan, and I'm sure it's even better if you are.
I liked it. It just didn't hook me.
rach's review against another edition
4.0
This was super entertaining. Jane Lynch seems like a really nice, genuine person, and she's very relatable. She has the same self-esteem issues as many of us face.
One one complaint is many she is too nice? You can't love everyone, but she took the "can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" route. This was written during the first few years of Glee, but I couldn't really believe her when she said how well the Glee kids got along, considering the famous feuding between Lea Michele and Naya Rivera, who played Rachel and Santana on the show.
My favorites were her stories from behind the scenes, both on Glee and one of my fave movies, Best in Show. And I must recommend listening to the audio version of this book, as it is read by Lynch herself, and it's like being read to by someone you know and love.
One one complaint is many she is too nice? You can't love everyone, but she took the "can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" route. This was written during the first few years of Glee, but I couldn't really believe her when she said how well the Glee kids got along, considering the famous feuding between Lea Michele and Naya Rivera, who played Rachel and Santana on the show.
My favorites were her stories from behind the scenes, both on Glee and one of my fave movies, Best in Show. And I must recommend listening to the audio version of this book, as it is read by Lynch herself, and it's like being read to by someone you know and love.
buckeyegal81267's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big Glee fan (Gleek!), so I was biased in my opinion of this book from the start. I found it to be enjoyable, funny, and mildly shocking, just like Sue Sylvester!
shingy76's review against another edition
3.0
Started off pretty well but got slower in the middle section whilst talking about her acting jobs. Touching and funny in places. A decent read.
brianajae's review against another edition
5.0
This was delightful. I have been a fan of Jane Lynch's work for years and so it's interesting to see the backstory behind an actress who has been in everything. She seems so confident on screen so it was fascinating to hear about her battles with anxiety and alcohol. I'm glad I listened to the audiobook, which Lynch reads.
rachelj62's review against another edition
3.0
Jane Lynch didn't really catch my interest until she played Sue Sylvester on Glee. I thought she was amazing in that role, so I was excited to learn more about her.
This was a good memoir. Jane doesn't hesitate to lay out all of her insecurities and transgressions. I appreciated her willingness to share her struggles with alcoholism, self-denial, anxiety, and allowing people in. She comes across as a relatable human being, filled with flaws, and always learning.
I did, however, think this would perhaps be a bit more funny. For me, the first part held my attention more than the second part. It started to feel like it was just a list of one "happy accident" after another, without any real surprises or juicy details. While it was nice to learn about how all of theses events came together to bring her life to a happy place, it just wasn't terribly entertaining.
This was a good memoir. Jane doesn't hesitate to lay out all of her insecurities and transgressions. I appreciated her willingness to share her struggles with alcoholism, self-denial, anxiety, and allowing people in. She comes across as a relatable human being, filled with flaws, and always learning.
I did, however, think this would perhaps be a bit more funny. For me, the first part held my attention more than the second part. It started to feel like it was just a list of one "happy accident" after another, without any real surprises or juicy details. While it was nice to learn about how all of theses events came together to bring her life to a happy place, it just wasn't terribly entertaining.