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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
I wanted to like this so much. Parts were good, parts were just wayyyy too long and detailed to keep a good rhythm or pace.
Highly recommend the audio version, not only because she reads it, but also because she pulls in a few clips from the show which really enhances the reading.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I particularly recommend listening to Hannah read the audiobook. Now I want to go watch Nannette & Douglas again.
Hannah Gadsby has a magical way with words, a fact fans of her comedy special are well aware of. This memoir shows just how precisely Gadsby can make you laugh, think, and cry in one short anecdote. From Gadsby's youth to entering the comedy scene to the creating the show that made her an international sensation, this book was funny and thought-provoking in equal measure. I imagine it makes a fantastic audiobook, since I could hear it in Gadsby's voice from the writing!
I’m relatively new to Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby and her groundbreaking use of humor. She’s unapologetically upending the traditional standup comedy format by interjecting her personal experiences with homophobia, sexual assault, and feeling other throughout her shows, and she is explicitly challenging the patriarchy. She’s also very open about being diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and how that, along with being queer, has challenged her. During her performances, you laugh—yes, so much—but some serious sh*t also goes down. I’ve now seen her perform live—so, so good—but she has a couple of Netflix shows you do not want to miss: the award-winning Nanette, and Douglas.
I absolutely also recommend Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation, her book which was born of both her life memories and the making of the show. If you can listen to it, all the better, as she narrates it herself.
Ten Steps to Nanette has Gadsby’s trademark dry wit and self-deprecation while relaying some truly difficult aspects of her life. She once again upends format, though—her prologue comes at the end of the book and the epilogue, the beginning. She also includes an intermission so you can recuperate from the reading experience mid-stream.
Gadsby frequently references excerpts from her show and the wild success that came after it. So, while you could just pick this up as a the autobiographical work of an artist referencing a creation of hers, I’d suggest getting to know her comedy first. It’s the best showcase of who she is. I predict you’ll fall in love with her, as I did, and want to get your hands on more of her material. That’s what led me to Ten Steps to Nanette!
I absolutely also recommend Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation, her book which was born of both her life memories and the making of the show. If you can listen to it, all the better, as she narrates it herself.
Ten Steps to Nanette has Gadsby’s trademark dry wit and self-deprecation while relaying some truly difficult aspects of her life. She once again upends format, though—her prologue comes at the end of the book and the epilogue, the beginning. She also includes an intermission so you can recuperate from the reading experience mid-stream.
Gadsby frequently references excerpts from her show and the wild success that came after it. So, while you could just pick this up as a the autobiographical work of an artist referencing a creation of hers, I’d suggest getting to know her comedy first. It’s the best showcase of who she is. I predict you’ll fall in love with her, as I did, and want to get your hands on more of her material. That’s what led me to Ten Steps to Nanette!
I tried this on audio and it wasn't the right book/time for me.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence
Minor: Abortion