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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
This took me awhile to read. I’ve never actually seen Nanette but I’ve heard plenty and do really love Hannah Gadsby’s other works. I was scared to read this before watching but also scared to watch it before reading. All because of my own emotional trauma. I’ve worked so hard to keep all of that so very far down (and I’m a v privileged white cis heterosexual woman so my problems have always seemed way lesser to me and unworthy of attention because I don’t have it THAT bad).
Yet I somehow knew that Nanette would rip me open and I wasn’t ready for it.
I wasn’t. I never will be. But reading Hannah’s story was necessary. It’s not for everyone but as she’ll tell you, piss off. This is for her, and her audience, alone. Nobody gets to tell her what to do, not in her room.
I had to put this down numerous times and take a walk. Make a tea. Just take a breather. Other times I’d find myself up until 2am reading, unable to stop. I adored it as a whole and the brutal painful story lines have a lot of love and “holy shit, other people feel/felt/go through this too?” moments.
Life is weird. And really fucking hard. And sometimes it’s easy breezy. But this beautiful compilation of stories and tragedy really reminded me of the human condition. The mundane isn’t that mundane and the big things don’t always need to be our sole definitions.
If you get a chance, please read this. I know I certainly will never regret it.
Yet I somehow knew that Nanette would rip me open and I wasn’t ready for it.
I wasn’t. I never will be. But reading Hannah’s story was necessary. It’s not for everyone but as she’ll tell you, piss off. This is for her, and her audience, alone. Nobody gets to tell her what to do, not in her room.
I had to put this down numerous times and take a walk. Make a tea. Just take a breather. Other times I’d find myself up until 2am reading, unable to stop. I adored it as a whole and the brutal painful story lines have a lot of love and “holy shit, other people feel/felt/go through this too?” moments.
Life is weird. And really fucking hard. And sometimes it’s easy breezy. But this beautiful compilation of stories and tragedy really reminded me of the human condition. The mundane isn’t that mundane and the big things don’t always need to be our sole definitions.
If you get a chance, please read this. I know I certainly will never regret it.
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Hannah Gadsby is one of the few public figures that I can see my own understanding and navigation of the world reflected in. That's going to reflect in my understanding of their memoir, which I found funny, moving and unique. If you enjoy their work, this is a must read.
I found this gripping the whole way through and, unlike the reviewers calling it raw or horrifying, found it quite gentle. That’s a personal reaction from connecting with a lot of what Gadsby describes— while also differing enough to have the real feeling that more than my own experience is reflected back at me. I’ve never seen Nanette, both because I don’t have Netflix and because it seemed obviously triggering, but I’m much more tempted now that I have an analytic frame for how it works formally. I could have read twice as much about the writing process.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol
I hadn't known what to expect when I began this audiobook, but I knew it would be good. I just didn't realize it would be **THIS** good. Hannah Gadsby pulls back the curtain on her life and on the meticulous, painstaking process of creating her fantastic Netflix special, "Nanette." I found this fascinating. For anyone who thinks of stand-up as being mostly improv (I confess I have long harbored that impression), Gadsby makes clear what clever craft is required to make a tight, resonant, impactful show. I'm blown away by her self-knowledge, by how she advocates for what she needs, and for her towering intellect as evidenced both by the show and this writing. I highly recommend this. It's definitely a Best of 2022 for me.
At times, too much detail that I zoned out on. But overall a wonderful read, especially on audio.
Gadsby’s memoir is fantastic. If you were impacted by Nanette, you’ll love this as well.
Turns out that Hannah Gadsby + Nanette, whether in stand up or in a much wider memoir format, will make me emotional and then just make me weep. And I will love it every time.