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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
If you are familiar with Hannah Gadsby, you will love this, especially in audio, as she narrates.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
I've seen both Douglas and Body of Work (aka Something Special on Netflix) live, and I've watched Nanette at least three times (and cried every single time). Needless to say that as Hannah’s fan, I adore their spiky, dry, cutting humor. This book was both hilarious and heartbreaking, and it was also a learning experience: one of the interesting things I learned right in the introduction when Hannah explains the main differences between the US and AUS comedy shows (in the US, stand-up is one-liners that are meant to make people laugh, AUS (and also UK) is more of the festival comic variety where the show is an hour long performance that has a dramatic arc) and the way they construct their shows. And the chance to take a peek into their mind space was both fascinating and interesting in a very academic sense.
I think it was in Nanette that Hannah said they don’t want to use self-deprecating humor anymore because punching yourself down is neither empowering nor fun, but there’s a lot of self-deprecation in their thoughts. Part of it is just their dry humor and finally being able to see their childhood through autistic view instead of just being plain weird but part of it is mean to themself.
But also...there is such a thing as too much snark, and all of that makes the book slightly heavy reading. Still enjoyed it to bits but just like their show, Hannah’s book is best served in smaller quantities to avoid oversaturation. But still. A thought-provoking, heartfelt, aching story of how they grew up to be what they are.
I think it was in Nanette that Hannah said they don’t want to use self-deprecating humor anymore because punching yourself down is neither empowering nor fun, but there’s a lot of self-deprecation in their thoughts. Part of it is just their dry humor and finally being able to see their childhood through autistic view instead of just being plain weird but part of it is mean to themself.
But also...there is such a thing as too much snark, and all of that makes the book slightly heavy reading. Still enjoyed it to bits but just like their show, Hannah’s book is best served in smaller quantities to avoid oversaturation. But still. A thought-provoking, heartfelt, aching story of how they grew up to be what they are.
Really enjoyed Nanette when if came out on Netflix. This book chronicles the stories behind how the live show came about. I just finished reading The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond and seeing how Hannah grew up in Tasmania was an interesting commonality of both books. Tasmania is not only the setting of one of civilizations most brutal and thorough genocide (which Gadsby mentions briefly) but also the setting of one of Australia's more significant mass killings which helped change the gun laws. Hannah's relationship with her parent's is the center of the book along with her management of her autism. Enjoyed the book, recommended for folks who liked the live show.
Whew. This is NOT an easy memoir at all.
This book is NOT an easy read. Instead, it's heavy as hell. But it's not heavy in the sense of rocket science, but it's heavy in the sense that you feel like there's a weight atop your chest ALL THE TIME when you read page by page. I feel like there is no precise English word to summarize my overall feeling towards this 'memoir situation', so I will just say what youngsters of my country love to exclaim: BJIR.
The earlier half is SO PAINFUL to read and I think I might hate Hannah during those years seeing how she hated herself. Those years are messy, lonely, empty, and I don't know if what makes me angry at her I because I cannot sympathize with her OR because I see a little bit of crumbs that reminds me at my own life. Well, maybe I know, but I don't want to write anything about it here.
I can't even decide if I want to give this book a five-star.
BUT, considering how haunted I am after finishing it, and how quick I was to open my Netflix app and rewatch Nanette show after all these years, the facts speak for itself. This book demands to be rated accordingly, and no matter what I want, it deserves a five-star rating.
This book is NOT an easy read. Instead, it's heavy as hell. But it's not heavy in the sense of rocket science, but it's heavy in the sense that you feel like there's a weight atop your chest ALL THE TIME when you read page by page. I feel like there is no precise English word to summarize my overall feeling towards this 'memoir situation', so I will just say what youngsters of my country love to exclaim: BJIR.
The earlier half is SO PAINFUL to read and I think I might hate Hannah during those years seeing how she hated herself. Those years are messy, lonely, empty, and I don't know if what makes me angry at her I because I cannot sympathize with her OR because I see a little bit of crumbs that reminds me at my own life. Well, maybe I know, but I don't want to write anything about it here.
I can't even decide if I want to give this book a five-star.
BUT, considering how haunted I am after finishing it, and how quick I was to open my Netflix app and rewatch Nanette show after all these years, the facts speak for itself. This book demands to be rated accordingly, and no matter what I want, it deserves a five-star rating.
I had really high expectations for this book. I mean look at that average rating. And I like Hannah Gadsby. I'd watched Nanette before. I'd watched Please Like Me. And I'd liked both. Gadsby's very funny. And profound.
Now, this book was good I suppose. However, it wasn't mind-blowing (like Nanette had been). But then I already sort of knew what to expect before delving into this book. The homophobia, the trauma, the suicidality, all of it. I liked getting some insights and of course I still liked Gadsby's dry and witty style and homour. But to be honest I expected a little more. I don't know what exactly and it's probably not fair to expect more, but yeah. To end on a more positive note. I really, really liked how Hannah described the relationship to her family, specifically her mother. So this book is really quite the book about family. Maybe even more so than it is about ASD or trauma.
Now, this book was good I suppose. However, it wasn't mind-blowing (like Nanette had been). But then I already sort of knew what to expect before delving into this book. The homophobia, the trauma, the suicidality, all of it. I liked getting some insights and of course I still liked Gadsby's dry and witty style and homour. But to be honest I expected a little more. I don't know what exactly and it's probably not fair to expect more, but yeah. To end on a more positive note. I really, really liked how Hannah described the relationship to her family, specifically her mother. So this book is really quite the book about family. Maybe even more so than it is about ASD or trauma.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Gadsby has included content warnings at the start of this book. Please heed them!
I cannot imagine how someone so funny has been through this level of trauma in her life. Human resilience is remarkable but I wish humans, especially women/NBs wouldn’t have to be.
This book is as hilarious as the author but it doesn’t hold back when covering the horrifying nature of the crimes committed against her. How she manages to write them, let alone read them for the audiobook, I do not know.
This is a tough book to read at times. But it’s also wildly illuminating and very amusing at times.
I especially loved the insights into the world of comedy and performance. Gotta say, I’ve would have loved more on that.
Great writing and easy listening but those warnings are there for a reason.
I cannot imagine how someone so funny has been through this level of trauma in her life. Human resilience is remarkable but I wish humans, especially women/NBs wouldn’t have to be.
This book is as hilarious as the author but it doesn’t hold back when covering the horrifying nature of the crimes committed against her. How she manages to write them, let alone read them for the audiobook, I do not know.
This is a tough book to read at times. But it’s also wildly illuminating and very amusing at times.
I especially loved the insights into the world of comedy and performance. Gotta say, I’ve would have loved more on that.
Great writing and easy listening but those warnings are there for a reason.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I dearly loved Nanette and appreciate the wit and intelligence of Hannah Gadsby. Sharing her life’s experience arriving at Nanette is a gift. A funny, sobering, heartbreaking, and inspiring gift.