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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
I was somewhat disappointed that she wasn't a better writer, and I don't know if that was because she was battling cancer at the time or if she was just not a good writer. But she did seem like such a genuine person through this book.
"Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end."
I just went to see the Saturday Night movie and am SNL super fan said I HAD to read this book. So I snapped it up and blew through it. Honestly, it’s pretty gruesome and tough to read even though it’s short and quick. I commend Gilda for such open talk of her diagnosis and treatment, but cancer always makes me uncomfortable- especially with a pretty major family history myself. The hypochondriac in me constantly googled cancer details throughout the read. Overall, though, Gilda is so raw and real and approached cancer with tenacity and humor. Her love story with Gene Wilder was precious. Her dog, Sparkles, was my favorite character. And knowing that she faced cancer head-on and was determined to find positivity in her fight makes this book admirable & touching. I feel like I need more research on her life & legacy now, though, because the cancer-heaviness made me sad and she was so much more than her diagnosis. Recommend if you’re not going to go down a “uh oh do I have cancer rabbit hole” at cancer talk.
Listening to Gilda read about her cancer battle was devastating and at times haunting, knowing that not long after she wrote this she would pass away. She told this story in her sweet, funny way and I mourn the loss of such a wonderful soul.
Not only was she one of the funniest people on earth when she was with us, she was also extremely wise.
I am embarrassed to admit I had never heard of Gilda Radner before my grandma sent me this book. She was part of the original SNL cast and led an amazing life in 42 years. Gilda was brave, honest and funny. To put it simply- this book is devastating. Gilda started it when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and the tone is heartbreaking when you know that she didn’t survive. Gene Wilder clearly loved her so much and it’s so sad they didn’t have even a decade together. “Delicious ambiguity” is a contender for my next tattoo.
“I wanted to wrap this book up in a neat little package about a girl who is a comedienne from Detroit, becomes famous in New York, with all the world coming her way, gets this horrible disease of cancer, is brave and fights it, learning all the skills she needs to get through it, and then, miraculously, things are tied up neatly and she gets well… I wanted a prefect ending, so I sat down to write the book with the ending in place before there even was an ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Like my life, this book has ambiguity. Like my life, this book is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity…”
“I wanted to wrap this book up in a neat little package about a girl who is a comedienne from Detroit, becomes famous in New York, with all the world coming her way, gets this horrible disease of cancer, is brave and fights it, learning all the skills she needs to get through it, and then, miraculously, things are tied up neatly and she gets well… I wanted a prefect ending, so I sat down to write the book with the ending in place before there even was an ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Like my life, this book has ambiguity. Like my life, this book is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity…”
emotional
sad
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Gilda told it like it was. My heart broke when she shared her cancer diagnosis back in the 80's. Her memoir was not the story she planned on telling, but her honest; brave retelling of her experience most help countless victims of this insidious disease know that they are not alone.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced