“Sorry, Jennifer.
I’ve found myself somewhat a fan of memoirs written by female comedians and comedy writers. Don’t ask me why, it’s just seemed to me that Tina Fey’s was better than Mike Birbiglia’s, and even though it wasn’t all the way, deeply and sensually up my alley, Mindy Kaling’s was a surprise hit for me as well.
This one didn’t work for me. And I can tell you exactly why.
The premise (choosing not to have kids) and introductory chapter were pretty good. Funny, and also they had an actual topic, which is a big lack in a lot of comedy memoirs.
Then, however, we fell into the classic memoir trap: Let’s go back WAY too far in time to when I was 20 and discuss how I wasted my time getting a worthless degree and hanging with college kids. I’m sorry, but this section was really unremarkable, and it seemed like it was written so that I was supposed to see the inherent humor in a girl moving in with two dudes as opposed to getting some good jokes in there.
Here’s the difference between this book and books I’ve found funny: Funny books with funny writing get a good laugh out of me regardless of the situation. Maybe the situation is bizarre, and that can help. But it’s the insight, the point of view the writer brings that takes something to the next level. Look at David Sedaris. If someone at a party said they were going to write an essay about learning French, I would nod politely and then politely excuse myself and then politely adjourn to the parking lot where I would politely douse myself and gasoline and burn myself to death. But, BUT, David Sedaris took the subject, not necessarily hilarious without some guidance, and highlighted what was truly funny.
This book felt like a lot of comedian books, which is basically their sets in written form with some stories about childhood in between. Really disappointing. I think this is a funny lady who can write a really funny book. And I’ll be square, I read a small percentage of it. But hey, it’s a memoir. I already know where the story ends, and I know that this book isn’t about someone who had her face melted off or something. So I just need something more up top to keep me going.”