By Amy Schumer
Published 2016
Summary
In
this book Amy Schumer shows that she is more than a comedian who likes to talk
about sex and degrade herself for a joke. She has lived a difficult life
dealing with her parents’ divorces, her father's battle with the disease
multiple sclerosis, helped mentally challenged people, has been in abusive relationships, and cares very deeply for her sister. These parts of the
book are an insight into her personal life and how her experiences have shaped
who she is and her strong opinions about people and life in general.
Characteristics of Nonfiction: Autobiography/Memoir
Type:
This book is less of an autobiography and more of a
collection of memoirs with a few central themes.
Frame/Setting:
There are chapter headings that explain the general
overview of each chapter. However, there
are one or both overwhelming subjects that find their way into every
chapter. These subjects are family
issues and sex.
Tone/Mood:
The tone of this book various greatly. At some points it is very sad and somber when
Amy is recalling facts about her volunteering at a summer camp for mentally
challenged adults and at other parts it is hilarious when she is reviewing old diary
entries from her childhood.
Style/Language:
The writing style varies.
It can be very straight forward when Amy is discussing her views on gun
control. This is done in lecture style
writing. In other parts of the book her
style changes to a friendly banter between old friends; like when Amy is using abbreviations
like J.K. for just kidding. The different writing style may bother
certain readers, because it does not flow naturally from one topic to
another. However, the audio book read by
the author does help this issue.
Pacing:
The pacing in the book has highs and lows. Some of the
chapters about her family issues are slowed down to such a slow pace that it
feels longer than it is. Other times the
pace is more upbeat, especially when recalling stories about good sexual
experiences and fun outings with her sister.
Characterization:
This book does a great job of relaying to the reader how
Amy feels about the different characters in the book. She makes you feel sad for her broken
relationship with her mother and angry at the boyfriend who physically abused
her.
Reviews
Publishers Weekly: “Her prose, like her popular comedy
act, is plucky, forthright, hilariously raunchy—and honest.... Amid ill-fated
dates, alcohol-induced blackouts, and late-night eating binges, Schumer, in
these candid, well-crafted essays, wears her mistakes "like badges of
honor."
Chicago Tribune: “What [Schumer] offers here is a better,
more deeply felt life-so-far book than most I've read...Schumer weaves a brave,
vulnerable tale without falling into the usual celebrity traps of neediness and
defense.”
Emily Yahr from the Washington Post writes: “This is not
solely a breezy beach read. With little notice, the essays whiplash from
hilarious to grim as Schumer lays bare some of the most traumatizing moments of
her life.”
Associated Press: “Readers will laugh and cry, and may
put the book down from moments of honesty that result in uncomfortable
realistic details from her life. More important, the essays challenge readers
to harness their own stories and rest in the fact that they’re good enough.
Experience the world. Be bold. Love your body. It’s OK to fail and make
mistakes. And lower-back tattoos can only make you stronger.”
Good Reads gives this book an overall rating of 3.38 out
of 5 stars.
Kirkus Reviewer: “A hilarious and effective memoir from a
woman with zero inhibitions.”
Yes Please by Amy Poehler. (2014).
Bossypants by Tina Fey. (2011).
Is Everyone
Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
by Mindy Kaling. (2011).
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. (2007).
Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy by Ophira Eisenberg.
(2013).
I'm not typically a nonfiction reader, but I like to learn more about people's experiences and emotions. This sounds like it may be a good fit for me to jump into nonfiction. You said that there are chapter headings and that it is more a set of memoirs. Would you be able to jump around in this book or is it one that you need to read from beginning to end in order for everything to flow?
ReplyDeleteI would recommend that you read it from beginning to end. In certain ways Amy refers to and builds on issues in her life. Other times it is more loosely structured. So, skipping around would loose some important details.
ReplyDeleteI've been a fan of Amy Schumer as her stand-up comedy basically had me in tears as I was laughing so hard. This book has been on my Amazon list, and this annotation is very helpful in promoting this book. I also enjoy the authors of the read-a-likes because I enjoy their comedy as well.
ReplyDeleteIt is refreshing to learn about the lives of celebrities and how they arrived at a successful career. Comedians are known to have had a difficult childhood and they use humor as a coping measure. Amy Schumer often is brash and tacky and at the same time very funny. I think highly of anyone who takes the time to volunteer, especially at an adult camp for the mentally challenged. I am not drawn to memoirs and biographies so I am happy to have read your blog and learning about the softer side of Amy.
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised with this book, I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. You did a great job summarizing the book and listing out appeals such as pacing and chapter themes. Great job and full points!
ReplyDelete