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mollybonovskyanderson's review against another edition
3.0
If you want to read about someone to whom you can easily relate, and with whom you agree about all things feminist, then write your own memoir. If you want to read some thoughts--often outrageous, cringe-worthy, controversial, sardonic, but unapologetic, read Jill Soloway. I found this book because I love the writing on "Transparent." This pre-dates that, but is still centered, as Transparent is, on family dynamics and personal struggles with sexuality and relationships, and also offers observations on everything from fashion to food to bodily functions that are amusing, even if you don't agree with them. I personally like Jill Soloway because she's honest about riding that fence between being fearless and not giving a shit, and being insecure and hoping that you like her.
awhite's review against another edition
2.0
The story about camp and her attempts to travel to new places were humorous and eerily similar to my own, but the rest of the book didn't grab me as I had hoped it would.
linzer712's review against another edition
2.0
While there were a few entertaining vignettes in this book, for the most part I wondered why I'm supposed to care. Maybe this would have seemed funnier ten years ago when it was first published.
misajane79's review against another edition
2.0
Thought this was very uneven--parts were funny but a lot of it was just annoying. In a way, this is really two books and it would have been much better if it was split.
One half is a mix of witty autobiographical essays, heavily influenced by her Jewishness.
The other half is heavy-handed feminism. This is the part that really irritated me (which seems odd, since I'm usually so pro-feminism). The two just didn't quite mesh.
Expected to giggle much more and usually just managed a faint smile. Will probably not check out any future books from her.
One half is a mix of witty autobiographical essays, heavily influenced by her Jewishness.
The other half is heavy-handed feminism. This is the part that really irritated me (which seems odd, since I'm usually so pro-feminism). The two just didn't quite mesh.
Expected to giggle much more and usually just managed a faint smile. Will probably not check out any future books from her.
ingridboring's review against another edition
2.0
This is a weird time capsule of noughties white feminism. It's offensive and racist. I guess it shows how much growth a lot of people have done since it was first published. I am going to read Jill Soloway's more recent book now, I planned to read this for context...but don't necessarily recommend it. A couple of the chapters are great and it's not badly written it has dated poorly and is pre-intersectional feminism for sure.
juliaem's review against another edition
2.0
Jill Soloway, who wrote for Six Feet Under, is obviously very compelling when creating characters for HBO shows. Although at times she's VERY funny in her memoir, at other times her humor falls flat. Let me compare: I would have read a David Sedaris book of this length in an afternoon. "Tiny Ladies" took me a week. There wasn't anything that grabbed me enough to keep me hooked beyond my general feelings of "gotta finish a book once you start." The reason this book is worth reading is that I have the suspicion that Soloway discussing her wacky and sometimes painful childhood, zany friends, and general life misadventures in person would be sidesplitting, she is undoubtedly a thoughtful and energetic feminist, and I would like to be her friend. Jill, are you on goodreads? You seem awesome!
joelevard's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not entirely sure why I read this book. First, I thought it was new, but quickly figured out it was written in 2006 when she referred to, like, He's Just Not that Into You as a "hot" book and didn't say anything about Fifty Shades of Grey. Plus, I recognized her name from those two weeks I spent watching all 60 episodes of Six Feet Under (and god help her if she is responsible for any of that interminable stretch of third season episodes where Lisa is missing and Nate wanders around asking "WHERE'S LISA? LISA! MY WIFE IS MISSING, CAN'T YOU SEE I AM UPSET?" as if he or the audience care). And it seemed like it might be good to listen to in traffic.
And it was. It's not "better" than Tina Fey's book (less focused, less insider-Hollywood interesting), but it is still amusing as these things go, and maybe made me laugh a little bit more. The writing style is very of-the-blog-moment 2006, with lots of asides and talking to herself and long parentheticals, which is cool because I like to write that way even if my editor (when I am being paid anyway) always cuts them out because GET TO THE POINT.
Maybe it's funnier if you are a lady, or Jewish (the word "Jew" appears in the book like 1,000 times according to the author in her own words no I didn't count) and can deeply connect with the material. Also might help if you find it really funny to say "whooer" instead of "whore," because she gets a lot of mileage out of that. In the audiobook, anyway.
Just in case: shut up, Nate.
And it was. It's not "better" than Tina Fey's book (less focused, less insider-Hollywood interesting), but it is still amusing as these things go, and maybe made me laugh a little bit more. The writing style is very of-the-blog-moment 2006, with lots of asides and talking to herself and long parentheticals, which is cool because I like to write that way even if my editor (when I am being paid anyway) always cuts them out because GET TO THE POINT.
Maybe it's funnier if you are a lady, or Jewish (the word "Jew" appears in the book like 1,000 times according to the author in her own words no I didn't count) and can deeply connect with the material. Also might help if you find it really funny to say "whooer" instead of "whore," because she gets a lot of mileage out of that. In the audiobook, anyway.
Just in case: shut up, Nate.
jenkharvey's review against another edition
2.0
Written by one of the writers of “Six Feet Under,” (my favourite show) I wanted to like this book. I didn’t. Jill Solloway makes many attempts to be funny and according to the back cover, a lot of people think she is, but not me.
I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m not Jewish, so I don’t fully appreciate the Jewish jokes that grace every second sentence. Or, maybe it’s because I’m not a mother, so I don’t understand all the motherhood references. I don’t think it’s either though. I think the author had many interesting experiences to write about but failed to deliver. She talks about growing up as a non-practicing “Jewess,” her and her sister being the only white kids at school, her parents splitting up, her sister coming out, the birth of her son and meeting her husband, among others. Yet, not once in the telling of these stories did I ever feel empathy. I didn’t care. I was just wondering when the chapter was going to be over.
Her writing style resembled more of a blog entry than a personal essay. Maybe that was the point? I just thought it sounded very self-indulgent. Like she wrote it to herself, about herself.
I didn’t hate everything about the book though. It was a light easy read, which I was going for. I did find her life to be interesting, even though she sounded like a friend who wouldn’t stop talking about herself. I did like the chapter she wrote about dogs and the appendix was helpful for those who want to get into the business.
I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m not Jewish, so I don’t fully appreciate the Jewish jokes that grace every second sentence. Or, maybe it’s because I’m not a mother, so I don’t understand all the motherhood references. I don’t think it’s either though. I think the author had many interesting experiences to write about but failed to deliver. She talks about growing up as a non-practicing “Jewess,” her and her sister being the only white kids at school, her parents splitting up, her sister coming out, the birth of her son and meeting her husband, among others. Yet, not once in the telling of these stories did I ever feel empathy. I didn’t care. I was just wondering when the chapter was going to be over.
Her writing style resembled more of a blog entry than a personal essay. Maybe that was the point? I just thought it sounded very self-indulgent. Like she wrote it to herself, about herself.
I didn’t hate everything about the book though. It was a light easy read, which I was going for. I did find her life to be interesting, even though she sounded like a friend who wouldn’t stop talking about herself. I did like the chapter she wrote about dogs and the appendix was helpful for those who want to get into the business.