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crabbygirl's review against another edition
2.0
i read the first few essays; they were a little funny but not overtly, and sort of disappointing considering the glowing reviews it got. and she hardly wrote about her SCTV work so that was disappointing too, especially after relating to most of the work that martin short referenced.
mountie9's review against another edition
5.0
The Good Stuff
I had to request this one as I have been told all my life that I look like her (Even Gordon Pinsent) and well quite frankly I grew up on SCTV
Such a beautiful, honest, open and bloody hilarious memoir
Excellent choice with title, but Fake Beaver and Perky Tits would have been wonderful titles as well, though might be hard to market in a family bookstore
After reading her memoir I even feel more close to her. Especially the parenting aspects and the low self esteem about ones body
Enjoyed the story of her first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Silly I know but it made me happy when she mentioned Nora Short, who went to nursing school with my mom
I admire her openness about talking about her battle with Bulimia, that takes courage my twin
Balled my eyes out when she begs forgiveness from her children about not being present while fighting her battle with Bulimia - That is very open and I believe helpful those that might be still fighting this battle
The story about Snow Whites inner thoughts - priceless
She loves Libraries
The chapter on Old Lady Parts is worth the price of the book alone (and I totally understand)
Truly did make me laugh and cry.
Perfect for fans of Andrea, but as well as any women over the age of 30 (Younger women too, but they aren't going to get some things like us old broads)
The Not So Good Stuff
Totally flabbergasted that I didn't know she was an American (shocked I tell you, shocked) I's ok I still love you though
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I had no conception of what I looked like. I had always adapted to what other people wanted me to be. Without their input my face was a blank canvas."
"I will still camp out on Toronto mayor Rob Ford's front lawn if he brings up the ludicrous and decadent idea of closing libraries again."
"Recently, I accepted the invitation to write a monthly humour column for ParentsCanada magazine. What was I thinking? I don't remember my kids' names, never mind the way I parented them nearly thirty years ago. Except hat I was anxious all the time. Worried that I was not doing it right, whatever "Doing it right| is supposed to mean."
4.75 Dewey's
I received this from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review - Thanks Cory!
I had to request this one as I have been told all my life that I look like her (Even Gordon Pinsent) and well quite frankly I grew up on SCTV
Such a beautiful, honest, open and bloody hilarious memoir
Excellent choice with title, but Fake Beaver and Perky Tits would have been wonderful titles as well, though might be hard to market in a family bookstore
After reading her memoir I even feel more close to her. Especially the parenting aspects and the low self esteem about ones body
Enjoyed the story of her first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Silly I know but it made me happy when she mentioned Nora Short, who went to nursing school with my mom
I admire her openness about talking about her battle with Bulimia, that takes courage my twin
Balled my eyes out when she begs forgiveness from her children about not being present while fighting her battle with Bulimia - That is very open and I believe helpful those that might be still fighting this battle
The story about Snow Whites inner thoughts - priceless
She loves Libraries
The chapter on Old Lady Parts is worth the price of the book alone (and I totally understand)
Truly did make me laugh and cry.
Perfect for fans of Andrea, but as well as any women over the age of 30 (Younger women too, but they aren't going to get some things like us old broads)
The Not So Good Stuff
Totally flabbergasted that I didn't know she was an American (shocked I tell you, shocked) I's ok I still love you though
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I had no conception of what I looked like. I had always adapted to what other people wanted me to be. Without their input my face was a blank canvas."
"I will still camp out on Toronto mayor Rob Ford's front lawn if he brings up the ludicrous and decadent idea of closing libraries again."
"Recently, I accepted the invitation to write a monthly humour column for ParentsCanada magazine. What was I thinking? I don't remember my kids' names, never mind the way I parented them nearly thirty years ago. Except hat I was anxious all the time. Worried that I was not doing it right, whatever "Doing it right| is supposed to mean."
4.75 Dewey's
I received this from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review - Thanks Cory!
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
If you're a fan of SCTV, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Godspell the musical, or any of the work Andrea Martin has produced over the years, you're going to love this book. I grew up watching SCTV and look back on many of the sketches fondly, including Edith Prickley.
Andrea Martin's memoir is intensely personal and parts of it feel like a confessional, like she's getting a cathartic sense of relief by getting things off her chest, but it's also tinged with her own brand of humour. I was delighted to see she devoted a chapter to her trip to Armenia and finding more about her Armenian roots (most people assume she's Jewish and she even jokes at the beginning of that chapter that she used to wish she were Jewish and that most of her friends were Jewish, etc). People may find her revelations about eating disorders to resonate with them, or the frank discussions of her parents and how she struggled to find their acceptance and dealt with their passings, while others who are more interested in the chapters detailing her early career and beginnings with things like Godspell and SCTV will want to stick to the latter half of the book.
She's one of the funniest entertainers and someone who could give most of the young comedians of today a run for their money and do it with style and class. It has something different for everybody, and I very much enjoyed reading more about this funny lady who I have looked up to for years.
Andrea Martin's memoir is intensely personal and parts of it feel like a confessional, like she's getting a cathartic sense of relief by getting things off her chest, but it's also tinged with her own brand of humour. I was delighted to see she devoted a chapter to her trip to Armenia and finding more about her Armenian roots (most people assume she's Jewish and she even jokes at the beginning of that chapter that she used to wish she were Jewish and that most of her friends were Jewish, etc). People may find her revelations about eating disorders to resonate with them, or the frank discussions of her parents and how she struggled to find their acceptance and dealt with their passings, while others who are more interested in the chapters detailing her early career and beginnings with things like Godspell and SCTV will want to stick to the latter half of the book.
She's one of the funniest entertainers and someone who could give most of the young comedians of today a run for their money and do it with style and class. It has something different for everybody, and I very much enjoyed reading more about this funny lady who I have looked up to for years.
jlmb's review against another edition
1.0
Wow. What happened? I feel bad giving this book one star because Andrea seems like a nice lady and I thought she was funny on SCTV. However, I cannot in good conscience give more than a sad one star rating. I blame HarperCollins and Jim Gifford - the guy Andrea thanks for being her "editor"(I use the word loosely) - for the train wreck that is this book. At one point during one of her many, many complaints about trying to write this book, Andrea says she hates writing & prefers talking & that she wishes there was a person there that she could just talk to about the book, instead of attempting to write it herself. Guess what, Andrea!!! There is this person called a ghostwriter who could totally do that for you! You tell them your story and they will put your words into a readable book! Who knew!!! Seriously, what is going on in the publishing world that so many celebrities are being allowed to write their own books without any help. Is it a financial thing? The celebrity gets more money if a ghostwriter is not involved? In rare instances a celebrity is able to write a well crafted memoir but usually it's a shitshow when they attempt to do it solo.
What is this book supposed to be anyway? A memoir? A collection of humorous essays? I don't think Andrea knows so how can the reader tell? Well, it turns out that is it neither! It's a rambling, meandering stream of consciousness detailing Andrea's tv shows that she likes, how nice her gynecologist is, how messy her astrologer's house is, what animal videos on Youtube Andrea finds funny, how much she dislikes writing this book you are reading, how once she went to a party and there was a woman there hired to analyze the party guests signatures, what books are on her nightstand that she feels like she should read but instead she watches Dancing With The Stars or cat videos on YouTube, a chapter detailing the kind of haircut she prefers etc. Just go visit your grandmother and sit with her one afternoon and let her ramble about her life - that will give you the same experience as reading this book.
If you want to learn about her career, I suggest visiting IMDB.com. That site gives you more information than this book does. Too bad this wasn't a traditional memoir written by a ghostwriter. It would have been a lot more enjoyable.
What is this book supposed to be anyway? A memoir? A collection of humorous essays? I don't think Andrea knows so how can the reader tell? Well, it turns out that is it neither! It's a rambling, meandering stream of consciousness detailing Andrea's tv shows that she likes, how nice her gynecologist is, how messy her astrologer's house is, what animal videos on Youtube Andrea finds funny, how much she dislikes writing this book you are reading, how once she went to a party and there was a woman there hired to analyze the party guests signatures, what books are on her nightstand that she feels like she should read but instead she watches Dancing With The Stars or cat videos on YouTube, a chapter detailing the kind of haircut she prefers etc. Just go visit your grandmother and sit with her one afternoon and let her ramble about her life - that will give you the same experience as reading this book.
If you want to learn about her career, I suggest visiting IMDB.com. That site gives you more information than this book does. Too bad this wasn't a traditional memoir written by a ghostwriter. It would have been a lot more enjoyable.
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