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March 27, 2023
Essayist Irby (Wow, No Thank You) shows off her wit, empathy, and self-deprecating humor in this animated collection. Across 17 essays, Irby contemplates the hysteria of the early days of the Covid pandemic, tells off snobs who dismiss her predilections for Justin Bieber and strip malls, and offers comedic accounts of every time she’s peed herself since reaching middle age. In “What If I Died Like Elvis,” she describes making jokes to hospital staff even as anaphylactic shock hampered her ability to breathe, leading her to the realization that she’s “a clown who is desperate to coax even a hint of a smile from the very serious people tasked with making sure she lives to honk her big red nose another day.” Reflecting on the entertainment she loves, she serves up appreciations for Dave Matthews’s love songs and outlines outrageous plot twists she would like to have seen on HBO’s Sex and the City. The most moving essay, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” meditates on the bonds of family as she recounts reuniting with her estranged half brother after the death of their father. Bouncing between irreverence and poignancy, this keeps the laughs coming while serving up intimate personal reflection and entertaining cultural commentary. Irby’s fans will be glad to find her in top form.
Starred review from June 10, 2024
Irby (Wow, No Thank You) is back with a new self-narrated essay collection full of keen observations, body-related humor, and self-deprecation. Whether discussing diarrhea, anaphylactic shock, or her porn preferences, Irby's style is novel. Chill but sharp as a tack, she displays her talents by making even the mundane seem hilarious. Her misadventures in dating and insightful observations on body image, mental health, and relationships explore the messy and complicated aspects of everyday life. She navigates complex family dynamics with her half-siblings and simple ones with her stepkids (impossible to impress, and as a general rule, it's best to avoid asking teens what they think of oneself). Irby's talents as a narrator make audio the preferred format of this title. Her distinctive voice, comedic timing, and ability to use the right level of sarcasm and sincerity give listeners a front-row seat to a great storytelling adventure. VERDICT Irby's pitch-perfect narration makes this unfiltered, honest essay collection in audio an essential purchase. A great recommendation for fans of Mia Mercado, David Sedaris, and Phoebe Robinson.--Christa Van Herreweghe
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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