donnerbella's review against another edition
5.0
I knew it would wreck me. I had hoped it could give me insight. And I still wasn't prepared. Having faced maybe half of the traumatic experiences Hannah Gadsby is retelling in this book (mostly the autistic half, never played golf), I still felt fully seen and represented in a way I never have before. The way to her diagnosis, the struggles to then convince the rest of the world that you actually are autistic, the damn hospital visits as a child and how they teach you to be funny in a moment of tension, I will never get over it. Any of it.
Go read this book. Not because it's funny (it is) or to learn about autism (you will), but to draw strength from the fact that you too will find your way. Not alone, not quickly, but you will. In your life, you wield the loud stick.
Go read this book. Not because it's funny (it is) or to learn about autism (you will), but to draw strength from the fact that you too will find your way. Not alone, not quickly, but you will. In your life, you wield the loud stick.
historyofjess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book totally captivated me such that I ended up finishing it in just two sittings. It contains everything that I love about Hannah Gadsby's comedy, which includes humor but also brutal honesty and vulnerability. Gadsby tells her life story, which includes her coming out journey, and her twin paths to being diagnosed with both ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, in addition to her history as a comedian and her young life in Tasmania. Her queer journey is told alongside the evolution of gay rights in Tasmania and Australia, where she grew up and serves as an important context for Gadsby's internalized homophobia and shame. It's an incredible experience to go with Hannah on a journey through her discovery of herself. It can be painful, as any fan of her knows she has had more than her share of trauma, but her unique voice and brand of introspection (and yes, humor) guides you through it all.
The piece of the book that has really left a huge impression on me is how Hannah discusses her family, in particular her mother. While Gadsby's often uses her mother in her comedy as a source of many punchlines, and does as well in this book, she is an anchor point in this memoir. "Mom," as she is always called, does not always make things easy for her daughter and her dry wit can come off as cold, but her appearance in this memoir is always threaded through with love and as I read through the final pages of the book I found myself very emotional in experiencing the intense love that Gadsby and her mother shared. Of course, Gadsby acknowledges how much she loves her mother in the introduction of this book, but it's one thing to be told that another to experience it through her stories. It's really quite beautiful.
The piece of the book that has really left a huge impression on me is how Hannah discusses her family, in particular her mother. While Gadsby's often uses her mother in her comedy as a source of many punchlines, and does as well in this book, she is an anchor point in this memoir. "Mom," as she is always called, does not always make things easy for her daughter and her dry wit can come off as cold, but her appearance in this memoir is always threaded through with love and as I read through the final pages of the book I found myself very emotional in experiencing the intense love that Gadsby and her mother shared. Of course, Gadsby acknowledges how much she loves her mother in the introduction of this book, but it's one thing to be told that another to experience it through her stories. It's really quite beautiful.
nicolioliolio's review
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
jordansmoot's review
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Ableism, Child abuse, Rape, and Violence
findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
5.0
“If I were pushed to categorise Nanette, I would call her ‘stand-up catharsis,’ an experiment in the transmutation of trauma. You see, I was not simply telling my audience about my traumas; my goal was to simulate a feeling in the room that was akin to trauma, because I wanted to see if I could create an experience of communal empathy in a room full of strangers. Not just for me, but for all the people who have ever gone to comedy shows and been triggered by all the rape celebrations, violence, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia that gets spewed into microphones the whole world over.”
Wow. I’ve never read anything like this. For those of you unfamiliar with Hannah Gadsby, she is the autistic queer comedian behind the award-winning Netflix special Nanette. This memoir made me laugh out loud and made me deeply sad. It gave me both new insights and intense flashes of recognition when she shows the reader how she experiences the world through her autistic brain (my son is autistic).
I’ve never seen a person so deftly convey their trauma with such clarity, all without conveying any gory details. We don’t need them. The point is for her to show us the aftermath.
She talks about the intense self hatred and shame she felt growing up in a deeply homophobic environment in ‘90s Tasmania, feelings that have never completely gone away. Knowing that queer/trans kids are now hearing the same hateful rhetoric as new legislation is being crafted to eradicate their right to exist made me both sad and enraged.
Despite how I’m making this sound, this book isn’t tragic by any means! It’s a triumph. And not in an inspirational, overcoming adversity kind of way. Hannah takes us on her journey of hard won radical self-acceptance. She is a gift to humanity.
Wow. I’ve never read anything like this. For those of you unfamiliar with Hannah Gadsby, she is the autistic queer comedian behind the award-winning Netflix special Nanette. This memoir made me laugh out loud and made me deeply sad. It gave me both new insights and intense flashes of recognition when she shows the reader how she experiences the world through her autistic brain (my son is autistic).
I’ve never seen a person so deftly convey their trauma with such clarity, all without conveying any gory details. We don’t need them. The point is for her to show us the aftermath.
She talks about the intense self hatred and shame she felt growing up in a deeply homophobic environment in ‘90s Tasmania, feelings that have never completely gone away. Knowing that queer/trans kids are now hearing the same hateful rhetoric as new legislation is being crafted to eradicate their right to exist made me both sad and enraged.
Despite how I’m making this sound, this book isn’t tragic by any means! It’s a triumph. And not in an inspirational, overcoming adversity kind of way. Hannah takes us on her journey of hard won radical self-acceptance. She is a gift to humanity.
girljames's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
slow-paced
2.0
I wish Hannah Gadsby - who is a smart, brave, funny artist - also knew how to do specific, time-stamped trigger warnings. Shit is grim in here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Adult/minor relationship
pamiverson's review
4.0
The queer autistic Tasmanian stand-up comic shares her story and process. Best to listen to, although it's hard to hear about her pain, nice to hear how she has integrated her neurodiverse thought processes in productive ways to help us all learn. Snippets of her show, “Nanette,” which was aired on Netflix, are included.
fpachec0g's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
lukas_reich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.5