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Old Man Shakes Fist at Cloud

Revisado: 10-04-18

I'm a lover of David Sedaris. But with the exception of "Theft By Finding," his past several books have been over-the-top cranky-old-man, and I think I'm done. He's weirdly nostalgic for his father's shitty behavior, which he justifies as good parenting. And his complaining has ceased to be insightful and entertaining - it's taken on a "millennials all expect a trophy" kind of quality. Books like "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" I listen to over and over again. There was nothing in "Calypso" I want to hear again. It was frankly exhausting to listen to.

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Disappointed

Revisado: 10-04-18

Sorry to say, I don't think this book is great. This book has been pretty hyped since its release, and the capture of the Golden State Killer. I'm about halfway through, and profoundly bored. McNamara's backstory on her own interest in true crime is not especially exciting, to me. And the details of the case are a slog. Hate to leave a negative review of this, but I've heard so many glowing reviews, and I feel mislead.

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Fantastic

Revisado: 10-04-18

This is one of the best celebrity memoirs, in terms of story and writing quality, I've ever read/listened to. Smart, well-paced, and well-read by Gordon. Love it.

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Extremely Disappointing

Revisado: 11-24-14

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I love Amy Poehler, and have since the Upright Citizens Brigade, but I'm sorry to say this book is not good. It rambles, jumping from topic and time period seemingly at random. There's smatterings of her personal life, and smatterings of her professional life, but neither is fleshed out in any compelling way. I don't feel like I actually learned anything about her. There's also a tone to the writing I really didn't like - similar to Tina Fey's book. Faux-self-depricating…smarmy…a little too pleased her own success…offering advice when it's apparent she's no more wise than you or I. I don't know…I question the point of someone her age writing a memoir, particularly one so devoid of actual details. And worst of all, the book really wasn't funny.

What was most disappointing about Amy Poehler’s story?

Instead of giving a more factually-based account of her life, or the trajectory of her career, or her working process, the story is almost all fluff. Lot's of "be grateful," and "love yourself" life lessons. I really get the sense that she wasn't ready to write this book. She even says "I don't like people knowing my shit." Okay. So why write this memoir? Why even touch upon your personal life if you don't want to talk about it? Because someone drove a dumptruck full of money up to your house? Talk about your career, then. Not your trip to the sleep specialist - a truly boring account that seemingly never ends.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?

No one. The performance was okay. Not great. But I'm not sure who's do a better job of it.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Yes Please?

I would have subtracted a lot of the personal life lessons. They come off as schmaltzy self-help anecdotes. The story about offending the girl with cerebral palsy is really too much. It's the one real self-critical part of the book, and it's very faux-humbly written. "I did a bad thing, but I apologized, and I was forgiven. So grateful!" I don't doubt she's truly sorry, but the way it's written is just…smarmy. I would have liked to hear more specific stories about her career as a woman in comedy. Actual experiences recounted. Somehow by the end of the book, I just feel like I had very little idea of how she got where she was. But I was well aware of how pleased with herself she is! And not that she shouldn't be. It's just…I feel gross, having read it.

Any additional comments?

It's beyond irritating to pay $24.95 for a book that someone put so little effort into writing. I really feel gyped, and I wish I could return this. I wish I could un-hear it, actually. I think I like Amy Poehler less, having read it, which pains me to say. There's just nothing about it I liked.

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