After reading something heavy, I desperately need a hearty
guffaw. Occasionally, I love checking
out the humor section at the local bookstore.
I generally don’t pay attention to the gender of any given novel, but
the more I have read books by female comedians in recent years, I have realized
that an unspoken sub-genre exists: the female comedian memoir.
Unlike their male counterparts, female comedians are
“getting real” and sharing their life struggles and advice all the while using
a witty voice. As comical as these writers are, they bear a
more sincere presence in their publication. (Take for example Tina Fey's passion towards raising children in Bossy Pants.)
Sometimes they will offer unsolicited advice to their female readers. Regardless of whether or not I would ever
consider taking their advice, I do enjoy their witty and self-deprecating take on childhood,
rise to success/stardom, and how they choose to balance it all. (It makes them appear somewhat
relatable.)
Quite a few male comedians, on the other hand, generally
hide behind a satirical persona a la Stephen Colbert. If a male author is
playing himself, he will most likely use a sarcastic or droll tone. Either way, the content of most male comedian
authors focuses more on current news than on the personal details of their
lives. I absolutely adore both approaches
and writing styles, therefore, I do not have a personal preference.
I do, however, hold a bias when it comes to celebrity
memoirs. I do prefer female comedian
memoirs to female celebrity memoirs in which these celebrities hold very little
writing credit or talent. Most
successful television female comedians hold writing experience on TV or during
their sketch comedy salad days. I
appreciate nothing more than a memoir written by someone who is witty,
intelligent and has a way with words.
Otherwise, we have to read poetry by celebrities like Suzanne
Somers:
Organic
girl dropped last night
For
nothing in particular
Except
to tell me again how beautiful and serene she feels
On
uncooked vegetables and wheat germ fortified by bean sprouts
Mixed
with yeast and egg whites on really big days
She
not only meditates regularly, but looks at me like I should
And
lectures me about meat and ice cream
And
other aggressive foods I shouldn’t eat.
Touch Me:
The Poems of Suzanne Somers
