Like yesterday, I have some time to throw in a book review that isn’t an ARC because… I’m reading my ARCs too slowly. I know! I know I’m behind! I’m sorry! I’m working on it! And by that, I mean I’ll be traveling for work for the next 5-ish weeks, so I should have plenty of time to read.*
*I sometimes get behind on actual blogging while I’m traveling, so here’s your warning. I might miss some days. But I’ll do my best!
Today, I’m chatting about an audiobook I listened to a few months back, when I was going on a lot of dog walks and long runs. Yes Please by Amy Poehler filled the hole in my heart that Parks and Rec has left, but at the same time, it left me wanting more of some things, things that maybe she doesn’t feel like people need. I understand that, but I wanted it. You know? I’ll get into it. Here we go.
Yes Please is Amy Poehler’s memoir, starting with her childhood and chronicling her rise through the Chicago improv scene, the Upright Citizens Brigade, and Saturday Night Live. Toward the end of the book, she talked some about Parks and Recreation, which was still currently on television at the time of publication. And there was a chapter by Seth Meyers, which may have been my favorite in the whole book.
3 Things I Loved
- Seth Meyers’ chapter. I guess I spoiled that one a little bit. Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler have known each other for years and were able to host the Weekend Update on SNL together for several seasons. They know each other so well and are the perfect comedy pair (perhaps as perfect as Amy and Tina Fey?). It was so great to hear Seth say things about Amy that I, as a viewer, would have guessed and wanted to hear. I loved hearing his take on her so much.
- The way Amy talked about her sons. It is so clear that she loves them so much, more than her career, for sure. It was heartwarming to hear.
- Amy’s narration. So, I listened to this on audiobook, as I stated, and Amy was so good on audio. I don’t think I would have loved this book as much had I just read it. It’s too perfect to hear in her voice. Absolutely loved.
Dislikes/Problematic Content
Unlike Tina Fey’s memoir, I didn’t find anything overtly problematic in this book. But there were a couple things I wanted more of, where I felt like I was left hanging a little. First of all, WHERE IS THE DISCUSSION OF MEAN GIRLS??? You guys. I need more about Mean Girls in all the books. And the other thing I wanted (but know I don’t necessarily deserve) is more about the breakdown of her relationship with Will Arnett. There was some, and she acknowledged her divorce and all that. I appreciated that. But I loved them together and I wanted more to the why. Like I said, I don’t deserve that at all. That’s the weird thing about celebrities writing books, I think – we as consumers feel entitled to more and they are in no way required to give it to us. But the withholding on Amy’s part left me aching for more.
I think that paragraph shows more about my own problematic content than this book’s, but that’s how it goes sometimes.
Rating
A reminder of the rating scale:
- Red = DNF, I hated everything
- Orange = Ugh, no thank you
- Yellow = I mean, I’ve read worse, but there were problems
- Green = This was good!
- Blue = Oh my gosh, I loved this book!
- Purple = This is the unicorn of books and I will be rereading it until the binding falls apart and EVERYONE should be reading it!
Of the celebrity memoirs I’ve read, this was one of the best. I’m going to give Yes Please a GREEN rating. I wouldn’t read it again, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend!
Have you read this book? I’m curious about others’ thoughts.
Happy reading!
-A.
Snark & Squee 