Customer Reviews

Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin

5 star:		(160)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Well, I bought Kathy's book yesterday and I stayed up all night reading it. Yes, I am a big fan of hers and so perhaps I am a little biased but why would you even be looking at this book if you weren't a fan of hers?

She successfully walks the line between serious autobiography and comedic book. Parts of it will rip your heart out while others will make you laugh out loud. I can't say that I love her more now than I did before but I do understand her a bit more. I can't wait to see her live again.

Since she talks so much in her act about her celebrity encounters don't expect any amazing revelations there. There were a few new stories (Steve Martin etc.) but for the most part it really chronicles her entire life and career and shows how hard she worked and the insanity she put up with to get to where she is now. Great stories about her early years with the Groundlings and her friends Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Lisa Kudrow, Julia Sweeney, Jeaneane Garofolo, Margaret Cho and more. You are going to learn where and why she has the work ethic that she does. She never sold out, she did do it all her way.

I loved the book, like I said I read it in about 6 hours cover to cover. My only complaint is that there were no color pictures in the book like most typical biographies.

Also as an ex Los Angelino is was nice to hear her talking about my old stomping in grounds in West Hollywood and her adventures there. I also jumped on the back of a bike at the Carl's Jr on La Brea and Santa Monica OMG!!! Wonder if we banged the same guy!! HAH!!

BUY THE BOOK!!!

According to Kathy Griffin, I must be a minority in her fan base, as I'm a straight, married man. Despite this handicap, I've been a fan of My Life on the D List, and Kathy Griffin, since the first season.

Official Book Club Selection is definitely for fans of KG. If you've never seen the show, or are familiar with Kathy, then you'll probably feel lost reading it. But, if you are a fan, there's a lot to like about the book.

One of the things that I admire about Kathy is that she doesn't pull any punches. Her life is out there for all to see, she seems like she'd be fun to hang out with, and she's genuinely funny. The book, (even more than the show), is an inside look at what makes Kathy, uh, Kathy. She writes about growing up Griffin, about the criticisms and closed doors that she faced in Hollywood, about finding, and then losing, love, and about getting the recognition that she has craved, (and deserves), in Hollywood. Hollywood is so full of talent-less, "beautiful people," that it's nice to see someone real make it. And she definitely paid her dues along the way.

The only parts of the book that disappointed me were the last two chapters. One is supposedly re-printing email exchanges with Steve Wozniak, and the other is about Kathy's day with Paris Hilton, and how she's now labeled as having a "bangin' bikini bod." The Wozniak chapter was just lame and the Hilton chapter felt rushed.

To recap, if you're a fan of Kathy Griffin, you'll dig the book. If not, you probably want to skip it and read Oprah's book of the month instead.

For anyone unfamiliar with Kathy Griffin, I say check this book out right now! She has a caustic style of humor that is just raw enough for these stressful, serious times (and she gets bonus points for her socio-political stance). Like a cross between a young Joan Rivers and a chihuahua hopped up on Ritalin, Griffin hammers at everything sacred, cool, or trendy in a way that makes you think long and hard while you laugh out loud. Seriously, this book made me laugh until I peed my pants. I'm putting it on my "favorites" shelf alongside David Sadaris Talk Pretty Me Talk Pretty One Day, the Twilight series, and Chelsea Goldstein's hit new book Hook-up Chronicles Hook-Up Chronicles. I've followed Kathy Griffin since I saw the movie Shakes the Clown Shakes the Clown, and I've been laughing ever since.

I had to write a review after reading the first comment on this book. How on earth can the poster post a review when she didnt even open the cover? It shouldnt be allowed. This has been by far one of the funniest books I have read yet. Kathy Griffin gives a poignant yet hysterical look into her life growing up. While I am barely half way through the read, I literally can't put the book down. This is one funny lady and I highly reccomend this book to anyone whether you are a fan or not. Its really funny. Kathy should continue writing books so people like me can laugh through them with glee. Great book and great value for the money. I downloaded it onto my kindle at half the price.

First of all, I have to say that if you do not think that Kathy Griffin is funny then you will not like the book- don't bother reading it.

Having said that, if you think that she is hilarious- (which I do) then I think you will love this book. I was pleasantly surprised that most of the book wasn't about dick jokes and celebrities- it was about her life- her childhood, her relationship with her family, her very slow starting career. Kathy gets very honest and personal with many aspects of her life- from her brother's life to her divorce from her husband. It was a quick read, where I felt I got to know another side of the comedian I love so much.

And, there is some very interesting celebrity dirt that I have not heard her say- which I found to be quite entertaining! :-)

So, someone gave me this book as a joke. I happen to get stuck waiting for an hour for an appointment and it was all I had handy. Rolling my eyes, I decide I'll give it a shot. I open the book up to where she talks about her brother Kenny and was really moved. Ok, look, I'm the type of person who loves biography. I want a book to give me an insight to a person and why they do what they do. On this account the book totally succeeds! Griffin has a clear voice and readable writing style. Is she gonna win a Pulitzer for this? Ah, no. (Sorry, Kathy.) But, some of her chapters are good enough to have been printed in the New York Times or the New Yorker. Color me pleasantly surprised, Ms. Griffin.

You definitely should get the audio-book as well as the book itself. It's great to hear Kathy's voice, and it feels like this could be a recorded stand up special from one of her shows. I think you will laugh louder and more if you buy the audio-book, it has that energy that you won't feel if you read the book by yourself... 5 STARS!!

This book is suprising because it's not just funny, as one would expect. It is a very honest account of her life story and she really puts her "stuff" out there. I've always loved her for her humor, and her take no prisoners attitude. Now, I just love her! Way to go, Kathy!

Dear Kathy Griffin,

This review is for your book, "Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin." Never in my wildest imagination would you have the audacity (or patience I should say) to sit down and write a book. But being the fan that I am, you truly do have a way with words, and when I say this I no longer mean you are cutthoat in the celebrity world. You were hilarious, touching, and honest. I was glad to see someone I admire has reached a greater plateau of greatness (almost close enough to touch Oprah and Gayle's marriage license!).

Anyway, on to the book. Your book was captivating from beginning to the end. From the great untouched (hopefully) pictures to your back and forth emails with Woz. I read the book in about 2 days not wanting to put it down. Laughing and even having the tissue box ready (and in some instances, very much needed). Seeing people come in to your life and seeing people go and seeing people change. Your book shows your readers what can and does happen in a celebrity world and how "high school" it can be (not that I know of course).

In closing, I say job well. But not done, because you never are. I hope to see much more from you and this book of yours is, well, a great step in what shows what you have done to get where you are, and I'm glad to see you will never stop.

Gay XXOO,
Stephen.

If you are a Kathy Griffin fan, and I am, this is a must listen to autobiography. I did not want to read this in print as her delivery of words is so much a part of who she is. This whole experience did not disappoint. Kathy covers all of her career plus we finally learn about other aspects of her life of which we previously only caught a glimpse. For one, I was always curious about the facts behind the breakup of her marriage to Matt. I can't say I was terribly surprised to find out that Matt was stealing money from her. Lots and lots of money. I also never knew that she had a brother, now dead, who was a child molester. I was curious about how invasive it is to film her D list show. Answer: completely invasive. For six months she has no privacy. There is no room in her house off limits. There is nothing she does that is off limits. The cameras run non stop in their quest for usable footage and her entire life is fair game. The people in her life have one of two approaches. They are either willing to be a part of this filming circus or they say, "We'll get together with you in six months when your show is in the can." Naturally Kathy gives us her complete history with talk show hosts and her being banned by them. We also get a blow by blow account of her plastic surgeries. This is great, great fun. I passed an entire day with my ipod listening to her book and it was much like listening to the inner secrets of my best friend. She's a doll. I don't see how you can skip this if you are a Kathy Griffin fan.