1 of 2 copies available
“Brilliant and one of the funniest people I’ve ever read.” —Roxane Gay • "The king of sparkling misanthropy and tender, loving dread." —Jia Tolentino
"Absolutely hilarious.... If you are feeling down, or you feel like you haven't read anything you've loved in a long time, all you need is Samantha Irby.... She will make you laugh on every page." —Emma Straub, bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, on The Today Show
Samantha Irby’s career has taken her to new heights. She dodges calls from Hollywood and flop sweats on the red carpet at premieres (well, one premiere). But nothing is ever as it seems online, where she can crop out all the ugly parts.
Irby got a lot of weird emails about Carrie Bradshaw, and not only is there diarrhea to avoid, but now—anaphylactic shock. She is turned away from restaurants for being inappropriately dressed and looks for the best ways to cope, i.e., reveling in the offerings of QVC and adopting a deranged pandemic dog. Quietly Hostile makes light as Irby takes us on another outrageously funny tour of all the gory details that make up the true portrait of a life behind the screenshotted depression memes. Relatable, poignant, and uproarious, once again, Irby is the tonic we all need to get by.
A BEST BOOK from Vogue, Esquire, PopSugar, Glamour, The Skimm, and more
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
May 16, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593668405
- File size: 274464 KB
- Duration: 09:31:47
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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March 27, 2023
Essayist Irby (Wow, No Thank You) shows off her wit, empathy, and self-deprecating humor in this animated collection. Across 17 essays, Irby contemplates the hysteria of the early days of the Covid pandemic, tells off snobs who dismiss her predilections for Justin Bieber and strip malls, and offers comedic accounts of every time she’s peed herself since reaching middle age. In “What If I Died Like Elvis,” she describes making jokes to hospital staff even as anaphylactic shock hampered her ability to breathe, leading her to the realization that she’s “a clown who is desperate to coax even a hint of a smile from the very serious people tasked with making sure she lives to honk her big red nose another day.” Reflecting on the entertainment she loves, she serves up appreciations for Dave Matthews’s love songs and outlines outrageous plot twists she would like to have seen on HBO’s Sex and the City. The most moving essay, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” meditates on the bonds of family as she recounts reuniting with her estranged half brother after the death of their father. Bouncing between irreverence and poignancy, this keeps the laughs coming while serving up intimate personal reflection and entertaining cultural commentary. Irby’s fans will be glad to find her in top form. -
Samantha Irby narrates her fourth essay collection, bringing her customary sharp observations and comedic timing to her performance. Irby heads to Hollywood, writing for the reboot of "Sex in the City" and pitching her own show to an endless series of networks. Irby's humor shines in her descriptions of living with inflammatory bowel disease. Her voice is filled with glee as she describes some of the worst times she's been struck with diarrhea--like when she was making a catering delivery to a wedding and found herself in the same bathroom as the bride. Whether she's recounting the details of adopting a horrible new dog or her QVC addiction, Irby's storytelling and narration will have listeners laughing out loud. K.D.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from June 10, 2024
Irby (Wow, No Thank You) is back with a new self-narrated essay collection full of keen observations, body-related humor, and self-deprecation. Whether discussing diarrhea, anaphylactic shock, or her porn preferences, Irby's style is novel. Chill but sharp as a tack, she displays her talents by making even the mundane seem hilarious. Her misadventures in dating and insightful observations on body image, mental health, and relationships explore the messy and complicated aspects of everyday life. She navigates complex family dynamics with her half-siblings and simple ones with her stepkids (impossible to impress, and as a general rule, it's best to avoid asking teens what they think of oneself). Irby's talents as a narrator make audio the preferred format of this title. Her distinctive voice, comedic timing, and ability to use the right level of sarcasm and sincerity give listeners a front-row seat to a great storytelling adventure. VERDICT Irby's pitch-perfect narration makes this unfiltered, honest essay collection in audio an essential purchase. A great recommendation for fans of Mia Mercado, David Sedaris, and Phoebe Robinson.--Christa Van Herreweghe
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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