Sure, I'll Join Your Cult
A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
1 of 1 copy available
Maria Bamford is a comedian's comedian (an outsider among outsiders) and has forever fought to find a place to belong. From struggling with an eating disorder as a child of the 1980s, to navigating a career in the arts (and medical debt and psychiatric institutionalization), she has tried just about every method possible to not only be a part of the world, but to want to be a part of it.
In Bamford's "trademark blend of disarming intimacy and dark whimsy" (Publishers Weekly), Sure, I'll Join Your Cultbrings us on a quest to participate in something. With sincerity and transparency, she recounts every anonymous fellowship she has joined (including but not limited to: Debtors Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous), every hypomanic episode (from worrying about selling out under capitalism to enforcing union rules on her Netflix TV show set to protect her health), and every easy 1-to-3-step recipe for fudge in between.
Packed with "Bamford's brilliance, relentless humor, and insatiable instinct for survival (Library Journal), this memoir explores what it means to keep going, and to be a member of society (or any group she's invited to) despite not being very good at it. In turn, she hopes to transform isolating experiences into comedy that will make you feel less alone (without turning into a cult following).
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
September 5, 2023 -
Formats
-
OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797162065
- File size: 220993 KB
- Duration: 07:40:24
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
July 31, 2023
Stand-up comedian Bamford catalogs all the “cults” she’s joined—from Debtors Anonymous to “Suzuki-method violin training”—in search of structure and community in her hilarious, eyebrow-raising debut memoir. “I’m not suicidal, but I’m not particularly psyched,” Bamford begins, teeing up for an honest account of her childhood OCD, early-adult recklessness, and eventual diagnosis with bipolar disorder, all of which compelled her to seek the organizing comforts of various 12-step programs. But “this is not going to have a clear chronicle of trauma, healing, victory,” Bamford writes. “It’s going to be more like a series of sudoku puzzles that I grow tired of trying to solve and a third of the way through start a new one, hoping it’s easier.” The anecdotes run the gamut from lighthearted (visiting Yellowstone’s Old Faithful with her father and sister as a child) to worrying (moving to New Zealand with an obviously gay clown she’d fallen for after a few dates), and chapters are punctuated with tongue-in-cheek recipes “that only take a minute of wavering focus” to prepare, such as “chip off the floor” and “peanut butter between pieces of cheese.” It’s all delivered with Bamford’s trademark blend of disarming intimacy and dark whimsy. The result is a consistently funny and occasionally heartbreaking glimpse into a unique comedic mind. Agent: Josh Krauss, Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. -
Stand-up comic Maria Bamford shows her sense of timing, audience, and humor as she narrates her memoir. Upbeat and whimsical, she begins by defining sounds that signal what's coming: Brakes squealing, for example, heralds "creepy stuff." She also warns listeners that her memoir will not follow a linear structure. Indeed, while pondering bouts of mental illness and her need to belong, Bamford continually takes detours that are filled with irreverent, laugh-worthy details; salty language; and tongue-in-cheek observations. All are delivered at breakneck speed as she discusses topics that range from self-help programs to Suzuki violin training. While sometimes distracting, the brisk nonstop humor buoys Bamford's moments of candor in stories about her mother's evangelical leanings and death. Bamford's portraits of others are seamlessly integrated, and her witty transitions work well. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from June 10, 2024
In her riotous debut memoir, comedian and actor Bamford discusses her propensity toward 12-step programs, self-help books, the "For Dummies" series, and illegal parking. In a tone that is shockingly frank yet earnest, Bamford recounts her lifelong desire to belong, no matter the cost. Throughout this audiobook, narrated by Bamford herself, it's impossible not to marvel at her ability to share the most disturbing moments of her life with a frenetic and hilarious exuberance, all the while maintaining an undeniable gentleness. Unfiltered, frank discussions of suicide and eating disorders may make this a challenging title for some listeners. However, the memoir's same tendency toward total honesty provides a refuge for those alienated by disapproving attitudes toward mental health treatment. Not only is Bamford a skilled voice actor, but audio cues (or "sonic iconography") are peppered throughout to let listeners know when old comedic material is being recycled, a recipe is about to be shared, or a creepy passage lies ahead. Jaunty music ends each chapter, adding a note of ebullience. VERDICT Not only a must for Bamford enthusiasts but an inspired pick for mental-health memoir fans.--Ingrid Conley-Abrams
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
-