wow, no thank you
Samantha Irby
Is it possible to make a career out of blogging? More specifically is it possible to make a career out of blogging about your digestive issues? Comedic writer Samantha Irby has not only done that but has translated her hilarious blog Bitches Gotta Eat to three books of essays (plus an ebook about New Year resolutions), as well as writing gigs for television shows such as Shrill.
Irby’s latest book wow, no thank you. continues on the themes in her previous titles, with fun new content as she writes about her life in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she is now a married homeowner with two stepkids. The essay Detachment Parenting talks about how she should not be a role model for kids, and A Guide to Simple Home Repairs speaks for every one of us who were never taught how to be handy when faced with issues such as “what do gutters do” or “what is that damp looking shit on the ceiling.” I was less enthralled with Late-1900s Time Capsule which details every song Irby would put on a mixtape and why. Not because Irby isn’t funny and earnest as she explains her selections, but because if her choices are not your particular groove, it probably won’t resonate.In Hollywood Summer Irby writes about her work as a writer for the television series Shrill, from the surprise at being offered the gig to the weird sense of imposter syndrome she experienced living in Los Angeles and working in an office with an assistant and daily catered lunches. She explains the plot line for the episode she wrote (Fat Girl Pool Party) while deftly avoiding a discussion of the online drama that came after the fact when another fat acceptance activist accused Irby of plagiarizing part of her book. (The episode of Shrill was written and filmed before said activist’s book was published.)
The collection is classic Irby with new and fun adventures and if you’re not a fan, you should be, even if stories of explosive diarrhea are not your typical reading selections.