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Title details for Misfit by Gary Gulman - Available

Misfit

Growing Up Awkward in the '80s

by Gary Gulman
Gary Gulman
Audiobook
5 of 7 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
5 of 7 copies available

This program is read by the author.
"One of my favorite books of all time." ―Amy Schumer
A tour de force of comedy and reflection about the perilous journey from kindergarten to twelfth grade and beyond―from the beloved stand-up comic and creator of The Great Depresh
For years, Gary Gulman had been the comedian's comedian, acclaimed for his delight in language and his bracing honesty. But after two stints in a psych ward, he found himself back in his mother's house in Boston—living in his childhood bedroom at age forty-six, as he struggled to regain his mental health.
That's where Misfit begins. Then it goes way back.
This is no ordinary book about growing older and growing up. Gulman has an astonishing memory and takes the listener through every year of his childhood education, with obsessively detailed stories that are in turn alarming and riotously funny. We meet Gulman's family, neighbors, teachers, heroes, and antagonists, and get to know the young comedian-in-the-making who is his own worst―and most persistent―enemy.
From failing to impress at grade school show-and-tell to literally fumbling at his first big football game, in settings that take us all the way from the local playground to the local mall, from Hebrew School to his best (and only) friend's rec room, young Gary becomes a stand-in for everyone who grew up wondering if they would ever truly fit in. And that's not all: The audiobook is also chock-full of '80s nostalgia (scented markers, indifference to sunscreen, mall culture).
Misfit is an audiobook that only Gary Gulman could have written: a brilliant, witty, poignant, laugh-until-your-face-hurts memoir that speaks directly to the awkward child in us all.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 19, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250902290
      • File size: 296920 KB
      • Duration: 10:18:34

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 3, 2023
      In this winsome memoir, stand-up comedian Gulman (The Great Depresh) shares a self-deprecating account of his 1980s childhood, prompted by his move home as an adult. In 2017, Gulman left New York City for his mother’s house in Massachusetts following a sharp decline in his mental health. Once there, he encountered copious reminders of his bygone school years, which he recounts chronologically—and with impressive sharpness—in the book’s main chapters. Most of the anecdotes are hilarious, as when he’s astonished on the first day of kindergarten after the school bus door opens to reveal that “the driver was nowhere near the door! What is this sorcery?” Others are sadder, as when he’s forced to repeat first grade with a tyrannical teacher who bullies him and stifles his love of reading over a lost library book. Throughout, Gulman alternates his recollections with brief present-tense updates about the status of his adult depression. These can feel aimless and inconsequential beside the more vivid childhood sections, but they give the narrative shape and help Gulman pull off a moving conclusion. Funny and poignant, this will satisfy adrift adults looking to reconnect with their inner child. Agent: Brian Stern, AGI Entertainment.

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from June 10, 2024

      Stand-up comedian Gulman (The Great Depresh) proves that he ended up in the right profession with this poignant, funny memoir detailing his '80s childhood from kindergarten through 12th grade. He candidly shares his struggles with mental health, which led to the writing of this book. In 2017, at the age of 46, he returned to his mother's home to escape the stress of New York and seek treatment for thoughts of dying by suicide. The setting kicked off a trip down memory lane, including grade-school adventures, relationships with family, and his impressive switch from high school basketball player to football star. He is as talented an audiobook narrator as he is a comedian. His narration brings each story to life, and he imparts his bumbling adventures with honesty and heart. Though he speaks in a conversational style, his elegance as a performer is evident, taking this audio to a new level. Listeners will hang on every tale and will likely relate to many of the emotions and worries he describes. VERDICT Gulman's profession as a performer translates into an excellent audiobook. This is unmissable and highly recommended for all audio memoir collections.--Christa Van Herreweghe

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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