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17th out of 121 books
—
73 voters
Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster
“It felt like I was speeding on the Autobahn toward hell, trapped inside a DeLorean with no brakes. And even if I could somehow stop, I’d still be screwed, because there’s no way I’d ever be able to figure out how to open those insane, cocaine-designed doors.” The two-time Emmy Award-winning actress has written her first book, a surprisingly raw and triumphant memoir that...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
March 13th 2012
by Gallery Books
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I never watched "3rd Rock From the Sun" or saw much of Kristen Johnston's work. But a few years ago she was in an episode of "Sex and the City" in which she played a washed-up party girl who, while completely wasted, tragically falls through a window to her death. I got the sense while reading this book that art was paralleling life, minus the funeral at the end...although Kristen came close.
Memoirs are not generally my thing but I'm so, so, so glad I made an exception for this one. It's extreme...more
Memoirs are not generally my thing but I'm so, so, so glad I made an exception for this one. It's extreme...more
This book is laugh out loud and bottom-of-the-barrel-sad. Throughout it all, Kristen Johnston's voice is interesting, frank and holds nothing back. I felt for her and also could relate in some ways. Her amount of denial is astonishing, but when in survival mode, that happens sometimes.
There is a definite emotional and psychological maturation and I was relieved to see it. But her writing is fresh, brash and very entertaining. As much as she might finally not care whether or not I like her, I re...more
There is a definite emotional and psychological maturation and I was relieved to see it. But her writing is fresh, brash and very entertaining. As much as she might finally not care whether or not I like her, I re...more
I am not usually a fan of memoirs, but since I've been a fan of Kristen Johnston since she first sat in that little red car, looked down at her chest and screamed, I had to buy her book. She had me from her opening "thank you ever so much for buying my book." She writes as though we are having a conversation. Engaging, interesting and at many times laugh out loud funny. Parts of her story made me weep for her and for any kid who has felt 'other', which really is pretty much everyone deep down. E...more
I've enjoyed Kristen in the TV roles I've seen her in, and thought I might be interested in hearing her story. It was a good story, but perhaps not as great as I was led to believe by reviews. In the past few months, I also read "The Man Who Couldn't Eat" which was a Crohn's disease issue rather than an addiction issue, but both dealt with the exploding guts factor (intestinal for him, which I also experienced, stomach for her). I can definately say hers was a more entertaining read, with her se...more
irst, let me say that Kristen Johnston is one of those rare people that enrich the lives of others simply by being here. Her comedic timing and acting talent aren't the end of it. She writes, she designs, she teaches. All while being a beautiful person that is uncomfortable with being beautiful. (shut up, Kristen, You're beautiful with a capital "B")
oh, ok, that's out of the way. This book. If you do not buy this book, or read this book, or conk your friend over the head to get their copy of thi...more
oh, ok, that's out of the way. This book. If you do not buy this book, or read this book, or conk your friend over the head to get their copy of thi...more
Sometimes very specific memoirs from celebs don't work (mainly I might not care) but since this story was so recent, it definitely felt more urgent. The first part of the book was Kristen's childhood and college and rise to celebrity-ville really fast. And then it focused on her drinking and doing drugs and downfall and the majority of the story she talked about her hospitalization and how lucky she really was. Of course, there were some falls back into the lifestyle before coming out of it okay...more
Kristen Johnston is evil, and so are her Guts.
I first saw the book in Indigo. Or Chapters. Well, whichever bookstore it is where I go for Starbucks every day.
I walk quickly through the books to the escalator, and take the stairway (escalator) to heaven. But then one day, she caught my eye. Well, the book cover caught my eye. It said GUTS which first I thought was a zombie book (and in a way, I was right).
And then I saw Kristen French… Stewart… Johnston… a chick with big lips smoking a cigarette...more
I first saw the book in Indigo. Or Chapters. Well, whichever bookstore it is where I go for Starbucks every day.
I walk quickly through the books to the escalator, and take the stairway (escalator) to heaven. But then one day, she caught my eye. Well, the book cover caught my eye. It said GUTS which first I thought was a zombie book (and in a way, I was right).
And then I saw Kristen French… Stewart… Johnston… a chick with big lips smoking a cigarette...more
A very quick read. I appreciated her candor and quick wit. I feel like she is someone that I would get along with in real life, so this is kinda like hearing stories from a friend.
The writing is solid, which was a lovely surprise seeing as how so many "celebrity memoirs" are clunky or horribly edited. I don't follow celebrity news and don't know much about Johnston's background so stumbling across this book in the store was a neat surprise. I had no expectations going in, which I think helped....more
The writing is solid, which was a lovely surprise seeing as how so many "celebrity memoirs" are clunky or horribly edited. I don't follow celebrity news and don't know much about Johnston's background so stumbling across this book in the store was a neat surprise. I had no expectations going in, which I think helped....more
Kristen tell her story as if you were talking to a good friend over a cup of coffee. Her sense of humor and story telling skill pulls you into a glimpse into what life looks like from an addicts perspective. Yes, Kristen is an award winning famous actress, and you might say, "big deal" so it's another addict in Hollywood.
Consider that prescription drug usage has gone up 400% from 2010 to 2012. And that there are more prescription drug abusers in the U.S. than there are coke, meth, and heroin ad...more
Consider that prescription drug usage has gone up 400% from 2010 to 2012. And that there are more prescription drug abusers in the U.S. than there are coke, meth, and heroin ad...more
Kristen Johnston has written a candidly open and honest book about her triumph over addiction. I was in awe as I read the events that compounded on her psyche until her only escape became drugs and alcohol. I knew Kristen had a story to tell but wasn't prepared for the emotion that jumped from the page in the laying bare of her life. I found myself wanting to be Kristen's protector, ass-kicker and biggest supporter at various times throughout the book.
Within the pages of “GUTS” Kristen regales u...more
Within the pages of “GUTS” Kristen regales u...more
Not a great book, but I did always like Johnston as an actress, especially on 3rd Rock. She is so gorgeous and yet played funny characters who were not defined by their appearance. I am so glad she survived.
And, holy wow; does every memoir I read have to be by someone EXACTLY my age?
And, holy wow; does every memoir I read have to be by someone EXACTLY my age?
i wish goodreads allowed 1/2 stars - 3 1/2 out of 5 stars! with a lot of wit and candor (and a heaping amount of profanity), johnston reveals, for the first time, her battle with drugs and alcohol and the literal explosion of her stomach. she writes about what it was like to be 6 feet tall by the time she was 12, and how that experience helped her discover she was funny - but also taught her how to swallow her feelings.
after her stomach explodes while performing in a play in london, she spends...more
after her stomach explodes while performing in a play in london, she spends...more
this book is very straight forward telling of her experiences as an opiate and alcohol addict and her journey to getting sober. it is NOT dishy on other celebs, nor is it at all glamorous. In this fashion it describes her self defined lonely struggle with her own self worth. Because she is a funny lady it is a funny, pleasant, easy read and so i would recommend it if you are interested in reading a book of this genre. if this subject matter doesnt interest you, remember there is zero dish or beh...more
I had a stack of books to read, and was feeling overwhelmed, so I thought I'd weed some out to save for later (or never). This was the first one I picked to weed. I decided to give it five pages to hook me, and whaddya know, it did. Then I finished it in a day, and I'm not a particularly fast reader. I had only put it on my list because two people in one day had requested this book (I work at a library). I hadn't even heard of it before, and wasn't particularly thrilled when I learned it was ano...more
First off, you have to buy the audio version. Kristen reads it, and her delivery is a treat.
Next, I would have given it 6 stars if I were allowed. This mighty, wee-sized book floored me. I couldn't believe how self-aware she was. For as fucked-up as she must have been (and admitted she was), Kristen recalls her ordeal and addiction with...what are the right words...charming, straight forward honesty? Not even that. This is why I was never a writer.
For everything she goes through when her guts bl...more
Next, I would have given it 6 stars if I were allowed. This mighty, wee-sized book floored me. I couldn't believe how self-aware she was. For as fucked-up as she must have been (and admitted she was), Kristen recalls her ordeal and addiction with...what are the right words...charming, straight forward honesty? Not even that. This is why I was never a writer.
For everything she goes through when her guts bl...more
This is not your average "How I hit bottom, realized my life was f'd up, went to rehab, got sober and lived happily ever after" books. Well THANK GOD it's not!
I knew I would enjoy this book. Not because I enjoy reading about former addicts and their struggles (ok, I do) but because it's as unique and entertaining as Kristen, herself.
Kristen's story is something a lot of people probably didn't know about and probably never would have. I only found out after reading an interview about the book in...more
I knew I would enjoy this book. Not because I enjoy reading about former addicts and their struggles (ok, I do) but because it's as unique and entertaining as Kristen, herself.
Kristen's story is something a lot of people probably didn't know about and probably never would have. I only found out after reading an interview about the book in...more
I picked up this book because I loved the actress on Third Rock from the Sun. I thought it would be a funny memoir about acting, being beautiful, achieving success again and again. Instead, it's about Johnston overcoming her addiction. I guess I'm naive, but I didn't even know she had an addiction! She glosses over her childhood and even her beginning acting success, which originally bugged me, because that's what I wanted to read about. The book instead centers around her stomach actually ripp...more
It's funny, because while I liked 3rd Rock, I really remember Kristen Johnston from her brief appearance on Sex and the City. That being said, she has a quality about her that makes you feel like you are old friends. I saw Kristen talking about this book on What What Happens Live and then again on Anderson Cooper and felt compelled to buy it and read it. This is a wonderfully honest, sometimes painfully brutal look into someone's life - in all its glory and all its mess. Kristen is a captivating...more
I'm on a memoir binge lately. Kristen Johnston's book fits the bill. Yes, it's a book about recovery. Another lush finds her way to sobriety. However, in this story, the lush in question is remarkably observant, self-depricating, and self-aware. I'm still not sure how such a sad story can leave you laughing out loud -- but it does! Her story of surviving a complete rupture of her colon is a remarkable one, and one that will leave you lying with her in a hospital gurney in a London hospital hallw...more
This is my second book in my summer biography series, and it was a vast improvement over the last one (Sammy Hagar's Red). The main focus of this book was Kristen's drug and alcohol addiction that ended with her guts literally splitting open, ultimately forcing her to re-examine her life. This was really well-written and easy to read, like you were just chatting with her as a friend. I've never been a huge fan of Kristen's, but we did watch 3rd Rock from the Sun for a while, and really enjoyed h...more
Just read the book. Once you do, you will want to read it again. Maybe not right away, but eventually and you will be glad you I usually don't like celebrity biographies. They tend to either be all about an over-privileged, under-deserving childhood, or they go the "bet you didn't know what a mess I really am route." This book is just very real, and funny, and sad, and hopeful without being a bipolar piece of crap designed to wring every emotion out of you. This isn't a new perspective on addict...more
Ms. Johnston was a guest on Jimmy Fallon and there was something truly genuine about her personality and demeanor that compelled me to read her book. Her story in "Guts" is told with honesty and conviction that is rare to find nowadays. I definitely appreciated her willingness to put her life out there and to use a portion of the money to help the lives of others. Though I am not a substance abuse addict (I've compensated for my "issues" in other ways) I identified with her being bullied in scho...more
I randomly picked this up on my last trip to the library, not even knowing who Kristen Johnston was. Turns out she is the actress famous for her role in 3rd Rock From The Sun.
After a bit of a rocky beginning (a bit too cute for me) the book picks up steam and turns out to be quite moving. It's not your typical Hollywood drug addict memoir. Johnston displays absolutely no self-pity and describes her addiction, and the medical catastrophe that ultimately led to her recovery, in stark, unrelenting...more
After a bit of a rocky beginning (a bit too cute for me) the book picks up steam and turns out to be quite moving. It's not your typical Hollywood drug addict memoir. Johnston displays absolutely no self-pity and describes her addiction, and the medical catastrophe that ultimately led to her recovery, in stark, unrelenting...more
An incredibly easy read about something serious- and not just the "guts" incident referred to in the title. There are plenty of biographies and memoirs that reveal the tragic life of an addict, or else the stupendous strength of will of someone who beat their addiction(s). This is neither; Kristen provides neither easy solutions nor dire warnings as she shares her story. Instead she reveals the humour and drama that is life.
I guess if you want your addicts to be movie-style heroes or purveyors o...more
I guess if you want your addicts to be movie-style heroes or purveyors o...more
Meh. I find myself a bit disappointed and underwhelmed. I was really looking forward to this book, but it wasn't the most well written. I should have known better when all the praise and quotes printed on the book jacket were from other actors, no actual professional book reviewer or other author. There were certainly parts that had me laughing and kept me intrigued, but the remainder of the book was just mildly interesting.
The book, while it is "sold" as a memoir of an addict, in reality mostl...more
The book, while it is "sold" as a memoir of an addict, in reality mostl...more
Not sure why this book Is getting such great reviews really. It's not a very indepth look at addiction. It's told jokingly and it's kind of hard to take someone's recovery very seriously when they come from that perspective about it. I've read a lot of books on addiction and while Kristen Johnston has a story to tell it's basically just one story. "I drank a lot then my stomach exploded then I stopped drinking a lot. Because I had to." The end. I really didn't feel a whole lot of emotion reading...more
I saw Kristen on a talk show and heard about this book..I have always been intrigued by her and read this book in one day. It is basically a story about a horrible incident that happened to her while she was doing a play in London. She is a good writer and it was funny and engaging. BUT I wish she had added some lead in. She doesn't really explain the progression of her drug and alcohol use, she just throws us in at the end when she has a horrifying wake up call. I got the feeling she was hiding...more
Just got this today & had to start it. Johnston says she really wrote it and IMO she's a great writer. So funny & sad at the same time. Also relatable. I have a thing for memoir and rehab memoir and sometimes celeb/rehab/memoir. Not sure why. As Johnston says, we all have addictions. Think not? Maybe just pick up the sample to see her hilarious list. It's in the intro. Meanwhile, I'm gobbling this thing down and will add more when I finish...finished. Loved it salty language and all. One...more
I do not read these types of celebrity memoirs, ever. However, I saw Kristen on A TV chat show and found her to be open, honest and funny about her experiences. I stated following her on Twitter, where she was equally, if not more, enjoyable and funny. We ended up exchanging a few amusing tweets so, when her book came out, I figured I would put a couple bucks in a person's pocket whom I liked. I was not disappointed in my purchase. She wrote this book herself. No ghostwriter. Her personal trials...more
I really enjoyed this book. Most of the celebrity memoirs I have read are about people I'm already a fan of and recount funny stories about their embarassing childhoods and how they got famous. This one is a bit different. I really didn't know anything about Kristen Johnston except that she was on 3rd Rock from the Sun and was a bit of a tragic hot mess. Her book does start with her awkward youth and a bit about her early career, but the real focus is on her addictions to booze and pills and how...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Her friend, Laura, not responding | 2 | 9 | Mar 24, 2013 07:29pm | |
| Hi GoodReaders, from Kristen J again | 3 | 11 | Mar 23, 2013 09:17am | |
| From Kristen Johnston | 6 | 32 | Mar 23, 2013 07:20am |
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1 trivia question
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“Dear Amy,
It must really suck to know you peaked at twelve.
Love, Kristen”
—
1 person liked it
It must really suck to know you peaked at twelve.
Love, Kristen”
“I think that there are many different ways of getting and staying sober. Like religion, I just don't think that one way is the only way.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
Jul 11, 2012 07:36pm
Jul 12, 2012 04:58am