Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin

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Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 14,464 ratings · 1,152 reviews

A Conversation with Kathy Griffin:

Q: State your name and profession.
KG: My name is Kathy Griffin, and I am a teller of d**k jokes. And a plumber.

Q: This is your first book. Had you ever considered writing anything before? A novel? Or a work of historical scholarship? Or a children's story?
KG: I had not considered it, because I'd always been told by the nuns at St. Bernadin...more

Hardcover, 348 pages

Published September 8th 2009 by Ballantine Books (first published September 4th 2009)

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Aug 21, 2011 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, memoir, non-fiction, humor, celebrities-think-they-can-do-anyth, celebrity, hollywood, family, fame, catholicism, alcohol, relationships, gossipy, juicy, female-author, autobiography

For what it is, this book is great! She really offers an interesting glimpse into her life--the chapter about her brother is shocking and really shows her heart and character. We also learn why she and her husband divorced (I always wondered the reasons, not sure if it was made public before this book). I really appreciate that it showed many sides of her. Although I think she's hilarious, I don't always agree with what she says; sometimes she takes things too far for me. But this book really sh...more

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Apr 23, 2010 Khaya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Khaya by: Lena Phoenix, MAP

Shelves: memoirs, humorous-or-trying-to-be, audiobooks

Between not having a TV and living in the middle east, my knowledge of current pop culture is pretty limited and I had never actually heard of Kathy Griffin. But I noticed that people seemed to like her book on goodreads and I figured hey, most of the memoirs I read are written by people I’ve never heard of so why not this one? I also went through a phase in high school where I really enjoyed celebrity biographies even if I wasn’t particularly interested in the celebrity – I was curious about th...more Between not having a TV and living in the middle east, my knowledge of current pop culture is pretty limited and I had never actually heard of Kathy Griffin. But I noticed that people seemed to like her book on goodreads and I figured hey, most of the memoirs I read are written by people I’ve never heard of so why not this one? I also went through a phase in high school where I really enjoyed celebrity biographies even if I wasn’t particularly interested in the celebrity – I was curious about the psychology that went into making someone famous.

I listened to this on audio, read by Kathy herself which actually feels like a more authentic experience than reading it visually would have been. I’m not sure how I feel about Kathy as a comedienne (judging from her book reading, anyway, which is my only experience with her). For a while, she reminded me of someone I once knew who seemed to find herself pretty funny but somehow never fully convinced me that she actually was. This person would monopolize conversations and was actually pretty draining to be with, despite her occasionally successful wit. Maybe it’s an occupational hazard of listening to someone read their own book out loud, but all those feelings of being overwhelmed by continual waves of self-absorbed, sometimes forced wisecracking and wanting to get away came back to me as I listened to Kathy.

As I listened on, though, Kathy started to grow on me or at least, annoy me a little less. It helped that there were things I admired about her. Kathy poignantly described her difficult relationship with her derelict older brother and her strong stance concerning his apparent pedophilia even as her family insisted on denial. I was also touched by her honest descriptions of her deeply felt reaction to a co-worker’s suicide, and of her marriage’s sad demise. Kathy’s strong work ethic and determination, her willingness to weather setbacks and continually go out on a limb and try new things in an effort to get places in her career, were inspiring. I think I actually liked Kathy best when she was describing these more serious topics. It was at these points that I felt like she wasn’t trying to make me laugh; she was just being herself and speaking from the heart, and it penetrated.

It was interesting to read about Kathy’s singlemindedness when it came to achieving her goals – for many years her tunnel vision precluded any serious long-term relationships, for example. She did manage countless tawdry interludes with sleazy guys, which got to be a little TMI. And speaking of TMI, I have a great deal of respect for her family if they’re still talking to her. Her parents actually came across as pretty nice people in this book with whom she has a strong relationship (a refreshing change from lots of other memoirs I could mention), but respect for her family’s boundaries was not a prominent feature of her writing which I guess is consistent with Kathy’s tell-all style throughout.

I do admit to taking guilty pleasure in her celebrity gossip, since she often talked about people whom even I had heard of. I learned that Steve Martin is a jerk, that Jerry Seinfeld is capable of being a jerk but can also be a good sport when he’s called on it, that Howard Stern is actually a nice guy with a surprising soft side, and lots of other interesting information. And I learned a lot – an awful lot – about the hazards of liposuction.

I also thought a lot about the narcissistic exhibitionism that goes into making a career of telling people everything about your life. Is it contemptible, or is it admirable? If I found Kathy funnier, would I be less put off by her self-absorption? It reminded me of the polarized reactions to “Eat Pray Love,” which I happened to like even as many other reviewers complained about Gilbert’s grating love affair with herself. Kathy herself seemed to have mixed feelings about her exhibitionism. She admitted that her decision to reveal some highly personal and damaging information about her ex-husband was motivated largely by her ego, and that she is ambivalent about whether her decision was correct. The fact that Kathy's narcissism was somewhat tempered by a capacity for self-criticism made it, arguably, a bit more tolerable.

Overall, while I didn’t love this book, I’m not sorry I read it. I imagine that people who actually know who Kathy Griffin is will enjoy it more than I did, but it wasn't bad.
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Mar 03, 2011 Alisha rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: KG fans, snarky (but not mean) humor lovers.

Quick Take: From the tongue-in-cheek title to the celebrity-filled index, this book was a hoot. Griffin manages to write a memoir that is at once touching, informative, freaky and above all FUNNY.

Review:
I like to consider myself a "fan" of comedian Kathy Griffin. Her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, is full of kooky situations where Griffin's personality is deliciously larger than life. On one particular episode, she announced to the world that she was planning on writing a te...more Quick Take: From the tongue-in-cheek title to the celebrity-filled index, this book was a hoot. Griffin manages to write a memoir that is at once touching, informative, freaky and above all FUNNY.

Review:
I like to consider myself a "fan" of comedian Kathy Griffin. Her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, is full of kooky situations where Griffin's personality is deliciously larger than life. On one particular episode, she announced to the world that she was planning on writing a tell-all book about her life. She informed her pal Rosie O'Donnell of this development, exclaiming, "Guess what my book's going to be called? Official Book Club Selection!" in an uh-huh-you-heard-me-right manner before Rosie gave her a you-go-girl! high-five. At that moment, I knew I knew I had to have this book in my life. ^_^

If you know anything about Kathy Griffin, you'll know that she's all about the snarky humor. Most of her stand-up work is centered around a loose, conversational type routine that is blessedly free of the "set-up/punchline" framework common to many other comics. She really seems to enjoy "dishing" on celebrities, including her awkward (or wonderful) interactions with the many personalities populating Hollywood. Her book has some of that same humor, and even includes a handy index at the end allowing for easy reference to the myriad stars she mentions. She clearly doesn't mind telling some tales out of school…about herself as well as others.

However, the book is not set up to duplicate her particular brand of stage comedy. Indeed, her humor translates quite well to the page, and avoids gratuitous punchline-after-punchline. But she also provides a genuine and seemingly heartfelt description of her upbringing, family, career struggles and personal dramas. While it's clear that Kathy deals with a lot by using humor (a trait that she apparently got from her parents), she's not exempt from frustration and heartbreak, and that comes across in this memoir. She seemed to have a good balance in which the reader is entertained but also gets a glimpse of the real Kathy.

It's made obvious through this book that Griffin absolutely adores her parents. I think that this more than anything else really grabbed me about her; one is so used to seeing the Firebrand Kathy who's always pushing buttons. It was touching to see how, in her own way, she's all about family first.

I'm of the opinion that this book would appeal to many, including those who are not very familiar with Griffin's work. Her dedicated fans will totally be able to envision her dishing her story and enjoy her irreverence. And the uninitiated would get a slightly smoother dose of Kathy Griffin. The only prerequisite is that you have to love the Funny. ^_^(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Anna added it

I freely confess that am an unabashed fan of the stand-up comic Kathy Griffin. I watch My Life on the D-List whenever I get the opportunity (damn you, Charter Communications! Bravo should be a core channel!) and I have seen her perform live at Foxwoods and Boston's Symphony Hall. I enjoy her profanity-laden style of storytelling, even though sometimes I am not so familiar with the pop culture events that she references. Written in a conversational style, Griffin's memoir traces her life from her...more

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May 24, 2013 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars

The juicy bits, the personal bits, the dirt, I loved all of it! This personal memoir was one of the best that I have ever read. I enjoyed every moment of it. I loved getting inside Kathy's head and learning how she looks at things. It also helped to make other parts such as her show and some of her comedy skits even more enjoyable because I feel like I know how she perceives things now.

I have seen every special she has done, was a fan of her show, and now I watch "Kathy" on a routine basis. I lo...more The juicy bits, the personal bits, the dirt, I loved all of it! This personal memoir was one of the best that I have ever read. I enjoyed every moment of it. I loved getting inside Kathy's head and learning how she looks at things. It also helped to make other parts such as her show and some of her comedy skits even more enjoyable because I feel like I know how she perceives things now.

I have seen every special she has done, was a fan of her show, and now I watch "Kathy" on a routine basis. I love her attitude towards life and had to read this book. It was so enjoyable. She enjoys the raunchy bits of life and makes them funny just by going into things light hearted.

It was also entertaining to read how she got into the industry and the trials she went through. How she never turned a job down and how she earned success. She even shares the traumatizing stuff like her surgeries and her personal family details that you no one wants to share. Although this can feel like a mistake later on, as she has said about mentioning her surgeries and sharing the pictures, I think it does serve as a nice little lesson perhaps to others thinking about getting procedures done and not knowing what they are in for. I am glad she chose to include it as it shows how that side of the industry can be and how body image is such a problem. It's a personal female issue (on most accounts), but it was something I was glad to read if not just for the mere knowledge that I am not the only one who has trouble with looking at my body when there are photo touch ups of models on every vendor's shop... And reading about how she still struggles with it was enlightening.

Love this woman, love how she will say anything, and does. I wish I had the guts to say what I think like she does, but she has helped me a bit in that area, as after reading this and knowing the outcomes of some of her trials, I have been a bit more outspoken myself.

All in all, loved every single chapter. It was entertaining, fun, serious, personal, sad, enlightening, and everything a memoir should be.
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Sep 15, 2012 Shanmcg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Before reading this book I thought Kathy Griffin was a mouthy, rude, attention seeking Hollywood cast-off. I cringed when I saw her on talkshows with each insult she hurled and I couldn't stomach Suddenly Susan. I had no interest in reading (or listening in my case) to her book but after an enjoyable run with all three of Chelsea Handler's audiobooks, not to mention Tina Fey's Bossypants, I was itching for a comedy audiobook to help pass the long drives to and from work. What a surprise! Kathy G...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Christina Marie Rau rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading through Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According To Kathy Griffin is like going to Kathy Griffin's stand-up show for $25 plus tax. It's also like watching one of her stand-up specials on tv for $25 plus tax. So in one sense, it's a bargain. In another sense, not so much.
In any case, most of the book is like her stand-up. She weaves stories. Her act isn't joke-punchline-joke-punchline. It's a narrative, a one-sided discussion with an animated friend who may talk about you behind h...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Ismail Elshareef rated it 5 of 5 stars

I know it's shocking, but our favorite A-list diva lets her hair down with this tell-all memoir (gays, pay attention.) She starts off with a personal letter to Oprah, which of course is very moving, telling her to brace herself for the tsunami that is this book. That's right, she's not holding anything back, and that's saying something.

Kathy opens up with candid talk about her family, especially her brother Kenny. It takes a lot of guts to talk publicly about a family member who's a pedophile,...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tv

For some reason, I have been on a roll with autobios at the moment, so get ready. This is Kathy Griffin's book. I was always a fan of hers. She was always a hey, it's that guy-type person and everything she has done, I have always found funny. If you like her, you'll like this book. Since I didn't have cable (or was in the country) for most of the run on her tv show, I haven't watched a lot of it, but the episodes that I have seen, I have always enjoyed. She is a little ridiculous but at least k...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Jose rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read the first 100 pages waiting in line for her to sign my book. The line didn't look that long from the outside, but once I got inside and saw how it winded around each and every shelf...I thought, "Good for her! And how long could this possibly take?" Well, it took long enough for me to read about 100 pages (and by no means am I a speed-reader)...but the more I read, the more I liked her. It was definitely a quick, easy read, but not because it's all completely fluff. She bluntly tackles so...more

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Dec 27, 2010 Ashley Enrici rated it 5 of 5 stars

I admit it, I am biased. I loved this book because I get Kathy Griffin's humor and furthermore deeply admire her as an atypical female celebrity. I have loved her in person and in everything I've seen her in. My feelings were only intensified by this book and how she refuses to apologize for herself, shares her insecurities, trials and tribulations. Beyond that though, I loved this book because it is a true story about a strong female who has insecurities like the rest of us and she hasn't based...more

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Jul 18, 2010 AudioBookFans rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review refers to the audiobook version of this book

Long story short? Kathy Griffin is absolutely hilarious. I’ve been a fan for years and always DVR My Life on the D-List. She’s a nut, plain and simple. After I joined Audible, this was my first purchase and download because I couldn’t wait to hear the book.

Kathy is a superb storyteller and her narration of the book puts the icing on the cake. She chronicles her life and career from the beginning, even including the painful memories of her b...more

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Jun 19, 2010 Lara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: If you don't like Kathy Griffin, you aren't going to like this book. It doesn't matter how many stars I give it or what I say about it, although, how flattering if it would! If you are reading this and don't know who she is, I will just say she's hysterically crass (that's Rated-R) and most celebrities fear her. Or should.

I saw Kathy Griffin perform on tour this past January and her show, a 2-hour rant against celebrities and their crazy antics, had the audience roaring from start to...more Disclaimer: If you don't like Kathy Griffin, you aren't going to like this book. It doesn't matter how many stars I give it or what I say about it, although, how flattering if it would! If you are reading this and don't know who she is, I will just say she's hysterically crass (that's Rated-R) and most celebrities fear her. Or should.

I saw Kathy Griffin perform on tour this past January and her show, a 2-hour rant against celebrities and their crazy antics, had the audience roaring from start to finish. My sides were actually hurting so much that I counted the outing as my ab workout for the day. I definitely had a blast at her show; yet I am not a big celebrity memoir person. I did not rush out to buy the book that Kathy herself said she named OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION in hopes that consumers would think Oprah had chosen it. Imagine my delight, however, when my gal pal Cynthia loaned me her copy and said, "You will cruise through this. I bet you can knock it out in four hours." Confession time: I don't read as fast as Cynthia thinks I do, but it was definitely a cruiser and I cleared it within the week.

OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION chronicles Griffin's upbringing as the youngest of four children to John and Mary Griffin of Oak Park, Illinois. A self-proclaimed "... kid who needed to talk. All the time.", Griffin loved television and storytelling more than anything else (maybe not as much as cake, but they surely ran a close second). After high school she decided to take her gift of gab and love of Hollywood to the City of Angels with dreams of breaking into the biz.

Griffin does a great job detailing the road to stardom - it's full of hard work, paying dues (unless you are John Corbett or Heidi Montag, one of whom she loves and the other she loathes), lots of rejection and definite double standards. She maintains a highly conversational tone and I felt as if I was following her around to auditions and growing up with her as she struggled to find her niche. As a member of the Groundlings (picture LA's version of Second City) she worked day in and day out attempting to perfect her craft but had her share of failures, like when she blew the audition with Lorne Michaels to secure a spot on Saturday Night Live (Groundlings member Julia Sweeney nabbed it).

While the book is certainly funny, Griffin does a good job covering the not so funny stuff: a brother with many secrets, her volatile friendship with Andy Dick, and her failed marriage. I admit that prior to reading OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION, I thought anyone was fair game for her, yet she does have boundaries. Also revelatory, she hasn't pissed off everyone in Hollywood (and there's even a key group of folks with whom she strives to stay in the best of graces). I thought she handled the serious sections well and they exposed a side of Kathy Griffin outside of the brash and off-color that most don't ever get to see.

But let's face it. Griffin's job is to find the funny and make people laugh at almost anyone's expense. And, laugh I did. The most, in fact, during the last two pages of the book. It was her hilariously written Reading Group Guide Questions that had me bump my final rating up a star. Yes, the questions are that funny.(less)

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May 02, 2010 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was going at a four until the emails back and forth with Woz, which were boring.

As an aside, I've read about 10 memoirs/autobiographies/biographies by comedians, and it's endlessly interesting to me. In that respect, I really liked hearing about why her style of comedy was different and difficult to catch on while she was up and coming, especially considering that her style is why I like her. She balanced the funny (Mariska Hargitay getting dropped in Groundlings classes) with the not-...more

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Apr 22, 2010 Talulah Mankiller rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Griffin’s memoir, which describes her childhood and her career thus far.

I hate to say it, but I liked this. Griffin is HUGELY problematic as both a writer and a comedian, but goddamn is she funny. And weirdly inspiring. She skipped college and lived with her parents until she was 28, all in an effort to make it as an entertainer—although which kind of entertainer took her forever to figure out! Dude, Kathy Griffin went to the Lee Strasberg Institute.

Seriously.

Seriously.

Okay, please stop laughing...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Lindsay rated it 2 of 5 stars

I like the title and wonder how many book clubs will actually pick this book. Honestly, I wouldn't. I've seen her stand up shows on the Bravo channel and they cracked me up, so I thought that I would like her book. If she's funny on TV, shouldn't her book be funny too? Apparently not. She did try to make it humorous, but, to me, it just wasn't. The main reason why I wanted to read this is because I wanted to hear to go off on celebs like she does in her shows, and while she did mention them, she...more

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Apr 07, 2010 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I suppose I should start by admitting that before I picked up this book I had no idea who Kathy Griffin was. And, having given a celebrity tell-all or two a try I am not usually drawn to them. In fact, I avoid them. This book, however, was well worth making an exception for.

I got hooked while reading the captions of the photos and belly-laughing in the relative quiet of the public library. I couldn’t put it down. Luckily, the audio was there and Griffin’s reading makes the book that much more e...more

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Mar 23, 2010 Lena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, memoir, non-fiction

Comedian Kathy Griffin has become famous over the last few years for not being famous. In this fascinating and very funny memoir, she talks about the journey she took from being a loud-mouthed, gossipy kid in suburban Chicago to the Emmy-award winning and controversial (albeit low-level) Hollywood figure she is today.

The book is written in the personal storytelling style Kathy has perfected in her stand-up shows, and gives the reader an intimate first row seat as she dishes on everything from he...more Comedian Kathy Griffin has become famous over the last few years for not being famous. In this fascinating and very funny memoir, she talks about the journey she took from being a loud-mouthed, gossipy kid in suburban Chicago to the Emmy-award winning and controversial (albeit low-level) Hollywood figure she is today.

The book is written in the personal storytelling style Kathy has perfected in her stand-up shows, and gives the reader an intimate first row seat as she dishes on everything from her own past to her run-ins with various celebrities she's gone after in her act. The book is overflowing with her trademark brand of smart and shocking humor, and is full of great stories on everything from Jerry Seinfeld's utterly hysterical response to the time she trashed him on HBO to her days "dating" Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (her email correspondence with Woz, in which he reveals that even being a billionaire can't always get you your favorite prime number hotel room, is particularly priceless).

The book also has a serious side, however, as Kathy reveals her struggles with an unbalanced brother whom she suspected of pedophilia, the liposuction-gone-wrong that nearly killed her, what happened when she discovered her husband was stealing money from her, and how she coped with filming a 10-hour a day reality show as her father was dying.

Even these sections, however, are full of constant laugh out loud lines. More than a few find Kathy's humor over-the-top and offensive, but a chapter in which she candidly discusses what she learned about doing comedy for groups like AIDS patients and vets at Walter Reed, as well as where she sees the line between what's fair game and what isn't in the lives of the celebrities she skewers, offers a fascinating look at how she thinks and why she makes the choices that she does.

More than anything else, however, this book reveals just how insanely hard Kathy has worked to get her tiny piece of the celebrity pie. The chapters on her early years in LA and the long, grueling process she went through to discover her own comedy style and break out were among the most interesting to me in the book. I came away from it entertained, educated and with a new level of respect for this very smart and funny woman. (less)

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Dec 18, 2009 RNOCEAN rated it 3 of 5 stars

Official Book Club Selection is Kathy Griffin unplugged, uncensored, and unafraid to dish about what really happens on the road, away from the cameras, and at the star party after the show. (It’s also her big chance to score that coveted book club endorsement she’s always wanted. Are you there, Oprah? It’s me, Kathy.)Kathy Griffin has won Emmys for her reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, been nominated for a Grammy, worked and walked every red carpet known to man, and rung in the...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think Kathy Griffin is hilarious and this book did not disappoint. She writes exactly like she talks and I could picture her on stage or on her reality show sharing these stories. What struck me most was how hard she worked to get where she is. Seriously, not to be cliche, but she had to change her plan of attack many times on the way to stardom. In the beginning she wanted to act and then tried improv. She didn't think stand-up was the way to go and when she finally decided to give it a try,...more

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Nov 21, 2009 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: celeb-memoirs, memoir

I listened to this on audio, and I think hearing it in her voice versus reading it made it that much better (and I'm not usually an audiobook fan). Very conversational and surprisingly charming. I expected it to be more laugh-out-loud funny, and while I laughed at points, I more just listened as if she were talking to a friend about her life. And she's had a really interesting life! And I think this book makes her much more sympathetic (although I don't believe she tries for that) than she comes...more

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Oct 15, 2009 Kateqe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fall-2009

“This is my book.” This is what Kathy Griffin states in her autobiography. She tells it like it is and exactly like she wants to. I used to think Kathy Griffin was just some crazy comedian, but after reading her book, I realize she is a well trained, determined, and hilariously funny comic. Kathy Griffin’s Official Book Club Selection tells her life story and her long tough struggle into the spotlight. She talks about anything and everything, even her personal life and plastic surgery battle.
T...more “This is my book.” This is what Kathy Griffin states in her autobiography. She tells it like it is and exactly like she wants to. I used to think Kathy Griffin was just some crazy comedian, but after reading her book, I realize she is a well trained, determined, and hilariously funny comic. Kathy Griffin’s Official Book Club Selection tells her life story and her long tough struggle into the spotlight. She talks about anything and everything, even her personal life and plastic surgery battle.
This book is written just like a conversation. Kathy is telling you a story and a lot of the time, I felt like she was directly talking to me. Some of the language and content might be inappropriate for children or easily offended people. Griffin talks just like she always does and this includes profanities.
In her book, Kathy makes fun of her family a lot. She grew up in Chicago and her parents were very Catholic. She imitates her mother’s accent by using capitol letters and hyphens. “CHR-EYE-SSAKE!” she says, copying her mother’s voice. Her brothers would have famous kegger parties and she was exposed to drinking at a very young age. Lots of her family members were alcoholics and that is why, to this day, she doesn’t drink. Griffin jokes about how her mother was “the second prettiest girl at presentation” at church when she was growing up. (The first was her father’s sister!)
Kathy Griffin discusses some of the more difficult points about her life as well. She worked and worked to become a star. Spending many years at The Groundlings, an improve group in Chicago, working to get acting roles or maybe even become a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She was very discouraged and hopeless when she wasn’t finding work and had to do some pretty low down jobs. Kathy’s brother Kenny was a troubled guy. She explains why she thinks he was a child molester. There were multiple times she saw him beat his wife or girlfriends. She separated herself from him for many, many years and finally came to peace with the situation when she went to see him at the hospital. On his deathbed, Kathy realized he couldn’t ever hurt anyone else.
I recommend this book to anyone with a good sense of humor. You do need to be a mature, accepting reader, however, to fully appreciate and laugh at the comical stories Kathy Griffin tells. This book was so fun to read and also helped me learn a lot about a person I wasn’t really familiar with.

331 Pages- 2 Books
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Oct 13, 2009 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

People either really like Kathy Griffin, or they really don't. I'm in the really-like-her camp. (Although I will admit she does cross the line at times with her comedy.) I started watching her "Life on the D-List" show on Bravo TV from day one, and was impressed with her work ethic. No one works harder than Kathy to get her name out there.

A stand-up comic who performs all across the country, she is best known for her costarring role in Brooke Shields 90s sitcom "Suddenly Susan", but my sons kne...more

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Sep 17, 2009 Jeff rated it 4 of 5 stars

I totally didn't mean to read this book! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Kathy Griffin. Truly. I think she is hysterical and I love her stand-up. What I mean is that I bought the book as a gift for a friend and, before I wrapped it up, I decided to peruse the first few pages. Well, when I saw that it started with an open letter to Oprah, I knew I was in for a long night of reading -- reading AND laughing.

Kathy's book is a compulsively good read. It is equal parts Griffin schtick and true memoir. What...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Amanda Caldwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: celebrity-author, memoir, non-fiction, california, the-midwest, 2000s

I never thought i'd give 5 stars to a book written by Kathy Griffin. I actually listened to this as an audiobook while walking my little sister to and from school and while cleaning up the house. I've never been a big fan of Kathy Griffin, but I don't know, for some reason I felt like I wanted to "read" this. Maybe it was the funny title and the promise of humor. What I really liked was how chatty Kathy was. I really felt like she was talking directly to me face-to-face just telling me a story o...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have tried to read biographies or autobiographies many times. Never fails, I find them boring or just plain not interested in the person after I begin reading. So I decided I'd never waste money on an autobiography again. Until now. Well, it wasn't wasted. I love Kathy Griffin. For those of you who don't know her, she's hiiiilllarious! She's been a comic for decades and her best stuff is bashing celebrities. What I love most about her is that she doesn't hold back, she doesn't back down, she t...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography

I am not really up to speed on American comedians. I always feel as a European it's very difficult to relate to American classic stand-up comedy or improv. On my 2nd US trip ever, I went to an improv club with American friends and really felt weird because I didn't get the humor.

Kathy Griffin however is another matter entirely. I love her. I kept seeing previews for My Life on the D-List while I was watching other Bravo shows like Top Chef or Project Runway. One day I had a really quiet day at w...more

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Jan 09, 2010 Janell rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Kathy Griffin fans, of course!

Well, if you don't like Kathy Griffin's brand of brash, in your face humor, you won't like her book either. But, if you're a fan like me, you'll eat up every funny word. I read this in two days, and wanted to read more! That would have put the book in contention for a 5-star rating, but I gave it four stars. This was due to the fact I felt that she left out some things I would have liked to have known more about. For example, she mentions her assistant Jessica from her "My Life on the D-List" re...more

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Jan 01, 2010 Mari Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is funny from the very first page to index in the back (don't miss the witty comments sprinkled throughout the listing.) That the book is funny is not really suprising... what is surprising is the brutal honesty that KATHY GRIFFIN brings to this memoir. Her ability to lay it all out,the good, the bad, the donut fryers, and then turn around and make fun of herself or her family is refreshing in this day of angst ridden tell alls. Too much confession and reflection gets boring, quite fra...more This book is funny from the very first page to index in the back (don't miss the witty comments sprinkled throughout the listing.) That the book is funny is not really suprising... what is surprising is the brutal honesty that KATHY GRIFFIN brings to this memoir. Her ability to lay it all out,the good, the bad, the donut fryers, and then turn around and make fun of herself or her family is refreshing in this day of angst ridden tell alls. Too much confession and reflection gets boring, quite frankly!

What else is not so suprising in this book is KATHY GRIFFIN'S work ethic. Anyone who watched her show knows how hard she works and how un-fun some of it is. This book just reinforced how hard she had to work before she even came on the radar of most of us peons out in TVland. I think every starry eyed, Hollywood obsessed kid who dreams of being the next Miley Cyrus (but without the famous Dad), or the next Lauren Conrad (but MTV isn't filming in their high school) or the next Paris Hilton (without a family name on a gigantic hotel chain) should read this and realize how hard it really is!

KATHY GRIFFIN if you are reading this (and if you Google your name as obsessively as you say you do, odds are this will turn up!) thank you for your hard work, the laughter you bring, and most importantly for sticking up for reality TV (why shouldn't a 41 year old woman still enjoy watching the "social and psychological experiments" that are Real World, Big Brother or The Bachelor without people making fun of her!)

BTW DON'T MISS the funniest section of the book which is the question and answer section for book clubs in the appendix. Laugh out loud hilarious! KATHY GRIFFIN thank you for totally lampooning the pretentiousness of sitting around discussing books (but usually NOT Oprah books since she tends to pick such CRAP books!) Most of us just go for the food anyway! (JK) And KATHY GRIFFIN if I ever get to meet you in person... please don't stand too close. I wouldn't want to be collateral damage when God finally decides to strike you down for picking on his boy at the Emmys! (JK, KG!)

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Feb 24, 2010 Jennifer B rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kathy Griffin has been around for a very, very long time. And she has been hilarious throughout. This book did not disappoint. While Kathy is popular, she isn't so popular that really anyone (at least from what I know) knows much about her life, or her background, including her childhood and subsequent entrance into the comedic Hollywood scene. It was very interesting to hear where she came from (because, let's face it, sometimes she can be referred to as an 'obscure celebrity'), how she got int...more

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Kathy Griffin talks about her memoir OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SELECTION

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About Kathy Griffin

Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedian, media personality, and LGBT rights advocate. A self-proclaimed "D-list celebrity", Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan. She is now the star of the Bravo reality show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, for which she w...more

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“When my pals in high school were starting to drink, it always looked unappealing to me. I would be at a big party and see one of the popular girls or football players completely wasted and puking and acting a fool, and think to myself, There’s nothing cool about that. I never wanted to be that out of control.” — 2 people liked it

“To this day, the behavior of straight men is something I’ve never been able to wrap my head around. Have you ever met one? They’re really weird. Sometimes they want to have sex without A Chorus Line playing in the background. Yuck. How is that even possible?” — 2 people liked it

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