God Said, Ha!: A Memoir

by Julia Sweeney

1995 was, for Julia Sweeney, a truly horrible year. She got a divorce (amicable), bought a small bungalow in Hollywood, and looked forward to a life that said, "Here dwells a happily single young woman!"

But then the ax fell. Her younger brother Mike was diagnosed with terminal cancer and moved in with her. Her parents came to be with Mike—and moved in with her. Suddenly her tiny bungalow for one was filled to the rafters with Sweeneys. Here she was sleeping on her pull-out sofa bed while her father walked around, his Walkman on all day and her mother marveled at Julia's lack of such staples as stroganoff mixes. Every day was spent bringing Mike to and from chemotherapy, every evening watching Chicago Hope or E.R. Julia was now on seriously intimate terms with the people she had spent half a lifetime growing up away from.

Just weeks before Mike died, Julia was diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer—what Mike called her "sympathy cancer"—and within days of burying her brother, she underwent a radical hysterectomy, beginning her own journey through "the International House of Cancer."

From these Job-like travails, Julia has written a remarkably funny and touching memoir about a family in extremis that manages to persevere with humor, grace, and love.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor, Biography, Biography Memoir, Audiobook, Religion

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Julia Sweeney is an American actress, comedian and author best known for her Saturday Night Live career and autobiographical solo shows.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The newly divorced, former-SNL star, Julia Sweeney, was looking forward to living in her very own, sweet little L.A. bungalow, when her brother was diagnosed with lymphoma. Before she knew it, she was sharing her domicile with her ailing brother, AND her parents. As Julia recounts . . . my parents have always been either a source of comedy or a reason to be in therapy for me.

Everything had changed . . . even the food she ate:
. . . if I used words like "pasta," it was as if I were throwing my big-city ways right in their faces. They'd say, "You mean, noodles?" And if I used a phrase like marinara sauce, it would really blow their minds. So after a few months I was reduced to saying things like, "Hey, how about we have noodles with the red topping for dinner?"

Before long, Sweeney found herself thinking, When I go to college, I'm gonna get my own dorm room and I'm gonna do whatever I want! Then I'd remember, Oh, my God, I already went to college.

To make a bad situation nearly unbearable, Sweeney herself was diagnosed with cervical cancer, or "sympathy cancer," as her brother dubbed it.

This memoir, filled with one sad story after another, could have been a maudlin slog, but Sweeney's humor turns it into a riot. True - I was in tears at one point, but I was laughing again by the end of the book. Not only is this gal funny, she can REALLY write.

Highly recommended to anyone who needs a good laugh and/or a good cry.

[Jeff Koeppen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved actress/comedienne Julia Sweeney's Letting Go of God which hilariously details her leaving Catholicism and becoming an atheist, like I did, so I used an Audible credit on God Said, "Ha!.

In God Said, "Ha!", Julia details the period in her life after her divorce and her move to Hollywood in which her younger brother, Mike, is diagnosed with terminal cancer and moves in with her; and, not long after her parents also move in with her to help with Mike's care. Her quiet and relaxing small bachelorette pad turned in to a busy hub of family activity. Adding to this, she herself is diagnosed with cancer during Mike's stay.

It sounds like pretty dark content but she tells of this chapter in her life in a mostly witty and funny way with some touching moments thrown in for the feels. The funny parts had me laughing out loud often. And if you experience this by all means do it via Audible as she narrates it and is absolutely fantastic. I will be checking out the rest of her Audible content.

As a nonbeliever I really appreciate Julia as she has taken the time to speak at atheist gatherings and TV shows in the past. She's appeared at a number of Freedom From Religion events and on their TV show. There are number of her speeches and interviews on the interwebs. She is funny and brilliant, we need more like her in the movement.

[Beth Brekke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would expect a book about living with your brother who has cancer, your parents moving in to help out, and then discovering you also have cancer to be somewhat poignant or reflective or inspirational--with bits of humor if it's written by a comedienne. I'd say this didn't really meet my expectations. I'm not a Saturday Night Live fan and therefore not familiar with the author's character on the show but I don't think that's the issue. I found this read often veered off into unnecessary/unrelated sidebars and an "all about me" attitude (yes, I know it's a memoir but...). I disliked her condescending attitude about her parents. She criticized her mother for everything from the way she answered the phone to the way she did the laundry. Toward the end of the book she did say she was more appreciative and closer to her mother after this experience, but it didn't really show in the writing. There were sections that did make me chuckle; I especially enjoyed the conversation with her doctor concerning her lost ovary. Overall, it was a bit of a meandering potluck. The second half slightly better but it left me neither wanting more nor satisfied--just happy to be finished.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick relisten to this brilliant woman (read by Julia herself) as I am going to see her tonight. TONIGHT! In the real world with real people from my quarantine/zoom book club. One of whom is the very Julia Sweeney. This group is by far the best (the only good?) thing to have come from the past 2 pandemic years.

This is her memoir of when her brother and parents moved in with her when said brother was diagnosed with cancer. It is a sad story, but full of love and family and laughter. Laugh out loud scenes.

I have been a fan since the SNL days, but to have discovered that Julia is one of the most well read, articulate, and of course hilarious book club members EVER has been a wondrous thing. ❤️

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was on a minor Julia Sweeney kick the past couple of weeks and read this last night and today after watching the movie of the same title (produced by Quentin Tarantino). Basically the book is just the stand-up routine in text, although it was interesting to see the pictures of Sweeney and her family that are included. It was a quick read and not terrible, but you'd be better off listening to the This American Life episode in which clips from the stand-up appearances dealing with this time in her life (when her brother was dying of lymphoma and she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and her parents and siblings were all living in her Hollywood bungalow), because they are great and her delivery is just so funny and touching all at the same time. I have no idea why I've gone on so long with topics related to a book that came out almost ten years ago, but there you go.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually listened to a recording of her live stage show from Audible (I didn't even know there was a book!). But I can highly recommend the recording -- Sweeney is a master storyteller and her skills as an actress shine through when you listen. Highly recommended, but listen (or watch the video of the show) rather than read. Or maybe read it after you've heard her tell it -- there's a lot of humor as well as touching moments that probably don't pack as much of a punch if you're not hearing her expressive voice.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing read. From the title I had expected humor, which is difficult when part of the story revolves around her brother suffering from and succumbing to cancer. But that wasn't the only disappointment: I found this poorly written, with limited vocabulary and uninteresting structure. BTW, the author played Pat on SNL.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is great but the movie is phenomenal. This story works better when Julia Sweeney TELLS it herself.

[Majboyz63 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very possible to laugh and cry at the same time. I really, really liked this book. I have to remember that it’s okay to laugh about the insanity of life, especially the darkest parts of it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Sweeney ("Pat" on Saturday Night Live) writes a wonderful memoir of a family fighting cancer. She was newly divorced and excited to start a new life on her own. Soon after buying a home of her own, her brother is diagnosed with cancer and she has him come live with her so that she can care for him. While she's caring for him, she is diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer. She blends these tough times with enough humor that it isn't a maudlin tale, but a story of love and support. The story of her parents moving in with them is definitely comic relief to the tragedy of the health problems. This is a side of Julia Sweeney I had not known and I'm sure most of her fans never knew.

[Donald Jans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this on stage at the Magic theater in SF. How Sweeney could make you laugh your ass off, and while you're still doing that, spring on you that her brother dies (imagine jumping on a trampoline,, and you just jump off the trampoline) and I'm in mid guffaw and then he dies. Never before have I felt guilty for laughing, but that's exactly what she wanted, and I feel like her brother would have wanted, so you could stop and pause and think about his life, but then get right on laughing again. Brilliant! Honestly, a great book to buy for anyone either going through cancer,( I have bought it for several people) or that has a family member going through it. It's life, there's not much else you can do about it, except smile.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on a humor writing kick right now. I recently watched a video of Julia Sweeney reading a story she wrote about giving her daughter the "birds and the bees" talk, and it was so funny to me I decided I had to read something of hers. I picked this book up yesterday and finished it this morning. The book ended up being centered around her family finding out her brother had lymphoma and the events that ensued because of it. Even though the topic was really heavy, it was an entertaining and surprisingly poignant memoir about this time in her life.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I interviewed Julia for an article I'm writing about how humor can be helpful when you're dealing with cancer. This memoir is about her brother's battle with cancer (she was his caregiver) and then her own diagnosis of cervical cancer just a month before he died. It's a quick read, although not deep. But the humor is there and that's what she was going for. In fact, the memoir came about after she did a stand-up act about her family's battle with cancer.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year in the life of Julia Sweeney ("It's Pat!" from Saturday Night Live) after she has left the show. Don't let the title scare you off. It has virtually nothing to do with God. It's a humorous and touching look at a year in which her brother finds out he has cancer and he and her parents move in with her to help support him. It's a really good read and you'll find it very easy to get through at only 172 pages.

[April Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, deft and funny. Sweeney manages to wring tears AND laughter in this bittersweet memoir. Even when she's dealing with Big Issues like terminal illness and religion, she's always frank, never whiny or martyr-like. Best of all, she manages to come out on the other side of some very, very dark times with her sense of humor intact and a positive outlook.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia Sweeney is an entertaining storyteller without doubt. Unfortunately the mediums of theater and written literature require some different skill sets. Having experienced both, I would recommend skipping the book if possible and renting the HBO version of her one-woman show. Delivery and non-verbals mean a lot. Trust me.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was funny in places, but her humor is really sweet (my mom has funny sweaters! she cooks funny!) and maybe I'm just more a fan of scathing irony. It just didn't pack enough good moments or ideas to make it a life-changing experience. That said, I did like it and it felt nice while I read it. It's like a tapioca pudding cancer book. I bet the stage show is much better.

[Jennifer Kronk · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only real complaint about this book is that I wanted more. Sweeney has such a wonderful sense of humor that it is even more painful when the heartbreak happens.
Very inspirational and sweet. I would have liked to see the show this was based on.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I do not care for Julia's characters on SNL, I really love, love, loved her book!!!! She seems like someone who would be fun to be friends with. This book was touching and in parts very, very funny....i mean snort out loud funny!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually have this as an audiobook, but I couldn't find it on here. I love Julia Sweeney's memoirs, and listening to her perform them just adds to enjoyment. A touching, funny, sweet, tragic, honest story of her brother's death by cancer.

[Sherry (sethurner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweeney, an alum of Saturday Night Live, tells the story in a monologue of her brother's cancer and her own illness. At turns funny and very sad, she tells a compelling story with the wit of, say, Gilda Radner.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most wonderful hilarious look at life and at cancer. As someone who has lost and is losing loved ones to cancer I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will make you laugh out loud and cry in the best possible ways.

[Virginia]

WOULD I LIKE TO READ THIS OR NOT

ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM A RECENT DIVORCE, HER BROTHER WITH CANCER AND HER PARENTS MOVE IN WITH HER AND AFTER HIS DEATH SHE DEVELOPS CANCER. SOMEHOW THIS JOB LIKE MEMOIR IS SUPPOSED TO BE HILARIOUSL

WOULE IT BE CATHARTIC OR PAINFUL

[Lori Rader-Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

The live Uncabaret set on This American Life is much better, but still a good read. I've decided that I should get the audio book for comedian's books. It's so much better listening to their voices telling the stories.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was both hilarious and inspiring. A quick little read, Sweeney's comedy is clean, witty, and real. I laughed, I cried and I saw a whole new side to the "Pat" actress/comedian. She is complex, intelligent, compassionate and yes...very, very funny.

[Elizabeth Schlatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet and amusing group of short essays about a tumultuous year in Sweeney's life, along with some memories strewn in. It feels like she's talking to you when you read it. If you can imagine her voice, then it's icing on the cake.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself for reading is decent, very fast and light (for what should be heavy subject matter). If you have the choice, I recommend listening to her instead--that will make you love her stuff.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

JULIA SWEENEY GIVES A COMICAL TWIST TO THE TRIBULATIONS SHE AND HER FAMILY HAVE HAD TO ENDURE- IT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, CRY, BUT OVERALL, GIVES HOPE

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brief book is both touching and funny. It may seem a little disjointed in the beginning, but it all hangs together in the end.

[Adele Goetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love people who can find humor in everything, even terrible things like cancer.