Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Review - I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee


TITLE: I Know I Am, But What Are You?
AUTHOR/EDITOR: Samantha Bee
INFO: Hardcover, Autobiography, 242 pages
PUBLISHED: Gallery Books, 2010
ISBN#: 978-1-4391-4273-8
HOW'D I GET IT: From publisher for review

FROM THE COVER/PUBLISHER:  From Goodreads:  Samantha Bee's hilarious essays on everything from her parents' views on religion and sex to her pre-Daily Show stint as a Japanese anime character

MY TAKE:  I was really looking forward to reading this book after the publisher contacted me to do a review.  I've always thought Samantha Bee was very funny on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and thought her "memoir" would be a kick.  Unfortunately, I don't feel like that great sense of humor and quick wit really transferred well onto paper.  I would love to see her doing stand-up and telling some of these stories in person or on TV.  


There actually are some very funny anecdotes in the book which is why I didn't rate it lower than I did.  They are a crack-up, but they just couldn't carry the whole package.  She seems like she is such a likable person, but I was a little put off by some of the sexual context and language.  I couldn't see where it was necessary in almost every story to get a point across to the reader. 

I really wanted to enjoy this book like I have enjoyed watching the author, but I just couldn't muster it. 

MY RATING: 2.5 / 5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   I Know I Am, But What Are You? at Amazon.com

Happy Reading!
CymLowell

7 comments:

  1. I'm following you back and am a new subscriber from Mailbox Monday!

    Have a great day!

    Sandy
    http://suddenlysandy.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Sandy,

    Thanks for coming by!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi. I'm a new follower via Book Review Wednesdays. This is an interesting take on this book - I just read another review where the reader loved this book. I think it's a must read for me now -- to check it out.

    If you get a chance, stop my my blog:

    http://theintertwinedlife.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-review-smart-one-and-pretty-one.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Chasity,

    Thanks for stopping in. I was definitely disappointed that I didn't like it more. After I finished, I looked at other people's reviews and they seem to be mixed. I'm sure it depends on each person's tastes and sense of humor.

    Have a great one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi! I'm supposed to review this book...it looks like it might sound better than it is! Hope I like it better than you did ;) Anyway, I'm your newest follower. My blog is http://ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com hope you'll come by and check it out!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Ashley, thanks for coming by!

    You may love the book, I'm guessing it just wasn't quite my cup of tea. That's the beauty of so many different people reviewing the same titles - what one of us can't get into may be the next person's new favorite. Enjoy yourself anyway!

    I'll definitely come by your blog! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh man, this was actually my bookclub's pick last month but I couldn't go. Now I am not so bummed!

    ReplyDelete

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