Wow, No Thank You – Samantha Irby
Samantha Irby’s perspective on the intersection of queer life, pop culture and Midwest living had come highly recommended by several friends, so it seemed like Pride Month was the perfect time for my first Irby collection.
While there were a few laugh out loud moments within each of the 18 essays, “Wow” didn’t fully capture my attention.
Even as a hybrid read/listen, it was somewhat of a slog because each chapter was highly reiterative, and her narration was one-note. It sometimes felt like I was reading a Black, queer version of the “Cathy” cartoon, which isn’t a criticism, but to say that I expected more than a gag-a-day structure.
Irby was at her best when exploring how growing up in poverty with disengaged parents permanently impacted her approach to life. These moments — effectively weaved into a broader story about success — were when I found her most vulnerable and raw while still delivering well-placed jokes.
Her other topics — aging, step-parenting, courting Hollywood, living with chronic illness and long-term relationships — were interesting but also a little routine. Many essays lean heavily into female-centric topics, like clothing, make-up, beauty regimens and menstrual cycles, and while I appreciate the commentary and perspective, it’s not a relatable experience so it grew old after a while.
All that to say, I’m probably not 100 percent the right type of reader for this collection, but I still found Irby, in general, to be entertaining. I wouldn’t be opposed to tackling another one of her collections, but I’d probably ask someone to give me the highlights for more targeted reading.
With that said, here are the essays I would consider the must-reads: “Girls Gone Mild,” “Hung Up!,” “Late-1900s Time Capsule,” “Are You Familiar With My Work?,” “Lesbian Bed Death,” “Body Negativity,” “Country Crock” and “Hello, 911?”
If you do decide to tackle this one — or another of Irby’s books — I’d recommend reading versus listening, if the author does the narration. While it’s fun to hear her pacing and how she builds up to a punchline, there’s too much reliance on scream-talking for emphasis, which grows tiresome.
Rating (story): 3/5 stars
Rating (narration): 3/5 stars
Format: Hybrid read/listen: eBook (personal library); audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: May 31 – June 21, 2023
Multi-tasking: Good to go. A few of the essays have an interesting structure that doesn’t completely translate in narration, but as a whole, her stories are easy to follow regardless of task.
