Book Review: “So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know” by Rhetta
“So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know” by Rhetta (2018)
Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir, Autobiography
Page Length: 262 pages (hardcover edition)
Synopsis:
In So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know, Parks and Recreation star Retta takes us on her not-so-meteoric rise from roaches to riches (well, rich enough that she can buy $15,000 designer handbags yet scared enough to know she’s always a heartbeat away from ramen with American cheese).
Throwing her hard-working Liberian parents for a loop, Retta abandons her plan to attend med school after graduating Duke University to move to Hollywood to star in her own sitcom―like her comedy heroes Lucille Ball and Roseanne.
Say what? Word. Turns out Retta might actually be on to something. After winning Comedy Central’s stand-up competition, she should be ready for prime time―but a fear of success derails her biggest dream.
Whether reminiscing about her days as a contract chemist at GlaxoSmithKline, telling “dirty” jokes to Mormons, feeling like the odd man out on Parks, fending off racist trolls on Twitter, flirting with Michael Fassbender, or expertly stalking the cast of “Hamilton,” Retta’s unique voice and refreshing honesty will make you laugh, cry, and laugh so hard you’ll cry.
Her eponymous sitcom might not have happened yet, but by the end of So Close to Being the Sh*t, you’ll be rooting for Retta to be the next one-named wonder to take over your television. And she just might inspire you to reach for the stars, too. (description from Goodreads)
Review:
My interest was initially piqued by this book when I heard Rhetta was behind it. She played one of my most favorite characters, Donna, in the show Parks and Recreation (which I still watch today). Her character, Donna, and Tom (played by Aziz Ansari) were the best TV duo you could ask for and they taught me one of life’s important lessons, TREAT YO SELF!
The book is a compilation of essays about her life, career, family/background, rise to fame, and her experiences on the set of Parks and Recreation. Though her writing rambles on at times, this book was such a fun read! Reading this book felt like I was having a causal conversation with Rhetta. She had me constantly laughing out loud and I appreciated getting to know her on a more personal level.
Reading Rhetta’s intimate stories made me feel as if I was talking to a close friend. She’s real, very down-to-earth, and tells it like it is with no BS. After learning more about her career path I had even more of an admiration for her dedication to her work and following her dreams. I liked that she shared her personal journey with her reading audience and you truly get a feel for how her life modeled her into the woman she is today. Most importantly she tells her readers to always be their selves and to never give up on their dreams.
If you are a Parks and Recreation fan or even someone who loves humorous memoirs, this is a must read!
Final Verdict:
