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Happy Accidents
In the summer of 1974, a fourteen-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream. A dream to become an actress, like her idols Ron Howard and Vicki Lawrence. But it was a long way from the South Side of Chicago to Hollywood, and it didn’t help that she’d recently dropped out of the school play, The Ugly Duckling. Or that the Hollywood casting directors she wrote to replied that “professional training was a requirement.”
But the funny thing is, it all came true. Through a series of happy accidents, Jane Lynch created an improbable—and hilarious—path to success. In those early years, despite her dreams, she was also consumed with anxiety, feeling out of place in both her body and her family. To deal with her worries about her sexuality, she escaped in positive ways—such as joining a high school chorus not unlike the one in Glee—but also found destructive outlets. She started drinking almost every night her freshman year of high school and developed a mean and judgmental streak that turned her into a real-life Sue Sylvester.
Then, at thirty-one, she started to get her life together. She was finally able to embrace her sexuality, come out to her parents, and quit drinking for good. Soon after, a Frosted Flakes commercial and a chance meeting in a coffee shop led to a role in the Christopher Guest movie Best in Show, which helped her get cast in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Similar coincidences and chance meetings led to roles in movies starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and even Meryl Streep in 2009’s Julie & Julia. Then, of course, came the two lucky accidents that truly changed her life. Getting lost in a hotel led to an introduction to her future wife, Lara. Then, a series she’d signed up for abruptly got canceled, making it possible for her to take the role of Sue Sylvester in Glee, which made her a megastar.
Today, Jane Lynch has finally found the contentment she thought she’d never have. Part comic memoir and part inspirational narrative, this is a book equally for the rabid Glee fan and for anyone who needs a new perspective on life, love, and success.
THIS PROGRAM IS ENHANCED WITH PHOTOS FROM THE HARDCOVER
WITH A FOREWORD BY CAROL BURNETT
Excerpt from Happy Accidents:
If I could go back in time and talk to my twenty-year-old self, the first thing I would say is: “Lose the perm.” Secondly I would say: “Relax. Really. Just relax. Don’t sweat it.”
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t anxious and fearful that the parade would pass me by. And I was sure there was someone or something outside of myself with all the answers. I had a driving, anxiety-filled ambition. I wanted to be a working actor so badly. I wanted to belong and feel like I was valued and seen. Well, now I am a working actor, and I guarantee you it’s not because I suffered or worried over it.
As I look back, the road to where I am today has been a series of happy accidents I was either smart or stupid enough to take advantage of. I thought I had to have a plan, a strategy. Turns out I just had to be ready and willing to take chances, look at what’s right in front of me, and put my heart into everything I do. All that anxiety and fear didn’t help, nor did it fuel anything useful. My final piece of advice to twenty-year-old me: Be easy on your sweet self. And don’t drink Miller Lite tall boys in the morning.
But the funny thing is, it all came true. Through a series of happy accidents, Jane Lynch created an improbable—and hilarious—path to success. In those early years, despite her dreams, she was also consumed with anxiety, feeling out of place in both her body and her family. To deal with her worries about her sexuality, she escaped in positive ways—such as joining a high school chorus not unlike the one in Glee—but also found destructive outlets. She started drinking almost every night her freshman year of high school and developed a mean and judgmental streak that turned her into a real-life Sue Sylvester.
Then, at thirty-one, she started to get her life together. She was finally able to embrace her sexuality, come out to her parents, and quit drinking for good. Soon after, a Frosted Flakes commercial and a chance meeting in a coffee shop led to a role in the Christopher Guest movie Best in Show, which helped her get cast in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Similar coincidences and chance meetings led to roles in movies starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and even Meryl Streep in 2009’s Julie & Julia. Then, of course, came the two lucky accidents that truly changed her life. Getting lost in a hotel led to an introduction to her future wife, Lara. Then, a series she’d signed up for abruptly got canceled, making it possible for her to take the role of Sue Sylvester in Glee, which made her a megastar.
Today, Jane Lynch has finally found the contentment she thought she’d never have. Part comic memoir and part inspirational narrative, this is a book equally for the rabid Glee fan and for anyone who needs a new perspective on life, love, and success.
THIS PROGRAM IS ENHANCED WITH PHOTOS FROM THE HARDCOVER
WITH A FOREWORD BY CAROL BURNETT
Excerpt from Happy Accidents:
If I could go back in time and talk to my twenty-year-old self, the first thing I would say is: “Lose the perm.” Secondly I would say: “Relax. Really. Just relax. Don’t sweat it.”
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t anxious and fearful that the parade would pass me by. And I was sure there was someone or something outside of myself with all the answers. I had a driving, anxiety-filled ambition. I wanted to be a working actor so badly. I wanted to belong and feel like I was valued and seen. Well, now I am a working actor, and I guarantee you it’s not because I suffered or worried over it.
As I look back, the road to where I am today has been a series of happy accidents I was either smart or stupid enough to take advantage of. I thought I had to have a plan, a strategy. Turns out I just had to be ready and willing to take chances, look at what’s right in front of me, and put my heart into everything I do. All that anxiety and fear didn’t help, nor did it fuel anything useful. My final piece of advice to twenty-year-old me: Be easy on your sweet self. And don’t drink Miller Lite tall boys in the morning.
7 pages, Audio CD
First published September 1, 2011
150 people are currently reading
19536 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lynch
19 books86 followersJane Marie Lynch is an American comedienne, actress and singer. Since 2009, she has played the role of Sue Sylvester in the Fox musical-comedy series Glee for which she has won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She has also played roles in comedies such as Best in Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Role Models, as well as for her recurring roles as lawyer Joyce Wischina in The L Word, Dr. Linda Freeman, Charlie's sarcastic therapist on Two and a Half Men and as Spencer Reid's mother, Dr. Diana Reid on Criminal Minds. She has appeared on iCarly as Sam's mother. She was also a regular on the comedy-drama series Party Down as Constance Carmell; the role garnered her positive critical response.
Lynch, who is openly gay, married clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Embry on May 31, 2010 at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Lynch, who is openly gay, married clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Embry on May 31, 2010 at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 873 reviews
December 9, 2011
This is a breezy read that won't take up much of your time, but it will surprise you with its candour. Jane Lynch takes us through her periods of heavy drinking and an acerbic personality which, although they often worked together to mask the pain of struggling with her sexuality, happened to drive people away. Often in celebrity autobiographies they hide these aspects of their personality, but Lynch embraces it and really makes you think that unless you could have poked at her hard shell you would have been running away as well.
And that is the danger of the closet, as it really fucks you up. Not that the outside world doesn't do it either, but the capacity for self harm and self medication increases - as Lynch shows when she turns to alcohol for comfort and pushes people away so she gets rejected on her own terms.
The first half of the book is insightful and courageous. And it seems Lynch gets her happy ending despite everything. This is a much recommended memoir - Lynch's own answer to the "It gets better" project.
And that is the danger of the closet, as it really fucks you up. Not that the outside world doesn't do it either, but the capacity for self harm and self medication increases - as Lynch shows when she turns to alcohol for comfort and pushes people away so she gets rejected on her own terms.
The first half of the book is insightful and courageous. And it seems Lynch gets her happy ending despite everything. This is a much recommended memoir - Lynch's own answer to the "It gets better" project.
May 17, 2016
I was not a fan of Glee but I did enjoy watching it for the character of Sue Sylvester. You know, the lady who always wears a track-suit and was a bit of a tough cookie:
Anyway, I had noticed Jane Lynch in other roles - she was hilarious in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Paul. So, when I stumbled across her autobiography, I was intrigued.
It took me no time at all to read this book. Lynch is certainly an interesting woman and I loved that she told her story very openly and with a lot of humour. I take it from her book that this in itself may have been something she may have found hard to do at one point as she did (maybe still does) struggle with anxiety issues and has found it difficult in the past to relate things.
As far autobiographies go, this one did not try to discuss social or political issues much but simply told Lynch's story and focused about her own journey in what came across an interesting and very honest account.
Really enjoyed it.
Anyway, I had noticed Jane Lynch in other roles - she was hilarious in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Paul. So, when I stumbled across her autobiography, I was intrigued.
It took me no time at all to read this book. Lynch is certainly an interesting woman and I loved that she told her story very openly and with a lot of humour. I take it from her book that this in itself may have been something she may have found hard to do at one point as she did (maybe still does) struggle with anxiety issues and has found it difficult in the past to relate things.
As far autobiographies go, this one did not try to discuss social or political issues much but simply told Lynch's story and focused about her own journey in what came across an interesting and very honest account.
Really enjoyed it.
January 31, 2012
When I heard Jane Lynch was writing a book I couldn't of been more excited! I think she's a truly fantastic comedian and brings so much personality to every role I've ever seen her play, so I can't wait to read this book when it comes out.
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I'm really glad I read this book! Out of all the "celebrity memoirs" out there, I must admit that this one has been my favorite so far. I liked how Jane's tone/personality really came through every page from beginning to end. I throughly enjoyed how down to earth she is about her success and open about her past. I liked that she's human and had hurdles to overcome to get where she is today and isn't afraid to admit it; in fact she embraces it.
She holds nothing back in this memoir and I really enjoyed everything from her childhood scrap book pictures, to her 2nd City/Steppenwolf days, to her full time gig as Sue Sylvester in Glee, to finding the love of her life and becoming a mother. I'm really glad Jane found her happiness and I hope one day I too can find mine.
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I'm really glad I read this book! Out of all the "celebrity memoirs" out there, I must admit that this one has been my favorite so far. I liked how Jane's tone/personality really came through every page from beginning to end. I throughly enjoyed how down to earth she is about her success and open about her past. I liked that she's human and had hurdles to overcome to get where she is today and isn't afraid to admit it; in fact she embraces it.
She holds nothing back in this memoir and I really enjoyed everything from her childhood scrap book pictures, to her 2nd City/Steppenwolf days, to her full time gig as Sue Sylvester in Glee, to finding the love of her life and becoming a mother. I'm really glad Jane found her happiness and I hope one day I too can find mine.
December 5, 2011
Jane Lynch says in this interview that she was inspired to write this book by the It Gets Better project, and it shows. This book delves into some of the darker moments of Jane's life, but also takes the reader to the heights of a strangely successful career. From her struggles with alcoholism, her extended period spent in the closet of self-denial, and dysfunctional romantic relationships that continued well into her adulthood, Jane Lynch delivers the kind of alienated, lonely, disturbing story we've come to expect from the Gay Childhood and Adolescence. And then, hold onto your hats, because she starts befriending important people, experience career success and working through her personal issues. It's really a peaks and valleys kind of story, but lacks the juicy gossip, personal secrets and insane revelations that make memoirs really great. This book is a sanitized version of the story told from a very happy place. Good for Jane Lynch, but there's a certain depth that's missing here. She literally has nothing bad to say about anyone who is currently in her life.
If you have never known someone who struggled with their sexual orientation through their adolescence and young adulthood, Jane's struggles might be enlighten you, but if you've had (or been) a self-loathing, drunk, gay friend, this will seem overwrought.
Regardless, this is a quick and easy read. Jane Lynch is a funny person. I appreciated that Jane delineated between her gender presentation and sexual orientation, exploring the ways that masculinity is constructed in contemporary media through her own experiences and career. Although she does not use academic theories and jargon to explore these issues, she mentions multiple times how many roles she has landed that were written for men and how she got those roles with her hard-ass, arrogant, over-confident faux bravado (fauxvado! that should be a word.). She questions why being confident and self-assured are masculine traits, and what it takes to "make it" as a funny lady. Her failures to get (and keep) the girl are kind of awkward and painful, but hey, we've all been there.
I struggled with how many stars to give this book -- I like Jane, and this is a perfectly fine book, but it's really just "okay" to me. 2.5 stars.
If you have never known someone who struggled with their sexual orientation through their adolescence and young adulthood, Jane's struggles might be enlighten you, but if you've had (or been) a self-loathing, drunk, gay friend, this will seem overwrought.
Regardless, this is a quick and easy read. Jane Lynch is a funny person. I appreciated that Jane delineated between her gender presentation and sexual orientation, exploring the ways that masculinity is constructed in contemporary media through her own experiences and career. Although she does not use academic theories and jargon to explore these issues, she mentions multiple times how many roles she has landed that were written for men and how she got those roles with her hard-ass, arrogant, over-confident faux bravado (fauxvado! that should be a word.). She questions why being confident and self-assured are masculine traits, and what it takes to "make it" as a funny lady. Her failures to get (and keep) the girl are kind of awkward and painful, but hey, we've all been there.
I struggled with how many stars to give this book -- I like Jane, and this is a perfectly fine book, but it's really just "okay" to me. 2.5 stars.
September 24, 2011
I listened to Happy Accidents because Jane Lynch narrated the book. I'm certainly glad I chose the audiobook. I really appreciate the candor with which Lynch discusses here childhood, college years, and early adulthood. There were times when I laughed out loud as Lynch was narrating events from her childhood. I'm sure other drivers thought I was a bit nuts. However, by the time the book moved into Lynch's adulthood, and the elements of her career that she's most known for (Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, the 40 Year Old Virgin among others), I felt as if the candor was lost. It seemed like Lynch was reading her resume. It also made me stop and wonder about what it means to write a memoir. After all, Lynch is still working - she's in her prime- and I'm sure she doesn't want to inadvertently alienate anyone because how do you tell your story without telling anyone else's. We are social creatures, and since we don't exist in isolation, other people have to be part of your memoir. Overall, well worth the listen!
September 16, 2011
I have been following Jane Lynch's career for some time now, considering SHE GREW UP ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM MY HOUSE IN DOLTON, ILL! She actually gave her street address in this book from when she lived in Dolton, and I realized that I must have delivered newspapers to her house and went begging for Christmas paper girl tips there as well. We also attended the same elementary, jr. high, and high school. It was fascinating to hear about our little corner of the world from her perspective. All of my catholic friends attended St. Jude, the church her family was active with. Some of the stories from "our" high school really made me giggle. Although I went to those schools about a decade after her, I recognized many names and places she spoke about.
It was fun to read about her "rise to fame". I really enjoyed this book. I feel like we'd have so much to chat about if Jane and I sat down for a chat. :)
It was fun to read about her "rise to fame". I really enjoyed this book. I feel like we'd have so much to chat about if Jane and I sat down for a chat. :)
February 5, 2012
Expectations: A book that would have me laughing aloud without pause.
Reality: The only time I laughed was when she listed her favorite Sue Sylvester quotations.
I was initially bothered by the lack of funny, but I pressed on. Soon, I felt meagerly captivated by Jane's struggles. Though I wasn't 100% enthralled in the beginning, I stuck around because I've always been curious about how one gets to be so successful (which is not without incident, as it happens). I like advice from wise owls, so that was this book's saving grace for me when I was unhappy with its seriousness.
The "happy accidents" theme reminded me of a Steve Jobs quotation: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." Jane had no idea that doing low budget off-off-off-off-Broadway productions would lead her anywhere; she acted because it made her happy. She had no idea that going into a different cafe versus her usual cafe would lead her to conversing with a director, who gave her a role, which would in turn put her on another director's radar, and so on and so forth. That's not to say that luck got her where she is today: she worked tirelessly to propel her natural talent into the business.
As a young person with my entire life and career ahead of me, I can only hope that with hard work, exuberance, and a fair share of happy accidents, when I'm Jane's age, I'll know the same happiness she knows.
Reality: The only time I laughed was when she listed her favorite Sue Sylvester quotations.
I was initially bothered by the lack of funny, but I pressed on. Soon, I felt meagerly captivated by Jane's struggles. Though I wasn't 100% enthralled in the beginning, I stuck around because I've always been curious about how one gets to be so successful (which is not without incident, as it happens). I like advice from wise owls, so that was this book's saving grace for me when I was unhappy with its seriousness.
The "happy accidents" theme reminded me of a Steve Jobs quotation: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." Jane had no idea that doing low budget off-off-off-off-Broadway productions would lead her anywhere; she acted because it made her happy. She had no idea that going into a different cafe versus her usual cafe would lead her to conversing with a director, who gave her a role, which would in turn put her on another director's radar, and so on and so forth. That's not to say that luck got her where she is today: she worked tirelessly to propel her natural talent into the business.
As a young person with my entire life and career ahead of me, I can only hope that with hard work, exuberance, and a fair share of happy accidents, when I'm Jane's age, I'll know the same happiness she knows.
September 23, 2011
I love Jane Lynch and knew I would want to read this book as soon as I heard it existed. As expected, it was an interesting and quick read--if you like her, I think you'll find her life story to date interesting. I'll always remember just being completely struck by her screen presence and her natural talent at dry humor from the very first time I saw her, which was I think in "Best in Show". That was such a great movie, chock full of talented and hilarious actors, yet she still stood out to me.
The book goes through her sometimes-struggles in her past (although really, for a comedian, she is pretty normal... most of them are train wrecks), and details her rise to fame. I liked hearing about her budding career, because it's so interesting hearing about how various Hollywood projects develop. She comes off as very down-to-earth, although there's a good mix of manicness and impulsiveness mixed in there, too. But you kind of have to be that way to be a comedian/actress! Your whole life is sort of flying by the seat of your pants.
The book goes through her sometimes-struggles in her past (although really, for a comedian, she is pretty normal... most of them are train wrecks), and details her rise to fame. I liked hearing about her budding career, because it's so interesting hearing about how various Hollywood projects develop. She comes off as very down-to-earth, although there's a good mix of manicness and impulsiveness mixed in there, too. But you kind of have to be that way to be a comedian/actress! Your whole life is sort of flying by the seat of your pants.
March 9, 2014
Bullet Review:
After some somewhat "meh" biographies, I've hit upon one that really impressed me - not to mention, completely changed my first impression of Jane that I got when I started! I went from cringing at the overdramatic, pretentious teenaged Jane to sympathizing and appreciating her candor and honesty.
Not the funniest book and still not as good as Tina Fey's Bossypants, but Lynch's "Happy Accidents" is an insightful, endearing, brutally honest book that warmed my heart and makes me want to watch everything she's been in.
Recommended for fans of Jane Lynch (duh), Glee, and any young gay or lesbian or ally. Hell, just let me leave it at "recommended".
After some somewhat "meh" biographies, I've hit upon one that really impressed me - not to mention, completely changed my first impression of Jane that I got when I started! I went from cringing at the overdramatic, pretentious teenaged Jane to sympathizing and appreciating her candor and honesty.
Not the funniest book and still not as good as Tina Fey's Bossypants, but Lynch's "Happy Accidents" is an insightful, endearing, brutally honest book that warmed my heart and makes me want to watch everything she's been in.
Recommended for fans of Jane Lynch (duh), Glee, and any young gay or lesbian or ally. Hell, just let me leave it at "recommended".
July 24, 2011
Much more than a comedic memoir, Jane Lynch's story is one with real emotional depth, transformation and personal growth. Ultimately, this is a book about saying yes to life and finding joy in what you have - something that Lynch struggled with for years. She is forthright about her years that were filled competitiveness, anger, friendship and relationship failures, drinking, and low self-esteem. Her missteps and selfishness are cringe-worthy at times, but you root for Jane all along the way. When she emerges as the confident, radiant, joyful woman she is today, you feel like she's been your friend all along, and you can't help but be proud of what she's discovered and what she's done. The writing in this book admittedly isn't great, but the spirit of it makes for a great read.
June 4, 2014
In the language of tumblr, GPOY!!!!! That aside, I have a massive girlcrush on Jane Lynch, who is totally awesome, and this really just cemented it. She's funny, she's articulate, and she's screwed up in ways I totally understood. (Me: You do that, too? Wait! And that? Yes! Now, how did you FIX yourself?!) I loved reading about her marches up and down and around the theater and movies and Hollywood and Chicago stages. By the time she got to the Glee stuff, I mostly just skimmed - I was more interested in her personal life. (And since it's her current job, there clearly wasn't going to be any dirt. He's nice, she's nice, he's sweet, he's amazing, blah blah. We know. Please write a new chapter in ten years.) But yeah - Jane Lynch = Awesome.
November 5, 2011
I don't usually read celebrity memoirs. For one thing, I don't follow anyone so much that I want to know their life history. Okay, there have been times when I have had this insane schoolgirl crush on some handsome actor (anyone remember the Leonardo DiCaprio craze following Titanic?) but with time, I've come to feel respect for them and nothing more. The other reason is that I don't watch so many TV shows or movies to be able to relate to any showbiz talk. So Jane Lynch's Happy Accidents was a first of sorts for me. I don't think reading this memoir is going to make me more eager to try other celebrity biographies, but I'm glad that I tried.
I wanted to read Happy Accidents because I love Jane Lynch's role in Glee. I don't think I've seen a more malevolent, cruel, racist and yet sensitive, and funny (without meaning to be) character on screen. That's a deadly combo and would be too hard to pull off, but Jane Lynch does it well. So many of her quotes have become near-pop culture (at least, I like to say that). And I wanted to read more about her, because here was an actor who looked as next-door-neighbor-like as was possible.
In Happy Accidents, Jane Lynch talks mostly about her career and her personal life. If you read the first few pages and the last few pages, you can really see that her life has changed drastically. At 14, she yearned to be actor, only to quit a school play out of fright. When she realized that she was gay, she knew that she could never ever tell anyone about it, fearing that it was bad to be so and that people will mock her. By the end, it's amazing how she has catapulted to being a very popular actress, and happily-married to a wonderful woman who she totally met by chance.
What I loved most about this book was that Jane didn't rattle off Hollywood facts and figures or talk so much about Hollywood in itself that I was able to read the book as a regular memoir. Sometimes, you could even be fooled into thinking that Jane Lynch wasn't a popular actress, if you didn't know it beforehand. Even though, I didn't know all the movies/TV shows she had acted it, it wasn't hard following her growth from acting in theater to getting some regular jigs.
But what I loved reading the most was about her personal life. Her relationship with her friends, girlfriends and boyfriends, and how she kept pushing off people and struggled with getting closer to them. Jane also talked about her homosexuality and how she stayed in the closet for a long time, because of her reluctance to embrace or accept it, even though one of her closest friends in high school was also gay; and how she began to distance herself from her family gradually because she couldn't come to admit it to them.
In a nutshell, I enjoyed this memoir. It was an easy read and funny in spots though not reminiscent of Sue Sylvester (because of course, Jane Lynch is so much nicer!) There are a lot of pictures scattered through the book spanning Jane's life from when she was very little to her more recent photos with her wife. There were some repetitions that bugged me occasionally, making me think that the book could have done with some good editing. I loved some of the stories that Jane shared from her life, and appreciated that she didn't get all preachy on the reader, but only stuck to what worked for her. But mostly, I appreciated her honesty in sharing even her innermost fears and desires, and some very embarrassing mistakes without trying to sugarcoat things on paper.
I wanted to read Happy Accidents because I love Jane Lynch's role in Glee. I don't think I've seen a more malevolent, cruel, racist and yet sensitive, and funny (without meaning to be) character on screen. That's a deadly combo and would be too hard to pull off, but Jane Lynch does it well. So many of her quotes have become near-pop culture (at least, I like to say that). And I wanted to read more about her, because here was an actor who looked as next-door-neighbor-like as was possible.
In Happy Accidents, Jane Lynch talks mostly about her career and her personal life. If you read the first few pages and the last few pages, you can really see that her life has changed drastically. At 14, she yearned to be actor, only to quit a school play out of fright. When she realized that she was gay, she knew that she could never ever tell anyone about it, fearing that it was bad to be so and that people will mock her. By the end, it's amazing how she has catapulted to being a very popular actress, and happily-married to a wonderful woman who she totally met by chance.
What I loved most about this book was that Jane didn't rattle off Hollywood facts and figures or talk so much about Hollywood in itself that I was able to read the book as a regular memoir. Sometimes, you could even be fooled into thinking that Jane Lynch wasn't a popular actress, if you didn't know it beforehand. Even though, I didn't know all the movies/TV shows she had acted it, it wasn't hard following her growth from acting in theater to getting some regular jigs.
But what I loved reading the most was about her personal life. Her relationship with her friends, girlfriends and boyfriends, and how she kept pushing off people and struggled with getting closer to them. Jane also talked about her homosexuality and how she stayed in the closet for a long time, because of her reluctance to embrace or accept it, even though one of her closest friends in high school was also gay; and how she began to distance herself from her family gradually because she couldn't come to admit it to them.
In a nutshell, I enjoyed this memoir. It was an easy read and funny in spots though not reminiscent of Sue Sylvester (because of course, Jane Lynch is so much nicer!) There are a lot of pictures scattered through the book spanning Jane's life from when she was very little to her more recent photos with her wife. There were some repetitions that bugged me occasionally, making me think that the book could have done with some good editing. I loved some of the stories that Jane shared from her life, and appreciated that she didn't get all preachy on the reader, but only stuck to what worked for her. But mostly, I appreciated her honesty in sharing even her innermost fears and desires, and some very embarrassing mistakes without trying to sugarcoat things on paper.
November 5, 2012
I’ve moved cities and so am doing all the usual sorts of new city things: buying plants, biking the major routes, joining book clubs. I found a book club on Wednesday, they met on Saturday, and so I put down the interminable Storm of Swords (no, my blogging hiatus has not been caused by depression or misery, but rather the result of GRRMartin not being able to write a concise plot) in order to pick up Jane Lynch’s totally terrible memoir, Happy Accidents.
What a waste of a day of reading. To think I might have been two hundred pages closer to done Storm of Swords. Or I might have mopped my floors, or written thank you letters, or stare vacantly into space. I can’t even begin to catalogue the ways this book fails. Well, that’s not true, I can, and I will. So here you go: While memoirs are inevitably narcissistic this one achieves a spectacular level of naval gazing, borne, I suspect, from the author’s occasionally observed (and then hastily dismissed) self-doubt and insecurity. Contributing to this reader’s annoyance with the narcissism is the dull account of a life. I’m not one to demand that memoirs only be written by extraordinary people, or by those for whom life has been exciting, challenging or unique; but I do expect a memoir to demonstrate some enthusiasm for the life being described, some general sense that it is worth me reading about. That there ought to be some kind of moral isn’t what I mean, more that there should be a anchoring question, much less mundane than: am I loveable? Or perhaps, just as mundane as that but then explicitly asked and curiously examined.
I’m going to stop before I rant too long about the prosaic language, the lack (get this!) of character development and the annoying tendency to assume that the author is the only person for whom life has been Difficult. I’ll just say that I’m not going to be returning to this particular book club. Even though all the other members found it terrible, I can’t find myself trusting another one of their recommendations. This book exacts too high a price in trying to find friends.
What a waste of a day of reading. To think I might have been two hundred pages closer to done Storm of Swords. Or I might have mopped my floors, or written thank you letters, or stare vacantly into space. I can’t even begin to catalogue the ways this book fails. Well, that’s not true, I can, and I will. So here you go: While memoirs are inevitably narcissistic this one achieves a spectacular level of naval gazing, borne, I suspect, from the author’s occasionally observed (and then hastily dismissed) self-doubt and insecurity. Contributing to this reader’s annoyance with the narcissism is the dull account of a life. I’m not one to demand that memoirs only be written by extraordinary people, or by those for whom life has been exciting, challenging or unique; but I do expect a memoir to demonstrate some enthusiasm for the life being described, some general sense that it is worth me reading about. That there ought to be some kind of moral isn’t what I mean, more that there should be a anchoring question, much less mundane than: am I loveable? Or perhaps, just as mundane as that but then explicitly asked and curiously examined.
I’m going to stop before I rant too long about the prosaic language, the lack (get this!) of character development and the annoying tendency to assume that the author is the only person for whom life has been Difficult. I’ll just say that I’m not going to be returning to this particular book club. Even though all the other members found it terrible, I can’t find myself trusting another one of their recommendations. This book exacts too high a price in trying to find friends.
February 17, 2012
You'd think I'd learn...
Nearly every autobiography of a famous actor (except of course for Shirley Temple's!) has completely disappointed me. It was nice to hear about their lives, it was nice to hear how they got started, what challenges they faced, but ultimately I was totally bored and was left longing for the juicy details about working with other famous actors that they always leave out (presumably for legal reasons.) Come on Jane! Not even a full chapter about working with Christopher Guest & Crew? Are you seriously telling me that every shoot wasn't full of hilarious anecdotes?
Definitely a mild book, at best. And I still love Jane! I am so happy that she has found success in her job and her life, she is a hardworking and incredibly talented actress and I look forward to seeing the rest of her career on screen!
Nearly every autobiography of a famous actor (except of course for Shirley Temple's!) has completely disappointed me. It was nice to hear about their lives, it was nice to hear how they got started, what challenges they faced, but ultimately I was totally bored and was left longing for the juicy details about working with other famous actors that they always leave out (presumably for legal reasons.) Come on Jane! Not even a full chapter about working with Christopher Guest & Crew? Are you seriously telling me that every shoot wasn't full of hilarious anecdotes?
Definitely a mild book, at best. And I still love Jane! I am so happy that she has found success in her job and her life, she is a hardworking and incredibly talented actress and I look forward to seeing the rest of her career on screen!
August 9, 2013
I have never watched Glee, but Jane Lynch's memoir made me want to go and rent her entire body of work so that I could follow the path of her career growth. Although Lynch describes years of pain and insecurity that came from keeping her homosexuality a secret, her memoir focuses on her improbable career. Though it is improbable not because of her considerable talent but rather because of the amount of work it would have to take for her career to flourish. You have to be very tenacious to persevere through the many apartment setbacks and job setbacks and relationship setbacks that she endures. Lynch reads this book and it is clear that while she took this memoir seriously and she takes her craft seriously, she does not take herself seriously and that made the book entertaining and easy to listen to.
October 1, 2011
This book made me happy to be who I am. It made me feel more comfortable with my essential me-ness and that my life doesn't look anything like I wanted it to be.
I am not quite sure how this came to be, because despite her life being a series of "happy accidents" Jane seemed to end up more or less where her younger self would have wanted her older self to be. My younger self would probably have been dismayed (but not at all surprised that I managed to screw it all up.)
I enjoyed Jane Lynch's matter-of-fact writing and the way she managed to be funny even though so many of the things she covered were sensitive and at times downright sad.
I am not quite sure how this came to be, because despite her life being a series of "happy accidents" Jane seemed to end up more or less where her younger self would have wanted her older self to be. My younger self would probably have been dismayed (but not at all surprised that I managed to screw it all up.)
I enjoyed Jane Lynch's matter-of-fact writing and the way she managed to be funny even though so many of the things she covered were sensitive and at times downright sad.
November 14, 2011
Someone thought, "Hey, Jane Lynch is funny and people like Glee, so she should write a memoir!" The problem is, her life isn't interesting enough for a book. She's gay and was worried to tell her family, but it turned out they were cool with it? She was an alcoholic who never really hit bottom and just easily gave up drinking Miller Lite? She worked hard and acted in a commercial that Christopher Guest directed so he asked her to be in his movies? She really admires Carol Burnett and Chris Colfer? Who doesn't? So in short, funny lady, great actress, boring book.
April 18, 2013
As a child growing up in Dolton, Illinois, Jane Lynch dreamed of becoming an actress. Jane's road to success took many twists and turns. Her determination and hard work, plus a number of what she calls "happy accidents", helped her achieve her goal. With honesty and humor, Jane tells her story with its joys and setbacks. I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by Jane Lynch, which greatly enhanced the telling of her story.
August 1, 2015
I love reading memoirs and learning about how some famous people got to where they are. I had no idea Jane was/did so many acting jobs. Jane's humorous wit shows throughout this book and it is something fans of Jane will enjoy.
January 22, 2012
http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/...
I've long been a Jane Lynch fan, since I first saw her in "Best in Show," and of course who doesn't love Sue Sylvester on "Glee"?
Lynch talks about her growing-up years in a happy suburban Illinois family. She had a reasonably happy childhood, although she never really felt like she fit in with her Catholic, traditional family. She also started drinking at a very early age, with her parents' knowledge. One of the places she felt she really fit in was in choir class, similar to the kids on "Glee."
She didn't start feeling comfortable in her own skin until she was in her 40s...between being a fledgling actor (flitting from commercials to bit parts in movies and TV series for years), an alcoholic, and gay in a straight world...but everything in her life seemed to come together as a series of happy accidents. Just as she began filming "Glee," which shot her career up to fame, she met the love of her life, her now-wife Lara Embry, and became a mom after she never thought she would have children (and in fact, she hadn't had any interest in having children).
Some have criticized Lynch's memoir for not being more revealing or dishing gossip on her costars. It strikes me that Lynch is not that kind of person. It sounds like she might have been at an earlier age--she admits that she had a big dose of Sue Sylvester in herself in her 20s and 30s--when she came down on other actors when she felt they weren't pulling their weight--but now she's happy with her life, and the fact that all of her dreams have come true. Not only is she in a fun TV series with a positive message about diversity and self-acceptance and she is happily married, but she also got to share the screen with her idols Carol Burnett and Olivia Newton John.
This was a fun read--absorbing and interesting. Lynch seems like she would be a fascinating person to have to dinner.
I've long been a Jane Lynch fan, since I first saw her in "Best in Show," and of course who doesn't love Sue Sylvester on "Glee"?
Lynch talks about her growing-up years in a happy suburban Illinois family. She had a reasonably happy childhood, although she never really felt like she fit in with her Catholic, traditional family. She also started drinking at a very early age, with her parents' knowledge. One of the places she felt she really fit in was in choir class, similar to the kids on "Glee."
She didn't start feeling comfortable in her own skin until she was in her 40s...between being a fledgling actor (flitting from commercials to bit parts in movies and TV series for years), an alcoholic, and gay in a straight world...but everything in her life seemed to come together as a series of happy accidents. Just as she began filming "Glee," which shot her career up to fame, she met the love of her life, her now-wife Lara Embry, and became a mom after she never thought she would have children (and in fact, she hadn't had any interest in having children).
Some have criticized Lynch's memoir for not being more revealing or dishing gossip on her costars. It strikes me that Lynch is not that kind of person. It sounds like she might have been at an earlier age--she admits that she had a big dose of Sue Sylvester in herself in her 20s and 30s--when she came down on other actors when she felt they weren't pulling their weight--but now she's happy with her life, and the fact that all of her dreams have come true. Not only is she in a fun TV series with a positive message about diversity and self-acceptance and she is happily married, but she also got to share the screen with her idols Carol Burnett and Olivia Newton John.
This was a fun read--absorbing and interesting. Lynch seems like she would be a fascinating person to have to dinner.
January 6, 2012
So a bout of insomnia last night had me lying there, and rather than stare at the ceiling I picked up this book. I had only grabbed from the library yesterday, but when flicking through it it had made me smile.
I didn't really expect to enjoy it - but I did. Jane Lynchs memoir was quite sweet in fact. A childhood growing up she always knew she was different, and finally as a teenage was able to realise that she might be a Lesbian, but don't worry the books not all about that.
For years she struggled with bit parts in tv shows and movies befoe making it big in Best in Show, the 40 year old Virgin and of course as Sue Sylvester in Glee. If anyone thinks that living in New York would be like living in Friends, you should read Sues chapters on living on not much money in crazy shared apartments.
The last part of her story is about her romance and then marriage to her partner Laura and becoming a mother. It was sweet and a true case of love at first sight. The whole book made me smile and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. 4/5.
I didn't really expect to enjoy it - but I did. Jane Lynchs memoir was quite sweet in fact. A childhood growing up she always knew she was different, and finally as a teenage was able to realise that she might be a Lesbian, but don't worry the books not all about that.
For years she struggled with bit parts in tv shows and movies befoe making it big in Best in Show, the 40 year old Virgin and of course as Sue Sylvester in Glee. If anyone thinks that living in New York would be like living in Friends, you should read Sues chapters on living on not much money in crazy shared apartments.
The last part of her story is about her romance and then marriage to her partner Laura and becoming a mother. It was sweet and a true case of love at first sight. The whole book made me smile and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. 4/5.
August 28, 2011
Let me state right off the bat, I am NOT a fan of Glee. A few viewings established that, however, I did REALLY dig the character of Sue. Jane Lynch is a great actress. The Dolton, Illinois native wanted to be an actress at the age of 14, but it took years and many destructive past-times for her to pull it off and get the role of a lifetime. By the time she was in her early 30's, Lynch was finally comfortable with her sexuality and began to grow as a person and in her craft. She's completely at ease telling her story here, and you just become a fan of her based on the story and the seamless way she tells it. Jane doesn't pull any punches, but there's always a note of optimism throughout that she is going to make it and do it in grand fashion. Which she has, and here's the whole story. Read it, you won't be sorry.
June 5, 2012
Not very well written, and lacking credibility (she calls the cast of the L word "phenomenally talented" and the writing on Two and a Half Men "just outstanding"), but I enjoyed this book. (I also read it on a plane so my judgment may have been a bit impaired by low oxygen levels, which tend to make me laugh or cry more.) Basically she was an unreasonable diva when she was young, went through a feminist goddess phase which still lingers, and is now a swell, self-aware person with Midwestern tendencies (like using the phrase "I'm tickled by" regularly). Also, a ton of the "happy accidents" and anecdotes in this book occur on her birthday--Bastille Day--and I read the book while traveling to/from a conference where I spent my birthday selling books for twelve hours. And it felt super cool to be one of those people who buys a new book at the airport!
September 22, 2011
This was the usual Hollywood star drivel that is churned out by ghost writers by the dozens, full of "Then I worked with the cast of so-and-so, who were true professionals and I learned so much from that great bunch of hard-working . . . blah, blah, blah.
The only saving grace in the book is Jane's discussion of her coming to terms with her sexual orientation, which raises the book out of the mediocre pile. It's pretty interesting as she struggles against acknowledging that she's gay, then admits it (to herself), then comes out to her family, finally freeing herself from being half a person.
Fans of Jane Lynch will read this book for her stories about her climb up the Hollywood ladder, but readers interested in a snapshot of one woman's experience as a gay woman will also find this book a noteworthy read.
The only saving grace in the book is Jane's discussion of her coming to terms with her sexual orientation, which raises the book out of the mediocre pile. It's pretty interesting as she struggles against acknowledging that she's gay, then admits it (to herself), then comes out to her family, finally freeing herself from being half a person.
Fans of Jane Lynch will read this book for her stories about her climb up the Hollywood ladder, but readers interested in a snapshot of one woman's experience as a gay woman will also find this book a noteworthy read.
January 4, 2012
So, this book went between 3 and 4 stars. I had a really hard time giving it 3 stars because I absolutely LOVE Jane Lynch in her role on Two and a Half Men. Usually, I am laughing so hard at her smart assedness, I am to the point of tears in my eyes. I have never seen her in Glee and with the premise of the show, would probably need to gouge out my eyes and ears by the time the show ended. Any who...This book gives excellent insight into the comedienne and gave me a good chuckle at aspects of her homelife in Dalton, IL and her commentary on it. The Hollywood part, I could have taken or left! I ended up giving it 3 stars because although there was some of that dynamic comedic timing that JL is a master artist at, I thought more would be present. I don't know if that is where the ghost writer came in or not.
November 9, 2011
I'm sure it didn't help that I read this book right after Roger Ebert's superb Life Itself, or that I had recently listened to Tina Fey's very funny memoir-ish Bossypants. I like Jane as an actress but this book really needed a better ghost writer as it was neither well written nor funny. It was not even very interesting, despite Jane's struggles to come out of the closet, succeed in show business, and her struggles with alcoholism. Virtually everyone is referred to in glowing terms with excessive adjectives., i.e. "sexy, talented, fabulous Matthew Morrison." It was verbally exhausting to read all these and made the writing seem particularly amatuerish. Needed more editing help or a better ghost writer.
January 4, 2012
The story of Jane's childhood and young adult years are candid and revealing, however the back half of the book uses every bit part in a movie or commercial as a window into her deep insecurity as well as a fantastic career opportunity - it got a little tiring for me. Her take is that these are all happy accidents which lead to her biggest roles and marriage, but it felt a bit forced to me. I would save the time it takes to read this book and spend it watching your favorite Jane Lynch movie instead.
July 27, 2014
The first two thirds were funny and enlightening. Then it goes off the rails as she dutifully mentions every job she's had in the last decade. I came for the stories of being in the closet, drinking problems, and struggling to make it. The CV recitation loses me, and is made all the worse knowing the relationship she gushes over in the final chapters has since broken up.
October 20, 2011
I was guilted into buying this book when I met Jane Lynch at a book signing. I like her as an actress, but the book didn't affect me much. The writing is blunt and her story just didn't grab me. It was a pretty run-of-the-mill book.
May 31, 2012
Thos book reminded me that it's ok to be exactly where I am for as long as it takes.
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