Brassy Bit of Aging Crumpet: A Memoir in Pieces

by Mary Walsh

In this disarmingly vulnerable and wickedly hilarious collection of essays, Mary Walsh chronicles her colourful—sometimes difficult, never boring—life, coming to the hopeful conclusion that growing old means finally finding (and loving) yourself

In this sharply observed and wryly funny collection of essays on identity, family, and belonging, Mary Walsh takes readers on a rollicking—and sometimes difficult, but never boring—journey through her life. Her subjects range from the heartbreak of growing up next door to her family, to Newfoundland’s vibrant and not altogether happy entry into the Canadian confederation, to the behind-the-scenes of her wildly popular CBC shows, including This Hour Has 22 Minutes, to her complicated relationship with her complicated mother, and to her struggles with alcohol, self-doubt, and what it means to connect with those around her.

The result is a collection of essays that are deftly comical, vividly rendered, heartachingly vulnerable and, above all, hopeful. In the end, Mary learns the trials and hurdles (some self-inflicted) that she endured in her younger years only make the process of aging all the sweeter. The message she now has is a powerful her older years are her best ones yet, because she’s finally learned to accept who she is.

Genres: Canada, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

240 pages, Hardcover

Published March 31, 2026

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Walsh, one of Canada's funniest people, first showed up on my radar way back in the 80's and early 90's when she appeared as part of the comedy troup "Codco", on CBC. (along with a bunch of other really funny people) And then she continued on "This Hour Has 22 Minutes (which is still running on CBC, alas, without Mary and other original members who were so smart and irreverent) And I also saw her on stage live, in Toronto years ago. So when I saw this semi-memoir of Mary's, I had to get it.

Written in essay style, Mary talks, rants, opines, laughs about her upbringing in Newfoundland, her dysfunctional family, her alcoholism and sobriety, her sex - or lack of sex - life, her partners in comedy (Cathy Jones, Greg Malone, ( who's portrayal of Barbara Frum was a riot), Tommy Sextant, Rick Mercer, Greg Toomey, Andy Jones, Diane Olsen et al) and of course her character Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior and some of the policticians she cornered., and some of Mary's own comments on today's political leaders...lol
I listened to this book, read by Mary herself, and loved hearing her tell her story. Some of the characters she has played have stayed with me (Marg Delahunty, The Friday Night Girls (its Friday niiiiiight) and Mrs. Eulalia...who always made me snort with laughter)

Anyway, i enjoyed this very much, And I would love to see Mary and some of her comedy pals together again. I could use the laughs. And Mary can sure dish them out!

[Mary-Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild ride through the rollicking life journey of the fearless yet fearful incandescent comic writer and actor Mary Walsh. A book of essays with the high highs and low lows of a mega rollercoaster - no wonder she doesn't like them.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The memoir ranges from stories about Mary’s childhood in Newfoundland to her time on the show This Hour Has 22 Minutes to essays where she gets political and takes down Pierre Poilieve. I appreciated the general takeaway from the story of self acceptance and growing into oneself.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like a Newfie version of Angela’s Ashes; it was so much more vulnerable than I expected. Mary Walsh does not paint herself out to be some inspirational heroine. Instead, she willingly admits to feelings like envy, selfishness, resentment and failure, and writes candidly about abandonment, family dysfunction, Catholic shame, addiction and more. But she’s Mary Walsh, so it’s told with her signature sharp, brassy, and unmistakenly Newfoundland humour, bringing a balance to the pain in the pages. It was riddled with fun Newfoundland trivia (I had no idea Stephenville had a hockey stick factory!). What I appreciated most, though, was her view of aging as a time of self-acceptance, understanding, and a genuine appreciation for the person she has become.

[Mary Chisholm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too repetitive! ended up not knowing much about Mary other than the poor girl given up at 8 mths old to her aunts and uncle. Not much of a memoir

[Karen Ocana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Walsh's memoir has a strong ending. For me, "Change" is the strongest chapter. I hung on every word Mary Walsh wrote about the horrid political shift to the right women have experienced after #MeToo became history.
brief quote:
"LIke most of my generation, I had been labouring under the false impression that we were in the process of straightening things out, at last. We were moving society forward, and we had evolved so far, it would be impossible to ever push us back again. How could I have been so naive? Ever since the grab'em by the pussy, former friend of Jeffrey Epstein, proud women's rights destroyer, Trumpelthinskin has come to power, he has unleashed misogyny akin only to that found in The Handmaid's Tale. The Trump presidency and the global shift to the right has threatened decades of women's progress..." Amen, sister.`
The best part of Brassy Bit of Aging is, obviously, Mary Walsh's voice. She has an unforgettable, inimitable voice. Like a strong drink, a strong cup of tea, a splash in the Atlantic ocean, it is bracing. You will laugh, probably out loud. This was a gift from a friend whose father was an alcoholic, and who herself has trouble staying away from the drink.
That being said, anyone who knows anyone who is an alcoholic will find this book insightful. Not that every alcoholic is the same. But the disease is the same disease. Mary had the strength to quit drinking. Bravo! The story of how her adopted baby saved her is precious.
This idol of Canadian comedy knows what she is writing about: the fear, the shame, the rage. Having been mistreated. Not being understood. Losing sight of who one is because of the feelings that hamper rationality. Still, she was a functioning alcoholic, like many a Newfoundlander! It's in the culture.
Beyond the alcoholism, Mary Walsh writes like a proper Newfoundlander, educated and opinionated, and her socio-political insights are the foundation of this memoir. Many of my favourite Canadian novelists (Lisa Moore, Lynn Coady, Michael Crummey, Wayne Johnston) have, of course, entertained and enlightened me immensely about the lives of Newfoundlanders.
If I'm only giving this book a 3.5, it is because I prefer fiction to memoir. Nevertheless, Mary's book is brave. It is smart. It changed her life for the better. And I'm happy to have heard her voice once more.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir is a series of personal essays. It explores key moments from Walsh’s life, including her childhood in Newfoundland, her family relationships, her experiences in Canadian entertainment and her personal struggles with alcohol and self-doubt.

With the essays, Walsh reflects on themes of identity, belonging, family, aging and personal growth. She tells of memories of growing up, examines her relationship with her mother, and discusses Newfoundland’s history and place within Canada. The memoir also includes behind-the-scenes accounts of her work on CBC productions, including "This Hour Has 22 Minutes".

The essays combine personal stories with reflections on the challenges and experiences that shaped her life. She traces her journey from childhood and early adulthood to later life, focusing on the events, relationships and experiences that influenced her understanding of herself and the world around her.

I like reading memoirs and bio/autobio and I like Mary Walsh, a Canadian actress, comedian and writer. I figured she would tell an interesting story and she did. I knew nothing about her childhood and most of the events that happened must have been traumatising. I'm glad she's been able to find peace and living life as she wants. Though it's written in essay format, not a style I usually enjoy, I liked the writing style and this book. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2026/06...

[MLD · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I listened to this as an audiobook, and I think you almost have to be a Newfoundlander to fully appreciate all the references. As a fellow Maritimer, I certainly did.

I had no idea she struggled with so many insecurities, though that seems to be a recurring theme among many well-known celebrities. It’s fascinating how people who battle such self-sabotaging thoughts still manage to place themselves in the public eye and become the centre of attention — something you would assume would be the last thing they’d want.

Addiction also plays a significant role in her story, with alcoholism being her particular vice. Sadly, that’s something many Maritimers can likely relate to, as drinking can feel almost woven into the culture and is far more prevalent than many people realize.

Overall, it was an insightful and engaging look into the life of one of our favourite characters from This Hour Has 22 Minutes — Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior.

[Moira Mackinnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

If, like me, you were drawn to this book because of the funny title, or because it was shelved in the Humour section, and thought it would be a light-hearted, amusing autobiography, you would be sorely disillusioned. Really, there's not a funny word in it until you get to the last few chapters. Mary Walsh is astonishingly open about her faults and flaws, and I am truly sorry that she spent so much of her life so unhappy, never satisfied with what she had, always wanting something else, and feeling unloved and abandoned, but it does make for seriously depressing reading. I am glad that she is now feeling happy and more contented with herself and her life, but God, it was painful for both of us to get there.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witty reflection on life from an older Newfloundland comedienne in the veins of British author Caitlin Moran. I enjoyed this essay collection on Walsh's life growing in a big dysfunctional family on the East coast, her struggles with promiscuity, alcoholism and being a woman in sketch comedy. Honest, reflective and witty, this was a quick but relatable read sure to appeal to This hour has 22 minutes fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy although I waited until I could get my hands on the audiobook to listen to the author read her story herself and that was definitely the way to go in my opinion!

[M.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the title of this book! Walsh's memoir is a series of essays on various topics. I found topics on her life growing up were more interesting than the chapter: CODCO which was an exhausting chapter of her early theatrical days. Throughout the book, there are far too many footnotes, and she denigrates herself way too much. The latter chapters were more entertaining and sounded more like Mary Walsh the comedian.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this wonderful book down. I was born and raised in Newfoundland, grew up in the 70´s and 80´s. I‘ve seen Mary Walsh’s career and undeniable talent since CODCO was on the CBC. I’ve admired her talent in This Hour Has 22 Minutes too. This book taught me a lot about my home province and made me both laugh and cry. Any Newfoundlander will enjoy this book, especially its dark humour. This is a must-read! Thank you for this!

[Mindy Gough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my, I was soooo excited for this one. I love, LOVE Mary Walsh's fearless comedy and really enjoyed her novel, Crying for the Moon.
This memoir is wonderful; my only complaint would be that I wish it were longer and gave more detail about life behind the scenes at 22 Minutes.
Thank you, Ms. Walsh, for sharing pieces of yourself with us.

[CyGrrl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mary Walsh has written a collection of personal stories about the characters and history of her growing up in Newfoundland. Sometimes heartbreaking, but full of colour. Walsh touches on her experience with alcoholism and depression.
Recommend for fans of Mary Walsh or This Hour has 22 Minutes, Biography/Memoir, or Canadiana.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharp and acerbic, this recollection of stories from Mary Walsh is quite the ride. The most interesting sections are about her early life - violence (emotional, physical, sexual); cruelty; alcohol. Her early experiences imprinted on her. She is in recovery and retains her knife-edged attitude. A quintessential iconoclast.

[Charlotte Courage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this one. I love NL material as I find it so relatable and does my heart good. Parts of this did just that while other parts felt out of place. I was interested in the stories of codco and the history of the NL comedy becoming more mainstream but other chapters dragged.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to an interview with Mary Walsh before reading the book. The book sounds just like her– unpretentios, gutsy, funny and honest, sometimes painfully so. The picture she paints of Newfoundland make the province come to life for me.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat underwhelmed by Mary Walsh’s memoir.

She has really had a tough life, but I found the overall tenor of the book to be kind of dispiriting. Guess I was expecting this to be acerbically funny…

[Ann Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great audio book .

[Amanda T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some essays are more enjoyable than others, but overall a funny and interesting book about a Canadian comedienne in a time when there weren't many (Marg, Princess Warrior still cracks me up!)

[Merritt Burstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 audiobook

[Caroline Weber · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. There are much better options if you want to learn a bit more about growing up in NFLD. Go read Rick Mercer, or Wayne Johnston.

[Barb Wiseberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

hilarious - I loved every story!

[Sarah Lasko]

Audiobook - read by the author

[Zach Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always been a fan of Mary’s. This was a brutally honest insight into her life, struggle and story. And to be quite honest, very inspiring.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and forthright memoir by Mary Walsh. Enjoyable read.