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Brassy Bit of Aging Crumpet: A Memoir in Pieces
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.
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.
- GenresNonfictionCanadaMemoir
240 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 3, 2026
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.
April 30, 2026
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.
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.
May 10, 2026
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
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews