Mad, Isn't It?

by Emma Doran

On a solo trip with her best friend to a Wexford caravan park, a just-turned 18-year-old, virginal (ish) Emma Doran discovers it only takes one time to change your life forever.
Finding herself preparing to do her Leaving Cert in maternity wear, hopes of a glittering acting career are derailed. Baby in tow, Emma spends her twenties getting up at 7a.m. and going to bed at 8p.m. instead of staying out till 6a.m. and sleeping till noon, while her idea of a good weekend is perusing the aisles of Home Store + More for new cushions.
But on the verge of turning 30, an opportunity arises, and Emma finds herself back on stage again…
In this hilarious and moving memoir about family, friendship, (young) motherhood and taking risks, Emma discovers that when things seem to be going off the rails, sometimes life is putting you on the exact path you were meant for. Mad, isn't it?
'Packed full of spirit, life lessons, love and laughs. I didn't want it to end' Amy Huberman
'A hilarious tale of guts and resilience that made me cry when I least expected it.' Sarah Breen
'A must read. I laughed through my tears and delighted in Emma's triumphant spirit.' Deirdre O'Kane
'One of the funniest humans I've ever encountered.' Joanne McNally

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2024

Reviews

[Róisín · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good, funny and fecking fab. Couldn't put it down at the end.

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest memoirs I have ever read. I don't live in Ireland anymore but on a trip home to Tallaght I picked up a copy of this book in Easons in The Square, pleasantly surprised to see a book written by another woman who grew up here. I hadn't heard of Emma before, but jaysus how could I forget her now! She is absolutely hilarious. Her story is told with the exact candidness you need to make a memoir worth reading. I think if you're not willing to split yourself open for the reader a memoir will come across as inauthentic - but Emma is anything but. She's so genuine and her story about young motherhood is both inspiring and told with courage. I laughed so much reading this, not just wheezing through the nose laughing - actual haha laughing. The refrence to being at a disco and knowing her dad was going to pick her up immediately when it ended so she had to fit a lot of teenage action in the alotted time but "not that I wanked fellas off quicker, like I was on countdown or something" had me screaming. The bits about growing up in the 90's in catholic Ireland were so relatable and poignant. I'm so glad she found a way to pursue her innate talents in the end because she's a very funny woman and god knows we need more funny women in the world. Will definitely be making a note to catch her on tour in the UK. Hope her career only grows from here. Thanks for sharing your story and the laughs Emma 💜

[Saidbh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying in the clurrrb throughout reading Emma Doran’s Mad Isn’t It. I’ve been a fan of her for a long time and it’s so inspiring to watch how far she’s come and read her book with her voice inside my head! The love that bursts from this book had me sobbing on my flight over Christmas and I couldn’t put the book down!

[Grace Hadnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun insight into the life of a young mother in Ireland in the early 2000s. Written in a conversational style, it's as though Emma is sitting having a cup of tea with you and filling you in on the goss.

[Caroline Croezen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Emma, been to see her show a couple of times, she's just so funny. Nice to get an insight into her life.

[Jon Daly-Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and a good read. A very funny biography

[Deece de Paor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, this was a very so-so read. Felt really ghost written and a bit try hard.

[Flighty_Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and entertaining read, told with pure honesty and humour.