Lifeform

by Jenny Slate

A new nonfiction book from Little, Brown and Company to be published in October 2024.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Essays, Audiobook, Humor, Short Stories, Parenting

Audiobook

First published October 22, 2024

About the author

Jenny Sarah Slate is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and author best known as the creator of the Marcel the Shell With Shoes On short films, which was also spun off into a children's book. She is also known for her season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2009 to 2010, as well as for her recurring roles on House of Lies, Parks and Recreation, Bob's Burgers, and Kroll Show. She most recently starred in the 2014 Sundance film Obvious Child, and currently co-stars in the FX comedy series Married.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

jenny slate's little weirds is one of my favorite books of its genre, if not the very best to ever do it. i suppose literally that genre is "celebrity memoir" but more accurate would be something like "magical slice of jenny slate's brain that somehow arrived right on page."

she captures her own voice so brilliantly, and it's such a whimsical and wise and wonderful book.

this didn't have the same magic for me — maybe because this one is very much a memoir, following slate as she meets her husband and falls in love with him and has a baby. 

it tries to not be restricted by these moments, being extremely abstract and bouncing around, but that only serves to make it feel even more so.

i would also be remiss not to mention that i think a lot of what's covered here should not be glorified, and not in a quirky fun way. slate has immense insecurities about herself and being worthy of love that never really get addressed, except by the fact that she has decided her husband loves her enough to make up for them. which, as a fellow woman of insecure experience, i can tell you is not true.

also i know that the passage she included as an exchange between herself and a mental health professional was likely exaggerated if not outright fictional, but it was scary anyway.

bottom line: little weirds was so fantastic and fantastical it felt otherworldly. this is very much from this world.

---------------------
tbr review

if one more author i'm obsessed with announces a new book i'm going to explode with joy.

(3.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Brady Lockerby]

this was… something!

[Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny Slate, no one gets you like I do.

[Nicki Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely not for everyone but certainly for me

[Evelyn Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

there is no other creature on earth who can write their way into my brain then use tiny little scissors to cut it out and pick it up and carry it down my throat and stuff it into my heart and sew it all together like jenny slate can!!!! girl i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lauren McNamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot feel normal about this

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not to be controversial or start a whole thing, but Jenny Slate is doing what Miranda July thinks she’s doing. That whole intense, weird quirkiness but with meaning behind it? I just think Slate is so much better at it and comes across as way more natural and sincere. I remembered only sort of liking Slate's other book “Little Weirds” and giving it 3 stars, so I revisited my review for that one. I think this release is similar but her ideas were a bit more organized, and she perhaps had a better grasp on what she was truly capable of as a writer.

The various pieces can be a bit rambly and stream of consciousness in parts, but are then deeply poetic without warning in the best way. There’s an amazing essay in which she reimagines part of the plot of Ghostbusters, specifically from the POV of Dana. (I sometimes do that with movies I like, too! Inserting myself into the plot and completely rearranging things or continuing after the credits.) There is also a genuinely beautiful piece about the aging and death of family members that I found very moving. (Though this may be the one and only thing to be aware of as far as possible trigger warnings. It's also deeply sad.)

There WERE a couple of parts during which I had a difficult time following her. I couldn’t really picture what she was describing or figure out what she was trying to say. But the rest of the book more than made up for these moments. It’s kind of tough to explain unless you just read it, but the way she talks about things like Anxiety, aging and Depression is so real and harsh and relatable. I also really like the dark humor in her writing, because one moment she’ll be going on and on about how she’s the happiest she’s ever been and then immediately she’ll be talking about being painfully aware of her own mortality. (For example.) But the actual jokes are quite weird and funny.

I’m visiting Boston in October, because I used to live there and I miss it. I recently found out that Jenny Slate will actually be there promoting this very book the night BEFORE I arrive! Sadly, I’ve already purchased my plane tickets. The absolute tragedy of this timing is almost poetic and I think she would appreciate it.

4.5 stars

Thanks so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Catherine Victor Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just a confusing book. I felt I was listening to either a woman high on drugs ranting about a lot of nothing or a woman suffering from a specific episode of ADHD hyper neurotic something. The word vagina is said a LOT. Most of it didn't make sense as she was trying to be so vague when talking about certain experiences so as not to implicate the specific people, that the whole thing was lost on me. Her musings on pregnancy and motherhood seem so overly juvenile so as to come across as an alien suddenly founding itself in the body of a pregnant human.
The only saving grace in the book is that I listened to it and a such was treated to Jenny Slate's wonderful voice and portrayal. She definitely pours 100% of her soul into it and adds a quality and depth that's hard to match. If you decide to read this book there will be none of that.
I'm sorry this was not for me.
Thanks to Hachette Audio for providing me an audio copy of this book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

[n · Rating 5 out of 5]

i should be living differently

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think perhaps my routinely harsh critiques of Slate's work are because I am very jealous. I wish that MY every anxious thought ending in comedic relief or life affirming cliche was published into books. I wish I had the creative freedoms Slate has because of wealth and fame, though I want it without the fame. I especially wish George Saunders was somehow MY literary buddy who narrates sections of my audiobooks and invites me to narrate parts of his, interviews me on tour, writes flattering blurbs for my covers, and says stuff like "omg you young whipper snapper you are just so charming, smart, and well written." Lifeform has got to be meant to be listened to and it would've gotten a one star if I read it with my eyes, which makes the two-nearly-three stars after listening feel inflated. Sometimes Slate shares a thought and I'm like "oh my god YES wow you just nailed a crucial yet unsaid theme on the pains and joys of being alive" but mostly I'm like "okay sure duh." But when I think "duh" I wonder if it is actually an obvious point or if Slate is just perceptive enough that it feels juvenile initially but is actually impressively observant. I enjoyed the fears around motherhood and anytime Slate talked about her husband doing something like smelling her while they hugged once which made her love him more. Overall unmemorable but NOT in a way that revokes my feminist card

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to be fairly diligent about posting a review along with a book pic over on The ‘Gram for what I dubbed #walkntalkwednesday, but alas I remain a forever turtle sucker and haven’t done so in quite some time. I still log in my eleventy miles a week, but have become so buried in past due audiobook reviews that I have kind of given up. Until now that is, because I received an ARC of this one and my Catholic guilt remains in full force and effect obligating me to type something up!

Even if you don’t recognize the name Jenny Slate right off the top of your head, if you have been on the internet for more than a second you probably actually are familiar with her . . . .



I am completely smitten every time Slate makes her way across my small screen and have loved her from Parks and Rec to Marcel the Shell so I jumped all over getting an early copy of her first book Little Weirds as well as this one. But as I said before, I’m now an audiobook listener so I actually didn’t even bother with this until after release day when I could get the listening version from the library. Once again Jenny Slate isn’t for everyone, but she is most certainly for me and her enthusiastic reading/comedic timing on the audio of this new release was exceptional. Not only did I laugh out loud multiple times, but I discovered said laugh is of the most horrendous HUUUUUUUUUUUH HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH variety garnering me looks from people simply trying to maintain their yards/gardens in the trillion degree heat.

This collection is another sort of free association ramble tied together loosely with “letters to the doctor” and essays of the creation and early days of rearing the new “lifeform” . . . but my favorite entry of all had to be the one about Justin, the trash panda.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hilarious Jenny Slate we know and love - with a stunning new layer, motherhood.

The only thing better than reading this book is having it read TO you by the woman herself! So I'll mention some specifics to the audiobook first...

No one has a cadence quite like Jenny Slate's. Strange and unpredictable. One moment jovial, the next collapsing into a downward spiral. As with anything she lends her voice to, her talent in narration only adds to the quality of the work. You know how some narrators sound like they're trying to steal the show instead of letting the words themselves really do the talking? That doesn't happen here. In fact, I think you'd miss some of the more nuanced aspects of her art by only reading a print edition of this book. If you're able, you've really got to default to the audiobook.

At one point in the book Jenny is having a fantasy therapy session. The therapist being voiced by George Saunders just can't be topped by your own imagination (which you're limited to when reading print). The appearance of Will Forte and Vanessa Bayer need no hyping. (If George Sunders is also a household name I'm just unaware of... My bad.)

Lifeform itself is so, so beautiful. I'm not a diehard fan of Jenny, so maybe there are other outpourings of emotion I've missed - but I am still shocked by how many times I welled up. At one point, I had to take a break from listening. I knew trying to power through would make me an emotional wreck for an hour or two afterward. About 38% in, in/at the end of what according to my ALC's "chapters" is #19 -but has no title so isn't helpful (I really wanted to also review the print copy to clear this and a few other things up but was sadly denied so here we are) - I wanted to go find a speaker and blast it from the rooftop. "1:1. One mother blamed; one mother thanked." Do you even need context to understand how powerful of a rant it had been? I'm used to her "rants" about things more meaningless in the scheme of things (not a bad thing!). Lifeform brought me a new side of her I'd never seen before - I think it's my favorite. That should also tell you a lot; if you care enough to be reading a review of this book, I think it's fair to assume you're aware of her genius.

BUT NEVER FEAR, JENNY FANS PREFERRING TO BE DAZZLED BY OUTLANDISH ANECDOTES!

She brought tears to my eyes thanks to her hilarity. +1 point for their trapped raccoon sharing my husband's name. And shout out to animals in general - they seem to be a recurring theme for Jenny, yet she never fails to take you the unconventional route.

Jenny, if you're listening, please let Garlic Chicken know I have some questions as well.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Jenny Slate, Racoon Justin, Garlic Chicken, Hachette Audio and Little Brown & Co for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!}

[nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Major thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for offering me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts:

There is sometimes a soft spot in me where if the pinhole rips open by way of children’s laughter or the way they hold a flower or wonder over soap bubbles floating into open air, that I imagine myself a father and I want to leave them all the things I love. This is that kind of book. From mother to daughter. Wanting so much to say I’ve carried you in me and I’ve lived a life and this is all I’m feeling. Feel it with me, please.

A lot about motherhood. A lot about the body. A lot about the body during motherhood. Heartwarming. Absurdist. Reaching breaking point of laughing or crying, that great in between that Slate is so good at.

[mali · Rating 2 out of 5]

this cannot be the same jenny slate that wrote little weirds…….

[Meghan Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this magnificently weird collection of short stories! I've never read any of Jenny's work, but really love her acting & this book was a great introduction to her strange writing style. Jenny wrote essays that were from the perspective of raccoons, play excerpts, imaginary therapy sessions & more 😂 Her writing kept me on my toes, made me laugh out loud & say things like "What the hell" when reading. She wrote loosely about motherhood & preparing for birth, but I wouldn't say this book is strictly motherhood focused at all. It just has little features of it! It was such a treat to read these essays & I especially loved "Garlic Chicken" "Dinner Party Seating" & "The Raccoon." I highly recommend this to anyone wanting a light, laughter-filled read that is both relatable & very odd.

[Eliza Pillsbury · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is devastating to report because little weirds was a five-star read for me

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weirdly brave and honest collection of often odd essays presented in 5 sections- Single, True Love, Pregnancy, Baby, and Ongoing. Not a typical memoir and some of the stream of consciousness writing can seem convoluted but it sort of works. There were times I did laugh out loud, though not as much as I thought I would have. And within the strangeness of the little stories, every so often I would be blown away by the brutal truthfulness or a beautifully written phrase or sentiment. This won't be for everyone but I enjoyed it, especially the bits about the raccoons. After reading the book am curious to hear the audiobook only to see if how I imagined Jenny Slate would read it out loud matched how she actually did. Rate it 3.5 stars but GRs doesn't allow for half stars.

[Traci Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what exactly I just read. I struggle to articulate what she was trying to do here - it was weird and had jokes but also felt serious. Some essays were really good and some went over my head. A mixed bag.

[Kimberley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I tend to give higher ratings for memoirs because it’s their story to tell and I respect that. This is hard for me because I don’t know what I just listened to. The blurb was scattered and the book was scattered. It was weird and rambling, as advertised. While I know that was the point, the format/presentation of this memoir didn’t work for me.

[Patricia Q · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you enjoy a melodramatic, poetic, flowery and ornate writing style you might enjoy this. I was really looking forward to listening to this and I didn't have to get far to realize that her last book and this book are written in the same purple prose style. The last sentence of the book description is very true: No one writes like Jenny Slate.

[Mariah Eekhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny Slate is my weird little Obi Wan Kenobi.

[Courtney Leonhardt · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are maybe 3 beautifully written, profound sentences. The rest is allegorical word vomit.

[Jessica Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything about Jenny Slate and have loved all of her art, writing, acting and comedy. Obvious Child remains a favorite film of mine.

Her newest book is enchanting, full of whimsy, and charm. It’s about motherhood and mothering, falling in love, women’s magical bodies, and so much more.

Also, the acknowledgment to her mother at the end… 🥺

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s so weird and I love her so much. She writes and I feel as though I am being written to. All of her jokes made me laugh out loud at the pages. She writes of the afterlife the same way I view it, which made me cry a whole lot. I read Little Weirds with my Eliza, and it feels like I got to share some pages of Lifeform with her from her dimension. Thank you, Jenny! I love the way you share your world with us. I’ll never stop loving everything you write.

[Elizabeth]

Surprising to no one, I liked the sections about pregnancy and motherhood less. Believe it or not, just didn’t speak to me.

Idk it pains me to say that most of this did not hit for me. When it did, it diddd. But most of the time I was just hanging in there. I loved the schtick her first book, but I think the topic, and honestly it being her sophomore effort, it just felt tired. SORRY JENNY I LOVE YOU AND I WILL BE BACK FOR BOOK THREE.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

oof. I had been downright enchanted by Little Weirds so I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this but it was just too disorganized and vague for me

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good one to be reading this week. I love Jenny Slate with all my heart!

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am such a fan of Jenny Slate the actor, so I jumped at the chance to listen to this audiobook. Not only is this read by the author herself, but she is truly the only one who can bring these quirky essays to life.

The audio performance was truly the highlight here for me, since I honestly struggled to get through the entire collection. There are some essays that stand out for their humor and insight (namely one struggling through personally loving a movie that doesn't quite hold up when rewatched years later), while many are just more experimental and hard to follow. There's an intermittent series of letters to a doctor that are sometimes funny but often truly baffling.

Ultimately, I think that this will work for a lot of people, especially those who appreciate writers who experiment with form and narrative. It's truly a treat to listen to anything read by the author, especially one who fully commits to the performance like Jenny Slate does.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for providing me with the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Catherine S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wackadoodle in a bad way. I loved Little Weirds and the way Slate's absurdist writing can open up the world in new ways. I was really excited for this one! But it lacked focus, felt mildly deranged, and was also peppered with scenes from a terribly written play that had nothing to do with anything? Missed the mark for me.
It also included my new pet peeve: she talked lots about pregnancy, childbirth, and new motherhood but just referred to her daughter as "the baby" rather than including her name. What is this bizarre trend? I hate it so much. Jenny Slate is famous! We know her daughter's name is Ida. She says it in interviews all the time. Why the strange omission? Particularly obnoxious because Jenny refers to /herself/ by name (in third person) at least 10 times throughout the book.

[Jenna Bush · Rating 2 out of 5]

wtf. was she on drugs when she wrote this or something…?! I totally expected it to be an interesting read after seeing reviews but 😳