What do you think?
Rate this book
Me of the Never Never: A chaotic memoir about family, friends and finding out that all the world's a stage
Fiona O Loughlin is certainly the funniest (and possibly one of the busiest) working mothers in Australia today: a stand-up comedian based in Alice Springs and Adelaide, she is on the road for most of the year, doing live performances, plus regular television appearances. Fiona has also had successful shows at the Edinburgh and Adelaide fringe festivals, the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
This book contains her stories - funny and sometimes sad stories about her upbringing as part of a large Irish-Catholic family on a wheat farm in South Australia, her chaotic and disorganised family life ever since, living in Alice Springs and making it as a stand-up comedian. She also talks of a darker side of the life of many performers - alcohol.
This book is for anyone who likes to laugh (and cry), who wants to read about a woman living her life on her terms.
This book contains her stories - funny and sometimes sad stories about her upbringing as part of a large Irish-Catholic family on a wheat farm in South Australia, her chaotic and disorganised family life ever since, living in Alice Springs and making it as a stand-up comedian. She also talks of a darker side of the life of many performers - alcohol.
This book is for anyone who likes to laugh (and cry), who wants to read about a woman living her life on her terms.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2011
11 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 8, 2013
Yeahhhhhhhh. This book is purely in the Just OK category. I really have liked Fiona O'Loughlin when I have seen her comedy on the tv, as well interviews with her, so I really wanted to like it.
But this book is a mish-mash of rambling thoughts, which undermined the content and made the interesting tales merge and fade into the more uninteresting ones and I was left wondering why I was bothering to read this book at all. I found it patchy and really quite dull at times - I am not even sure why there are chapters, as most kept cycling around and at times repeating what had been written earlier. There was only a slight thread of logical flow, and I got to the point where I skipped forward many times. And the end chapter addressing her alcoholism sort of seemed tacked on. I don't know really, this book just didn't work.
Maybe if O'Loughlin had have structured the content better it might have worked, but I think that also has to come down to the editing, even I could see how this book could have been given a better editorial treatment, as like I said there were some good tales in there that I did enjoy reading, just the finished product was less than great.
Anyway, I would rate O'Loughlin 5 stars of funny in her comedic offerings - however two really pulls it up in the author stakes.
But this book is a mish-mash of rambling thoughts, which undermined the content and made the interesting tales merge and fade into the more uninteresting ones and I was left wondering why I was bothering to read this book at all. I found it patchy and really quite dull at times - I am not even sure why there are chapters, as most kept cycling around and at times repeating what had been written earlier. There was only a slight thread of logical flow, and I got to the point where I skipped forward many times. And the end chapter addressing her alcoholism sort of seemed tacked on. I don't know really, this book just didn't work.
Maybe if O'Loughlin had have structured the content better it might have worked, but I think that also has to come down to the editing, even I could see how this book could have been given a better editorial treatment, as like I said there were some good tales in there that I did enjoy reading, just the finished product was less than great.
Anyway, I would rate O'Loughlin 5 stars of funny in her comedic offerings - however two really pulls it up in the author stakes.
October 2, 2011
3.5 stars
This review was first posted @ The Australian Bookshelf
I am a huge Australian stand-up comedy fan; I love the comical storytelling and having a good belly laugh. I enjoy every day life occurrences that have a witty spin on them and to be able to say ‘that’s so true’ in between gasps of laughter. So, when the opportunity came up to review Fiona O’Loughlin’s memoir I was very excited. I’ve seen plenty of her stand-up at comedy festivals and know she is always doing jokes about her kids and family life that I found quite hilarious but also a little wrong at the same time. I also knew she had public admitted to being an alcoholic, so I was intrigued by what would arise in her memoir.
Sometimes, memoirs can be a little slow-going but I actually read this book quite quickly because I found Fiona’s life really interesting. It’s certainly not laughable the whole way through and that would have been useful because life isn’t always fun and games. Fiona was raised in a Catholic family in a small country town, fell in love and moved to Alice Springs where she had many children in rapid succession and learnt very early on what it was like to live as an isolated housewife in rural Australia.
I could connect with Fiona’s grief over losing the lives of pets, friends and how she found the strength to move on from these experiences. I particularly found interesting her family relationships and the role she took on in her family. She certainly broke the mould by moving away and becoming a comedian. It was obvious; the alcoholism was not an easy topic to broach but she touched on it just enough to show she acknowledged this troublesome time but not too much to dwell on it with self-pity. What I loved the most about Me of the Never Never were the small town stories, I have always been drawn to small towns and the culture and her naivety when she moved away to start a new life was fascinating. Fiona has certainly worked very hard to find her place in the comedy industry which is hard enough for a woman, let alone a mother of five from Central Australia.
If real-life issues turn you away from a comedian’s memoir, then you will be pleasantly surprised to find plenty of funny stories that will make your stomach rumble. My partner asked me on several occasions, what are you laughing at? I would just show him the cover of the book and he replied, oh yeah that’s right you’re reading about Fiona.
This review was first posted @ The Australian Bookshelf
I am a huge Australian stand-up comedy fan; I love the comical storytelling and having a good belly laugh. I enjoy every day life occurrences that have a witty spin on them and to be able to say ‘that’s so true’ in between gasps of laughter. So, when the opportunity came up to review Fiona O’Loughlin’s memoir I was very excited. I’ve seen plenty of her stand-up at comedy festivals and know she is always doing jokes about her kids and family life that I found quite hilarious but also a little wrong at the same time. I also knew she had public admitted to being an alcoholic, so I was intrigued by what would arise in her memoir.
Sometimes, memoirs can be a little slow-going but I actually read this book quite quickly because I found Fiona’s life really interesting. It’s certainly not laughable the whole way through and that would have been useful because life isn’t always fun and games. Fiona was raised in a Catholic family in a small country town, fell in love and moved to Alice Springs where she had many children in rapid succession and learnt very early on what it was like to live as an isolated housewife in rural Australia.
I could connect with Fiona’s grief over losing the lives of pets, friends and how she found the strength to move on from these experiences. I particularly found interesting her family relationships and the role she took on in her family. She certainly broke the mould by moving away and becoming a comedian. It was obvious; the alcoholism was not an easy topic to broach but she touched on it just enough to show she acknowledged this troublesome time but not too much to dwell on it with self-pity. What I loved the most about Me of the Never Never were the small town stories, I have always been drawn to small towns and the culture and her naivety when she moved away to start a new life was fascinating. Fiona has certainly worked very hard to find her place in the comedy industry which is hard enough for a woman, let alone a mother of five from Central Australia.
If real-life issues turn you away from a comedian’s memoir, then you will be pleasantly surprised to find plenty of funny stories that will make your stomach rumble. My partner asked me on several occasions, what are you laughing at? I would just show him the cover of the book and he replied, oh yeah that’s right you’re reading about Fiona.
January 22, 2012
Fiona O'Loughlin is my favourite Australian comedienne and I have been wanting to get my hands on this book for quite some time. She never fails to make me laugh, mostly I think because she is so candid about the challenges she faces as a wife and as a mother on stage.
Me of the Never Never is an honest reflection on how Fiona came to be who she is. Her family features heavily in the memoir, just as it does in her comedy routines. As one of seven children in a three bedroom house, Fiona's upbringing may have been slightly chaotic but she was well-loved and cared for. There is genuine affection as she writes of family gatherings, eccentric aunts and annoying siblings. Many of the recollections are amusing, some, like the loss of her favourite cousin in a tragic road accident, are sad but they are experiences that have shaped her life.
We follow Fiona from her reminisces of her Catholic school days to her courtship with husband Chris, and then to her life as a young wife and mother in Australia's outback. Fiona has five children all born quite close together and raising them was, and still is, a challenge. Fiona is candid about the mistakes she has made as a mother and the chaos a large family entails, but her love for her children is never in doubt. Fiona has faced many obstacles to build her career, her frequent absences from her home has resulted in some social criticism but I think this memoir makes clear why Fiona has pursued it and how hard she tries to ensure her family isn't penalised for it.
Me of the Never Never isn't a collection of jokes and one liners, it is a story of a life lived, for better and worse. That's not to say it isn't funny, I found myself giggling quite a lot. The book does tend to wander down a dirt track that leads no where in particular here and there but it is an easy and interesting read. If you are a fan of Fiona O'Loughlin then you are sure to enjoy this memoir
Me of the Never Never is an honest reflection on how Fiona came to be who she is. Her family features heavily in the memoir, just as it does in her comedy routines. As one of seven children in a three bedroom house, Fiona's upbringing may have been slightly chaotic but she was well-loved and cared for. There is genuine affection as she writes of family gatherings, eccentric aunts and annoying siblings. Many of the recollections are amusing, some, like the loss of her favourite cousin in a tragic road accident, are sad but they are experiences that have shaped her life.
We follow Fiona from her reminisces of her Catholic school days to her courtship with husband Chris, and then to her life as a young wife and mother in Australia's outback. Fiona has five children all born quite close together and raising them was, and still is, a challenge. Fiona is candid about the mistakes she has made as a mother and the chaos a large family entails, but her love for her children is never in doubt. Fiona has faced many obstacles to build her career, her frequent absences from her home has resulted in some social criticism but I think this memoir makes clear why Fiona has pursued it and how hard she tries to ensure her family isn't penalised for it.
Me of the Never Never isn't a collection of jokes and one liners, it is a story of a life lived, for better and worse. That's not to say it isn't funny, I found myself giggling quite a lot. The book does tend to wander down a dirt track that leads no where in particular here and there but it is an easy and interesting read. If you are a fan of Fiona O'Loughlin then you are sure to enjoy this memoir
September 22, 2011
Do I ask too much from comedians? I was hoping this book would be funny, but I didn't find it so. It's a series of vignettes, without punchlines. Maybe some of it would be funny when delivered as stand-up, and I'm sure some people would find it funny in print. However for me it lacks editing. Sometimes we get a whole list of people who are friends, most of whom we don't meet again. It promises to cover her alcoholism, but it's only introduced in the last chapter. I still love her stand up and she's a really good person too.
If you are looking for a great memoir by a local comedian, you can't go past The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do.
Frustrating. 2.5 stars.
If you are looking for a great memoir by a local comedian, you can't go past The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do.
Frustrating. 2.5 stars.
September 12, 2022
I picked this up because it was a signed copy (apparently to friends of the author, oops), not because I am a particular fan of this performer. She writes about her life in a refreshingly candid way & I did enjoy the 1st half of the book - growing up in a huge family, starting her own, & living in Alice Springs. Her life as a stand-up comic was not as rewarding & I really didn't want to go with her on her descent into alcoholism. I was left with admiration & respect for her nonetheless.
December 2, 2014
This is a very easy and entertaining read. I love Fiona's stories. However, I suspect if one of her children penned an autobiography about growing up with Fiona as their mother it would be very difficult for her read.
July 9, 2024
Hilarious woman, with a cracker story
March 12, 2016
I love Fiona I think she's amazing but I felt that this book fell flat, I was a bit disappointed :(
February 28, 2020
Well I never
Fiona, I first saw you on ABC and was thirsty for more.
Your book is a wonderful picture of a great comiedian. Thank you.
Still, I feel sad to have never experienced much of what you did, having such a great bunch of relative, in a way I felt left out.
Keep up the great work
Fiona, I first saw you on ABC and was thirsty for more.
Your book is a wonderful picture of a great comiedian. Thank you.
Still, I feel sad to have never experienced much of what you did, having such a great bunch of relative, in a way I felt left out.
Keep up the great work
August 18, 2012
Fiona O'Loughlin writes about her interesting life, with a great deal of humor, and honesty. She tells of growing up in a large extended Irish family in country Australia. She leaves home to attend a catholic boarding school in Adelaide, in her very early teens. Upon leaving school she starts training as a nurse, and lives in a large house, in a leafy street, with a group of friends in the city, meeting her future husband and eventually getting married and moving to Alice Springs. Where she goes on to have 5 children, and becomes a successful standup comedian. She travels all over the world to perform at international festivals of art, and even Las Vegas. There are disappointments, and bumps along the way, that she writes about unflinchingly. She tells of her wonderful family and their friends with great affection. I would recommend this book because its a really good read.
January 1, 2016
I loved this book and found it super easy to read and super tough to put down. The story of life that Fiona weaves is full of hilarity and tear-jerkers that will make you look like a crazy person when you're sitting on an airplane. There are obviously a bunch of details missing but there are plenty of key life events that Fiona bravely discusses, including her descent into alcoholism and the effect that this (and the pressure of a comedic career) had on her relationships with loved ones. There is a lot of raw honesty, and (as the author eludes to in the beginning) there are also a few stories that are completely unbelievable.
September 3, 2014
I have to say I'm quite disappointed in this book. I'm not sure why people write a memoir unless something really interesting had happened to them that they would like to share with the world. The book doesn't really go anywhere and jumps about in time so much that I had to back track to find out how old she was at the time. That said, I didn't know who she was until I read the book and I'm sure fans would get way more out of it then I did. The landscape was interesting....
December 8, 2014
The book started off quite interesting but i unfortunately lost interest halfway through.
It wasn't until watching Fiona's personal journey on Australian Story a few months ago that I picked the book up again and finished it with a bit more compassion and better understanding of her family life and personal struggle with alcohol.
Well Done Fiona, A brave story x
It wasn't until watching Fiona's personal journey on Australian Story a few months ago that I picked the book up again and finished it with a bit more compassion and better understanding of her family life and personal struggle with alcohol.
Well Done Fiona, A brave story x
March 13, 2013
I ended up only reading half of this book. I was waiting for hilarious anecdotes or deeply personal emotions. I found neither. And it was quite disjointed. I just couldn't summon the interest to read it.
March 3, 2014
I liked it. It had sad moments, happy moments and hilarious moments. I actually laughed out loud. The only problem was that her story was not chronological and tended to digress. A lot. A very honest book and a definite page turner.
January 25, 2017
Fiona has some really great and unique stories and I love her sense of humour. I felt like the book didn't flow very well and there was a little too much 'train of thought' rather than logically put together chapters. Overall it was worth reading especially if you like her stand up shows.
January 13, 2012
Enjoying reading this book - Fiona O'Loughlin's extended family are Australian but you feel like you have one foot in the emerald isle when reading this "chaotic memoir"
January 21, 2012
great book that is easy to read ,funny and honest.
February 28, 2012
I love Fiona as a comedian so I expected the book to be funny too. Page 70 and I was still bored so I gave up. Sorry Fiona, maybe next book?
June 15, 2012
Enjoyed it........nice insight about someone we see on TV.....
March 23, 2013
A good read, laugh out loud in many spots, and her affection for Adelaide and South Australia had me on side.
December 6, 2013
Despite Fiona O'Loghlin's claim that she slightly exaggerates things because she can't help herself, this is an amazingly honest telling of the highs and lows of her life.
October 20, 2014
Funny and honest.
July 28, 2015
Fiona ,
I could legitimately have the day from hell and still manage a roar of laughter from your material an absolute genius. I thought ozzy osbornes biography was funny. And then this . Thank you!
I could legitimately have the day from hell and still manage a roar of laughter from your material an absolute genius. I thought ozzy osbornes biography was funny. And then this . Thank you!
Read
March 10, 2014I didn't finish it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews