Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan – A Hilariously Offbeat Los Angeles Memoir of Pop Culture and Self-Discovery

by Hillary Carlip

A hilariously offbeat memoir about an adventurous young woman's escapades as she defies conventions and transforms an ordinary Los Angeles life into a star-studded, extraordinary miracle of self-discovery. Queen of the Oddballs forms a chronology of Hillary Carlip's habitual straying from roads more traveled -- from a wisecracking third-grader suspended from school for smoking (while imitating Holly Golightly) to a headline-making teen activist, juggler and fire eater, friend (NOT "fan") of Carly Simon and Carole King, grand prize-winning Gong Show contestant, cult rock star, and seeker of spiritual and romantic truths that definitely defy expectations. Illustrated with ephemera -- from diary entries and photographs to a handwritten letter from Carly Simon -- Queen of the Oddballs presents a virtual time capsule of pop culture's last four decades and celebrates a creative life lived to the hilt.

Genres: Memoir, Humor, Nonfiction, Biography, Essays, LGBT, Biography Memoir

273 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Hillary Carlip is an award-winning, best-selling author of five books, a noted visual artist, and has been creating content, websites, and news in the digital space since 1999.

Her latest project, Find Me I’m Yours (RosettaBooks), is a revolutionary, multi-platform entertainment experience that starts with an eBook novel and expands into an entire "storyverse" filled with interactive content including original rom-com style videos, 33 unique, custom-designed websites – many of which feature web series created by and starring A-list talent – and countless ways for readers to share their own content, connect, and personally engage with the narrative.

A game changer in the way stories are told and experienced, Find Me I’m Yours was conceived, written and designed by Hillary, and co-created, directed, and produced by her partner, Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated TV comedy writer/producer/director Maxine Lapiduss. This Click Lit® eBook is the premiere project from Hillary and Maxine’s newly launched company, Storyverse Studios.

Her last book, A la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers (Virgin Books), received raves including a starred review from Publishers Weekly who cited Hillary's "humor, grace and brilliantly creative eye," and called the book a "hilarious, delightful, unique achievement."

Her memoir, Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan (HarperCollins), is an American Bookseller's Association Book Sense Pick Best Seller, a Lambda Literary Award finalist in two categories (humor and memoir), and was selected by Borders as one of the Best Literary Memoirs of 2006.

Hillary forged the way in bringing the voices of teenage girls into the mainstream with her first book Girl Power: Young Women Speak Out (Warner Books). She was honored by the New York Public Library when Girl Power was selected for its prestigious "Best Books for Teens" list. When Hillary appeared on Oprah, the hour show was devoted to the book.

Hillary's second book, Zine Scene (Girl Press), which she designed herself and co-wrote with the renowned author Francesca Lia Block, won an American Library Association Award, and was included in a show at the New Museum for Contemporary Art in New York City.

As a visual artist, Hillary’s work has been sold at prominent galleries in LA, NY, and Chicago, and shown alongside Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst in a five-city museum exhibit during 2013-2014 entitled Stocked: Contemporary Art from the Grocery Aisles. She also has pieces included in the permanent collection at the Ulrich Museum of Art in Wichita, KS.

A web pioneer, Hillary co-founded VOXXY.com in 1999, one of the earliest and most acclaimed websites featuring interactive content with A-List talent. For two years Hillary oversaw all creative aspects including designing and producing their multiple websites, which earned the 2000 Bandie Broadband Award for innovation in the category "Newest New Thing."

As a web designer, Hillary has designed and produced hundreds of award-winning, attention-grabbing, custom websites for major stars (including Jennifer Aniston), companies large and small, the Australian Government, best-selling authors, web series, acclaimed films and filmmakers, actors, musicians, artists, non-profits, and more.

The Wall Street Journal has called Hillary and her work "Humorous, touching and insightful;" Chicago Tribune: "Gloriously idiosyncratic;" the New York Times declared, "Ms. Carlip's curriculum vitae reads like a Cliffs Notes version of American Popular culture,” and the New York Daily News said, "New York Daily News said, “Carlip is 10,000 miles ahead of every other writer: She’s a visionary.”

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again. I'm a memoir junky. The memoir genre is right up there at the top of my favorites list. This book was definitely right up my alley.

Hillary Carlip grew up knowing she wasn't like the rest of the world; but it took her most of her life to learn to embrace her "inner oddball." The book spans nearly four decades of her life and tells stories about everything she did. Knowing she was never meant to hold down any sort of mundane "normal" job, Carlip persued her more artistic side. The book details her days as she befriends famous singers, becomes a teen activist, becomes a juggler and fire eater (and wins the Gong show,) persues a career as a rock star, and several other humorous endeavors.

The book is funny and honest; which are the qualities that make a memoir great. Carlip doesn't hold back to save face. She tells her most embarassing stories, and as a result, readers will come to adore her in all her oddballness. If you're a fan of memoirs, give this one a read, you won't be disappointed!

[Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until I attended a book fair a few years ago I had never heard of Hilary Carlip. She was so much fun in person, both when she spoke and individually at her table, that I couldn't help but pick up her book.

The best word to describe her--and her book--is "Quirky". She was an extra in "Xanadu" AND a winner on "The Gong Show". No one else can claim those joint distinctions!

If you like fun stories of unusual people, this is your book.

And to quote her inscription to me in my copy, "Be Odd and Proud".

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a memoir of a very funny, very creative and talented woman. She is a writer, an artist, a feminist, a juggler and fire eater.

This is the story of how she became the artist she is today beginning with early childhood, her teen years and right up to the the publication of her book; Girl Power; Young Woman Speak Out, in which she edited and put together some thought provoking poetry, journal entries and other writings from teenage girls from several different walks of life.

I loved how the book was written, she uses different styles for various chapters in her life, for instance when she is describing stalking/trying to be friends with Carly Simon and Carole King she writes the chapter in the style of a detective keeping track of their subject in a journal.

In another chapter she writes about the ups and downs of writing and trying to sell her screenplay for a movie and she writes it in the form of a screenplay.

When she's describing her adventures as an actress in the movie Xanadu, she writes it in the form of a thank-you letter to the star of film, Olivia Newton John.

Each chapter begins with some short blurbs of some of the important events of the year she is writing about and since she grew up in Los Angeles in the early 60's and 70's she had the chance to meet and see of the rising stars both in t.v. and music at the time and she includes them in her observations.

She also had a wide range of jobs from being a juggler, (she won first prize of the Gong Show, fire eater, writer, signing telegram person, actress (she appeared in Xanadu), and has her own early all girl rock band, (they appeared the Tom Hanks movie; "The Bachelor Party", and creates with her partner their own creative web site.

She also writes quite a lot about her relationships both with her family and lovers.

As evidenced by her memoir Hillary Carlip has led a pretty adventure filled life and I enjoyed reading about it very much!

[Ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

the only reason i bothered reading this book is because the author, hillary carlip, edited girl power, a book iloved & read over & over again when i was a teenager (mostly just the chapter about riot grrrl, if we're being honest). this book was nothing like girl power. she's going for a kind of memoir-through-humorous-essay thing here, in the style of david sedaris, but i mostly felt bored. i guess she gets up to some pretty goofy adventures, being in a pre-fab girl rock band in the style of the runaways, working as a singing telegram girl, etc etc. it kind of takes a lot of assumptions about what it must have been like to be a free-spirited aspiring actress in los angeles in the 1980s & runs with them, but i don't really care about that kind of thing, so i couldn't really get into it. his book is also another in the vein of, "my childhood was just so NORMAL! no angst & depression here!" which is something i really hate, as is further evidenced in my scathing review of encyclopedia or an ordinary life. meh.

[Wendy Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't feel this book at all....it was nothing but chapter after chapter of name-drops. yeah, we get it, you know a lot of celebrities...a lot of them before they even became celebrities...now what else ya got?? not much of anything, it seems. For the first time ever while reading a book I actually just had to scan through a few of the chapters because I couldn't bear to read them in their entirety they were so lame. The only part that I liked was at the beginning of each chapter she listed the year and the major events of that year so that was pretty nostalgic. Another thing I might add is that I was taken aback by the number of girlfriends that she mentioned in her book- WOW! Maybe i'm just old-fashioned but it was a major turn-off to me (and believe me, it has nothing to do with homophobia lol i'm a lesbian myself). I had very high hopes for this book but for me, it was a fail :(

[Maria Headley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Madame Carlip, other than that I find her to be exactly like her book: warm, generous, bizarre, and funny as hell. She gives up the goods. She's profoundly loving. She's willing to take anyone she cares about along on her adventures. Basically, this woman rocks the house and paddles the boat. I am thoroughly lucky to have her as a friend. Read her book. It's the perfect thing for plenty of the people in your life. It will make you feel better about everything you've ever done in your own weird way.

[Rare Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillary Carlip is amazing. She's lived through some crazy events and has had some very stunningly interesting relationships. She lays it all wonderfully bare in this book. I couldn't put it down. She might be a liberal, but don't let that put you off. She's got a heart (and an author's hand) of gold.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

very funny!! yet another book that i wished was longer. ended too soon!

[Gabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book of essays, this one reads more like a memoir. Carlip relates both her upbringing and later, her career in Hollywood. She starts with her penchant for imitating anything she saw on television as an eight year old and getting suspended from the third grade for smoking so she could be like Holly Golightly; she continues with her adventures at cotillion with the children of celebrities.

She spends a good portion of her pre teen years stalking the likes of Carly Simon and Carole King because, as all good groupies know, being just a "fan" isn't cool enough. She was determined to find Carly and Carole and be their best friends. She succeeds pretty well, too.

While the first half of the book is populated with charming stories like the ones mentioned above, the second half gets kind of bogged down with her soap-operatic love life. She does tell an interesting story about being invited to the Oprah show after her first book was published, but I had to plow through a lot "my girlfriend cheated on me" "... and then I hung out with Melissa Etheridge" to get to it.

Read the first half the book for fun Hollywood nostalgia and stories of an irreverant childhood. Skim the second half.

Read this if you share the same reverence for movie stars, rock stars and television shows that Carlip does, or just for good old Los Angeles nostalgia.

[Julia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very engaging and a fun read. Overall, I don't really enjoy reading, but this book made reading interesting because it was a true story about a girls life that was far from normal. I gave this book a 4/5 rating because it was a very intriguing book, but it was a little scattered and unorganized. It was a book filled with short stories and long stories about her life, but they weren't necessarily (all the time) in any particular order which made it hard to follow at times. This book was filled with the true stories of Hillary Carlips life. She was a child who had a huge imagination that loved acting. Every week she would act like a new character whether it was appropriate or not. For example, she dressed up like a celebrity one week and smoked a cigar at school and got suspended for a week. She was simply a free spirit. One thing about this book that stuck out to me was the quote that she lived by, and that was loosely this: "Why would I act like myself when I could act like someone else who is so much more interesting?" That quote can spark ideas in the readers head, and that is (I believe) why Hillary wrote this book, to spark thought in the reader. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone, but especially those who have questions about their identity.

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a glowing quote from Paul Reubens/Pee-wee Herman on the back, and I've liked Hillary Carlip's work in the past, so I thought this would top my heart's memoir chart. I like memoirs. She's gay, I'm gay. She's funny. She wrote a book with a whole chapter on Riot Grrl. Aww, Riot Grrl. She lives in LA. I've been there.

Eh.

The book is light-hearted, probably great for plane & airport reading, and there were definitely moments when I laughed out loud. Hillary trapped in a closet at a party during her stint as a singing telegram girl, for example. Mostly the conflict & angst didn't coalesce into anything meaningful for me. The ephemera parts seemed staged and forced. Powerful moments like her father's last days were watered down, while more boring moments were treated to pages upon pages of mindless stammering examination and detail. I felt like Ms. Carlip's editorial staff may have done her a disservice here, since she is actually funny and her stories occasionally shine with bright, poignant moments. Overall, it is kind of flat.

[Maggie Duval · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read as she's the same age as I, as evidenced by her interesting use of timelines prefacing each chapter. I always like a book that celebrates oddballs, as we all need support and to stick together. My only disappointment is that it felt as if she was rushing to the ending. The beginning and middle of the book felt well fleshed out, but the end felt a bit barebones.

She's crossed paths, been friends with, and worked with numerous well-known folks, which you'll discover in the book.

Bonus was reading about her experience of being on and winning "The Gong Show." Reading about that experience unlocked a wealth of rich memories for me as a "tween" in Coral Gables, FL in 75/76, the stories of which I want to add to my own book!

A fun read, with lots of guffaw moments.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months ago, a friend put this book in my hands and said "read this" so I had no idea what to expect. In fact, I picked it up to read because I felt guilty for keeping it this long. I'm really glad I did. I found this book charming and refreshing. It's light (mostly), quirky (completely), and demonstrates pretty well that being different is ultimately not a bad thing at all. I suppose what I was most surprised to find was the author's efforts to raise awareness of anti-woman messages in the media from an early age. And, I won't lie, the fact that she was in Xanadu only makes me like her more. Maybe I'm star struck because many of the author's celebrity interactions are with the folks I followed as a kid, or maybe this book's message is the one I need right now...either way, I really enjoyed this book. Recommend.

[badcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, I picked this up from the library solely because I loved the cover, but I was delighted to find a quirky, personable, charming woman and her story on the inside. Hillary Carlip describes beautifully what it is like to be a creative person who doesn't quite fit the mold in a variety of ways, but she ends up finding success and acclaim anyway. I related to her a great deal, and where I didn't, I empathized or applauded. Kudos to her for a genuine, heartfelt memoir that comes across with sincerity and witty insight. I also LOVE the format! The little historical notes at the beginning of each chapter totally hooked me into reading each one. I've never seen that before, and it is a great touch.

[Tom M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hillary Carlip's book is a collection of stories about her time growing up in Los Angeles in the 70s and 80s, her friends, her musical obsessions, her alter egos, her appearance on The Gong Show and the movie Xanadu and relationships.

There is plenty of teen and adult angst to go around, but what kept me reading was both Carlip's writing style and her refusal to take herself all that seriously. She's a woman who is able to look back on her life and laugh at herself while encouraging you to laugh along with her.

All in all, Carlip has done some freakin' amazing things in her life. They all make for interesting, fun reading.

Disappointments include some heavy-handed name dropping in the last half of the book along with a seeming rush to finish.

[Pandora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at 6pm and when I looked at the clock, it was 3am and I'd finished. Hillary Carlip is completely posessed/ blessed with the knack of making real-life 'unputdownable'. (It probably helps that she's had an incredibly off-beat and interesting life.) The only thing that disappointed me was a sense of bitterness that appeared out of the blue in the final chapters - perhaps it was her relevation about why her relationships were such disaster zones, but it did feel a little uneven. Still, she's a fantastic writer and this made me feel nostalgic for a time and places I've never experienced in my own life...I straight away wanted to re-read 'A girl's guide to taking over the world', AND find a copy of 'Girl Power'. Oddball = awesome.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book at the Goodwill Store in Missouri. I meant to purchase it for a friend who adores these kinds of books (she has re-read my blog a few times when she is bored, making me feel like a celebrity, so it's hard for me not to want to do anything for her). Then I ended up reading and thoroughly enjoying it myself. Felt like I really got a tutorial on what it was like for Hilary growing up in the 60s and 70s in Southern California. What I loved the most was how often times just when she would give up on achieving one of her goals, things would change. Seemed like there was a lesson in there somewhere. I loved how some of her adventures would be considered "stalking" today but back then not so much.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hillary is 61, I'm 68, and apart from the fact that I'm not gay, I totally "got" all her adventures. She's an extremely intelligent, funny, gutsy and talented woman who spent her early years looking for recognition and acceptance despite coming from a supportive home. Hillary happened to grow up in the heart of "celebrity land," and close enough to The Troubadour to get herself there at age 14, so of course her world is peppered with celebrities. I pulled some similar stunts in Midwest suburbia back when kids roamed their environment without fear. The news summaries at the beginning of each chapter really hit home, reminding me of what fascinating, ironic, whacky and tragic events have been on the landscape of my own life. Close to 5 stars, but I don't toss those about willy-nilly.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, enjoyable, entertaining read!
I laughed out loud, I chuckled to myself, and I even saw some tears at one point.
A personal favorite of mine is the chapter when Carlip writes a letter to Olivia Newtown John after having a role in "Xanadu". I already liked Carlip at this point, and this pushed me over the scales: I was hooked!
From started a group on feminish and women's rights in high school, to becoming a juggler at 15, to working as a singing telegram, this gal has done it all. Her writing is lighthearted and serious, entertaining and heartfelt.
I loved it!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilary Carlip is "almost famous" and has had many encounters with people who are very famous indeed. This is a very entertaining memoir highlighting her upbringing in LA, her immersion in the late 60s/early 70s counter-culture, and a very memorable juggling performance on The Gong Show. (I saw this particular routine and still vividly recall it. Never missed me a Gong Show back in the day.)

Carlip is a very likeable author and funny, too. You can see how she talked her way into (and out of) some zany situations through the power of her personality.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the style and flow of this memoir. Hilary Carlip wrote a book that changed my life when I was 15 called "Girl Power" (which came out a few years before the Spice Girls got ahold of that phrase for better or worse) where she collected the writings of a diverse multi-cultural group of teenage girls cross country and gave these girls a forum for expression, which in turn fueled my inspiration to collect the writings of my friends and distribute a 'zine called "Kwiet Grrrl." This book had me cracked up laughing several times, and also identifying with Hilary's emotional personal journey.

[Margi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny, quick read. I loved reading about her and her time with Carly Simon and the weeks upon weeks she spent trying to meet Carole King. The chapter about the Cotillion is quite funny as well. She definitely marched to the beat of her own drum and that is an admirable quality. The beginning of each chapter also has a time line of events that took place for that particular year. This is an interesting touch. A quick read, would be great for a day at the beach because it doesn't require a lot of thinking. Definitely a memoir worth reading if you like the quirkier side of life.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lambda award winner. Quick read. Quirky life. Inspirational child of 60s. Although doesn't feel fits in - not afraid to try new things: Kicked out of 3rd grade for smoking when imitating Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys, as a 14 year old LA native hangs out at Troubador and "befriends" Carly Simon & Carole King, Gong show winner, juggler, roller skater in Xanadu, Oprah guest. Mention of sexuality, but not a big issue. Occasionally namedrops, but as authentic friends (Kenny Ortega, Melissa Etheridge)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining (and star-studded!) collection of essays. I enjoyed reading them and while they were not always laugh-out-loud funny, they were deeply amusing. It was a lot of fun to read, and while David Sedaris remains the king of this memoir/essay genre, I found Hillary Carlip to be much more entertaining than author:Augusten Burroughs|3058]. I didn't love it the book, but I really did like it![

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up out of a box of free books left on a curb in front of someone's house. I had no idea what to expect, and figured I would just stop if it sucked. Well, I am SO glad I decided to grab it. I LOVED this book. It's a memoir, but the first part of the book reads like a Paula Danziger book. The author has certainly lived a fascinating, unique, hilarious and unforgettable life, and she tells her story with such a great self-effacing, honest and funny way.

[Margaret]

Not a book to take too seriously - it was at times funny, definitely quirky and light-hearted for the most part. I was a tiny bit annoyed with her constant name-dropping and she seemed more than a little obsessed with being seen with the rich and famous. Thankfully she seemed to outgrow this somewhat as the book progressed. I do think she wrote very honestly though and I enjoyed reading this book.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't a great book, but it really entertained me. The author was born the year before I was and I found myself somehow mesmerized that she had so many similar tastes in music and television that I had growing up. I had no idea that she won The Gong Show, but I know I saw the episode where she won, because I remember when Cheryl Lynn was on and loved her too! She was also a huge Knots Landing fan, so that was another nice surprise! Fun read.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hillary's such a great writer, and an interesting, quirky person (juggler! on the Gong Show!) -however, I always feel a little stumped by autobiographies that are written as little vignettes, like they feel disjointed and very little is actually revealed about the subject aside from a namedrop here or there. Know what I mean?

[Knancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess it's probably one of those hit or miss books for people. Since I grew up not far from the author and am close in age to her, her childhood experiences are all familiar to me, so it's like reading a book about a wacky friend.

[Coffeeboss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book with stand-alone chapters that are anecdotes of Carlip's peripheral-of-Hollywood view of someone really trying hard to make it big in showbusiness. Her obsessions with celebrities are hilarious and fun, and this made for an enjoyable bedtime read.