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Aren't You Forgetting Someone?: Essays from My Mid-Life Revenge
From award-winning TV comedy writer Kari Lizer (The New Adventures of Old Christine) comes a collection of hilarious essays about the challenges of being a woman of a certain age and all that comes with it: empty nest, post #MeToo dating, aging parents, menopausal rage, unrealistic expectations, and eternal optimism.
What does it feel like to have your kids leave the house at the same time your parents might need to move in? With self-deprecating humor, sharp wit, and Ephron-esque aplomb, Kari Lizer gives an honest account of finding herself in the middle of growing up, growing old, and still figuring it all out. She finds the wry, bittersweet humor in (almost) all situations--whether it's becoming radioactive during a thyroid cancer treatment, getting fired from her volunteer work, or struggling to find her identity outside of motherhood. Aren't You Forgetting Someone? speaks to those of us who lament the invisibility of the middle-aged woman, but also revel in the unexpected delights of newfound freedom to do whatever the hell we want while no one is looking.
What does it feel like to have your kids leave the house at the same time your parents might need to move in? With self-deprecating humor, sharp wit, and Ephron-esque aplomb, Kari Lizer gives an honest account of finding herself in the middle of growing up, growing old, and still figuring it all out. She finds the wry, bittersweet humor in (almost) all situations--whether it's becoming radioactive during a thyroid cancer treatment, getting fired from her volunteer work, or struggling to find her identity outside of motherhood. Aren't You Forgetting Someone? speaks to those of us who lament the invisibility of the middle-aged woman, but also revel in the unexpected delights of newfound freedom to do whatever the hell we want while no one is looking.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
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217 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 28, 2020
Aren’t You Forgetting Someone?: Essays from My Mid-Life Revenge by Kari Lizer is a comical look at the serious subject of women in middle age. This time in a woman’s life has sometimes been described as the sandwich generation due to older children leaving home and older parents needing more care. Lizer has described her life at this point in such a way that will have you laughing out loud. Her refreshing point of view had me nodding and saying “exactly”. If you are in mid-life, this book is for you. And if you know someone in midlife, this book is for you too. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2023
Kari Lizer created and produced The New Adventures of the Old Christine, and as I read these essays, I kept seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the scenes, which are Seinfeld-esque! For example, when she gives a passed-out homeless guy a coat, but waits around until a group of passersby are close enough to witness her good deed.
Lizer tells about her life on the cusp of becoming an empty-nester, and in that sense she is everywoman, trying to find a reason to live after the kids fly the coop. But also, she has killer anecdotes about her show business life, like when she was a young actress and Alan Thicke tried to seduce her. He never even came close, but the hair on the back of my neck stood up. And then what happened with her coworkers when she went back to the set. Ugh. Or how she has to behave when working with a group of fellow writers, producing humor in an all-male environment.
Her wit is wry and at times, dark. "I believe I've become unsuitable for mixed company," she says. "As I walked into my empty house, I wondered what would become of me. I might live another forty years. Why did I quit smoking?"
Lizer talks family, extended family, work, men/women, politics, child-rearing, purpose, self vs. community...the gamut. And for all the smart-mouthing, she's us. She's a woman trying to make her way, trying to decide how much to compromise and what will be the cost of remaining true to herself, but as relatable as it is, she's a hell of a lot funnier than most of us. For all her success, talent, and brains, Lizer is an introvert and a weirdo, almost always on the outside of a group. Her humor is snarky and she swears a lot. It's hysterical. She's fearless. She shows you who she is, even when it's not pretty.
This book was brutally funny, relatable, and at times sad - a great mix.
Lizer tells about her life on the cusp of becoming an empty-nester, and in that sense she is everywoman, trying to find a reason to live after the kids fly the coop. But also, she has killer anecdotes about her show business life, like when she was a young actress and Alan Thicke tried to seduce her. He never even came close, but the hair on the back of my neck stood up. And then what happened with her coworkers when she went back to the set. Ugh. Or how she has to behave when working with a group of fellow writers, producing humor in an all-male environment.
Her wit is wry and at times, dark. "I believe I've become unsuitable for mixed company," she says. "As I walked into my empty house, I wondered what would become of me. I might live another forty years. Why did I quit smoking?"
Lizer talks family, extended family, work, men/women, politics, child-rearing, purpose, self vs. community...the gamut. And for all the smart-mouthing, she's us. She's a woman trying to make her way, trying to decide how much to compromise and what will be the cost of remaining true to herself, but as relatable as it is, she's a hell of a lot funnier than most of us. For all her success, talent, and brains, Lizer is an introvert and a weirdo, almost always on the outside of a group. Her humor is snarky and she swears a lot. It's hysterical. She's fearless. She shows you who she is, even when it's not pretty.
This book was brutally funny, relatable, and at times sad - a great mix.
November 13, 2020
Kari liver is sharp witty and has a lot to say. I could relate to so much of it. Pure pleasure.
March 5, 2021
This was a great book! Reading this book from the child's perspective rather than the mother's perspective I had several moments that were almost identically relatable to the experiences I've had with my own mother in these same situations. Kari's book is so relatable, hilarious and true that there really isn't another book I've found that really hits these significant moments on the nose quite like Kari has done.
April 29, 2020
This was a cute book, easy read. It's nice to read something easy sometimes that isn't about hard-hitting or emotional issues. Just one woman talking about her life as a woman and a mother. I'm not a mother, and we don't have much in common, but I still found the book very relatable and entertaining.
September 18, 2022
Witty as well as laugh out loud funny! Can’t say enough about how on point this book is for parenthood, friend-hood, the empty nester phase and all the feelings in between of mothers just trying to do their best.
March 11, 2020
Read an ARC. Being a Woman. Of a Certain Age, I understood all of her stories like they were my own. I would have rated it much higher if it weren't for the whiny, "I hate everyone and everything" way it was delivered.
July 16, 2020
3.5 stars! This had quite a few laugh out loud moments and is a perfect fast read when you need some comfort, commiseration, and comedy.
Not every essay resonated; some were perhaps underdeveloped (though still superbly witty and well-written) and a bit of a stretch to fit the overall theme of midlife-crisis-dom once the kids leave the nest. But the essays that did make an impact, such as her jarring story of discovering herself alone with Alan Thicke and his coming on to her during a stint as a guest star on Growing Pains, or her camping trip cross country to drop her last child off at college, these stories sing with an underlying rage, disappointment, heartbreak, and honesty that leaps from the page.
Kari's writing is also a masterclass in story arc!
You too will want a designer chicken coop designed and built by Paco after reading this book :)
Not every essay resonated; some were perhaps underdeveloped (though still superbly witty and well-written) and a bit of a stretch to fit the overall theme of midlife-crisis-dom once the kids leave the nest. But the essays that did make an impact, such as her jarring story of discovering herself alone with Alan Thicke and his coming on to her during a stint as a guest star on Growing Pains, or her camping trip cross country to drop her last child off at college, these stories sing with an underlying rage, disappointment, heartbreak, and honesty that leaps from the page.
Kari's writing is also a masterclass in story arc!
You too will want a designer chicken coop designed and built by Paco after reading this book :)
April 7, 2020
Parts of the book funny and very on point, but only if you are a parent and over 60. It is not mid-life! I don't think it would appeal to men, childless women, or anyone under 60. Also, I know it's written for humor, and therefore is probably exaggerated, but her three children are not very nice people.
May 25, 2020
Funny essays about being an empty-nester, having a lot of critters and living in L.A. I found them enjoyable, self-deprecating and well read. I'm still giggling about Lizer giving a homeless man a warm coat with $20 in the pocket but waiting until some people coming out of a restaurant saw her do it so they'd know she was a "good person."
May 13, 2020
Loved this book. Well-written and so relatable for women/moms in middle age. I didn't want to put it down.
July 4, 2022
I wanted to like this. At the beginning I was relating and laughing. As it went on the language got worse and the humor more crude. I wish she would have proven you can be a great writer and comedian without it.
February 7, 2023
If there was a possibility to give 0 I would. This was ridiculous, self indulgent, privileged to a revolting level. shut the *# up. I can't handle this woman. What is this and how did it ever get recorded? Absolutely embarrassing whining. please stop
May 21, 2021
Enjoy it
I enjoyed this book. It was humorous. I could relate to many aspects of the author's adventures. It was a pleasant , nice read.
I enjoyed this book. It was humorous. I could relate to many aspects of the author's adventures. It was a pleasant , nice read.
June 10, 2021
Captures the trials and triumphs of being 50+. Great writing, got through it in a day.
April 21, 2022
This was laugh out loud funny at times. Resonated with my empty nest/middle aged/ready-to-retire-but-can’t-yet self.
Listened on audible.
Listened on audible.
May 7, 2022
Really quick fun read that made me laugh out loud at least twice. :). It’s a good book to listen to when you aren’t in the mood for a fictional story… I wonder who recommended this to me!!?
July 26, 2022
started out funny, but lost interest towards the end.
May 9, 2024
This is actually proving to be quite a drag.
April 1, 2021
This is a collection of essays about the author coming to terms with her loss of identity as a mom once all of her kids left home, at the same time her parents were aging. She talks about her void of purpose and her "no-man's-land" time of life. The author makes everyday occurrences laugh-out-loud-able that was fun to read. And speaking as a mother with younger kids, I loved reading this book because it shows me the path that's coming.
One of the things she talked about was the feeling of just not having enough time. She wrote, "I was so busy some of those days between mothering, writing on other people's TV shows, then eventually running my own show, waking up at four AM to bake cupcakes from scratch so I didn't feel the burning shame of store-bought baked goods that I would find myself standing up halfway through peeing declaring to no one as I yanked up my pants, 'I don't have time for this.'" I loved it. I think this book is entertaining and helpful.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/kar...
One of the things she talked about was the feeling of just not having enough time. She wrote, "I was so busy some of those days between mothering, writing on other people's TV shows, then eventually running my own show, waking up at four AM to bake cupcakes from scratch so I didn't feel the burning shame of store-bought baked goods that I would find myself standing up halfway through peeing declaring to no one as I yanked up my pants, 'I don't have time for this.'" I loved it. I think this book is entertaining and helpful.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/kar...
April 14, 2022
Fantastic musings for women in their mid life. (Women under 45 won’t find it as funny, but men in their 50s may.) Lizer is funny, poignant, and witty in her detailed explanation of life after marriage, kids, career building, dating, etc.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews