She Ain't Heavy, She's My Mother: A Memoir

by Bryan Batt

Gayle Batt is the kind of lady who throws elegant cocktail parties while wearing layers of silk chiffon, dripping pearls, and eight months’ pregnant. She is the kind of woman who says “anyhoo” and calls everyone “Dahlin’” or a special pet name. With hair, makeup, and nails always done to perfection, she triumphs rather than crumbles when infidelity, alcoholism, cancer, or any form of adversity attempts to shatter her family. Endearing and enduring, Gayle is a big-hearted, strong-willed true Southern belle—and she taught her son everything he knows about being a man.

In She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother , Bryan Batt, the actor who plays Sal Romano on the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Peabody Award–winning Mad Men, chronicles his life—and his mother’s supportive presence in it.

From growing up gay below the Mason-Dixon Line to landing principal roles on Broadway (his first was on roller skates playing a singing and dancing boxcar in Starlight Express !) and later on the picture-perfect sets of TV’s Mad Men, to opening the ever-popular Hazelnut boutique in his hometown of New Orleans with his partner, Bryan weaves a touching and hilarious story of the South, showbiz, and an unshakable bond between mother and son.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, LGBT, Biography, Biography Memoir

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan Batt, the author, is an actor/celebrity from New Orleans and is on the Board of Trustees for the agency I work for, the NO/AIDS Task Force. In this memoir, he talks about his life in New Orleans and then in New York, growing up very close to his mother and as a gay man growing up in the Deep South. His mother is a very colorful character who clearly loves her son and his writing shows how much love he has for her. Was a surprisingly fun read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling book detailing Batt’s rise in the Broadway and tv world with stories sprinkled throughout about his mother’s influence. It was beautifully written.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upfront admission: I've never watched a single episode of Mad Men. However, I saw Bryan Batt on Emeril Lagasse's program a while ago and he was tremendously charming and entertaining. He also talked about this book, and I put a hold on it at the library.

I was entertained by Batt's reminisces, both about his theatrical career, being a closeted gay man who eventually found the courage to come out when playing a gay man on-stage, and about his mother (Gayle). Batt told his stories with good humor and style, and the love for his family (which includes no small number of eccentrics) shone through.

Through every story about his own situation, Batt shares something more about his mother: her strength as the spouse of an alcoholic, her multiple bouts with cancer, her response to 9/11 (she was in New York with him) and Hurricane Katrina (Batt grew up in New Orleans) and more.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy reading about theatre, as well as stories of survival and familial relationships.

[Teddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful and funny book. I have never seen Bryan Batt act, but if he acts as good as he writes, an oscar is not far off. What a wonderful tribute to his mother, no wonder she's so proud of him. I just wish the book was longer because I so enjoyed reading it.

[Jo Ann Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fluffy, fun reminiscence about life in New Orleans circa 60s, 70s. Bryan Batt's love letter to his childhood and his mom, of course, is a lot of fun. This book is one of three I purchased at the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival earlier this year.

[Barry Levy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryan Batt's lovely, highly entertaining tale of growing up gay in New Orleans, discovering his talent as an actor and celebrating his adoring relationship with his mother. The book is as funny as it is touching as it is Southern. You can practically smell the magnolias..! It is a wonderful memoir. And thank you, Bryan, for not ending it on a sad note.

[Nancy Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the Mom Son relationship. She was an awesome Mom as well as he was an awesome Son.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well-written. This memoir reads more like a novel and transports you to Batt’s Louisiana childhood. Must read!

[Janice Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

AN. honest review of a. Splendid. Life. It ends before she dies. Appropriate.

[Fran Besalel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some charming scenes and dialogue between Bryan and his beloved mother. Some felt disingenuous.

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grabbed this book on the last day my Borders was open, for 50 cents. It has been a slow yet pleasant read. Though, pleasant in the way one may enjoy a good dinner conversation. You may find it sweet or amusing and even sometimes emotional, but you wouldn't necessary record it down for others.

Bryan's relationship with his mother is sweet and her ability to press ever on through all her hardships is also encouraging. Her story is interesting, as is her personality, but I can't help but feel the book would have been written better from a different point of view or in a different manner. Like I said, the whole book carries with a dinner conversation tone and distance. With a few exceptions in the middle, we don't get to really see the truly personal or nitty gritty side of things.

I suppose I kind of feel that after reading a memoir or autobiography that I should come out with some sort of understanding of that person's life or outlook. This book leaves me with the mere personality or shell of Mrs.Batt and only a impression of the influence she has/had on Bryan.

It feels weird to say that a book that covers cheating, cancer, being gay, and two major national tragedies is not quite personal enough, but that is the case. I didn't learn anything here or gain any insight other than I could over a dinner conversation.

The result is that it is nice. Simply nice. But I could have gotten the same from a nice long letter.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real quick read. Read 90% of it on a plane ride. Bryan Batt is simply wonderful. Loved reading about him and his adorable mother!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because I love, love, love the show Mad Men. The character of Sal was not included last season, so I googled the actor to see if I could find out if Sal is returning to the show.

That's when I found out about the book, downloaded it to my Kindle, and enjoyed the ride...uh, read.

My best take-away: How fortunate that this man was raised with so much love, was so nurtured and accepted, that he felt confident to break away and pursue his dreams.

And along the way, he found lasting love.

He's not the greatest writer I've ever read, but Batt does tell good stories.

I hope they bring him back to Mad Men!

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book and was very excited by it since I adore Bryan Batt, but I just couldn't get into it. I felt like I needed to know the people in the book personally to get into the stories and I had the same problem I tend to have with a lot of biographical books, which is that the timeline seems muddled and hard to follow. I always want biographical books to follow a set timeline and reference years so I know what we are talking about. Batt's writing is entertaining and I may try this book again in the future but for now, I can't finish it.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading an actor's memoir that takes its narrative arc from his relationship with his mother. The writing is smart and entertaining (if a little too self-aware and slightly unreal sometimes). There were moments where I kept asking myself, "Why him? Why this particular notable but not necessarily famous actor?" And then I realized it's because he had a unique story to tell. It was a terrific vacation read.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining biography of the author/actor's mother. Born and raised in New Orleans, his mother was a larger than life character in his world; she faced numerous crises with humor and strength; and enjoyed her son's eventual success on the stage and screen; including his current role on the successful "Mad Men".

[Mary Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I enjoyed his non-fiction decorating book so much and it mentioned on the jacket that he'd written this memoir also. Recommended mostly for people from New Orleans and fans of his acting and/or home design work. A quick, light read aabout a man and his mom. Fun and fluffy even when covering serious topics.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it helps if you are from New Orleans to read this memoir by Bryan Batt. It is a fond look back at his childhood and the role the women in his life played especially his mother. His triumphs in New York and the realization that he is gay is all explored here.

[Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryan Batt is utterly delightful. And now I'm even sadder that he's off Mad Men.

I know his mother well. I've never met her personally, but she is a classic New Orleans lady, and intensely wonderful.

Such a sweet, touching, funny book.

[Carole Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, easy read about growing up in Nawlins with an Auntie Mame-ish mother and typical dysfunctional extended family. All the things we love about growing up southern. The author is the Mad Men actor, Bryan Batt.

[ksj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this book might be fun and it was. The writing drew me in and kept me entertained throughout.

[Renee Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, humorous little memoir written by one of the actors on "Mad Men" focusing on his charming Southern mother and her eccentricities. I love it when men love their mothers.

[Adamkassim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun, quick read. I couldn't help but bring out my own Southern accent while reading it.

[Garrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written memoir.

[Kristen Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and endearing.

[Bedford Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a Mad Men fan, you'll enjoy this funny memoir by the actor that plays Sal. His mother is a force to be reckoned with...

[Denice Hogan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had seen him on the View and LOVED him. Went right out and bought the book. It was okay but not great. He is so funny though

[Whitaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Bryann Batt tells a great story about his colorful character of a southern belle mother. It's worth the read.