Welcome to Litsy!

#LGBTQIA2025 @Kenyazero #readingchallenge

My one outstanding prompt was Autistic Rep, and what better book for that prompt than Hannah Gadsby's memoir?

I did this one in audio to hear it in Gadsby's own voice. It is brilliant, of course, and devastating.

Getting a jump on my December #MonthlyNonfiction2025 @julieclair

Tried this in text earlier but I've switched to audio since Gadsby herself is narrating

#audiocrafting : picked up my Poppy blanket again #litsycrafters

Ten Steps to Nanette is a Netflix comedy standup special unlike no others, it‘s not comedy it‘s trauma dumping which punches you in the gut. This memoir was an extended version of that feeling mostly.

#Whir #PoetryMatters

#Whimsical #PoetryMatters

#Whim #PoetryMatters

If nonfiction counts, I‘m currently about a third of the way through Hannah Gadsby‘s “memoir situation”. #SundayFunday

I listened to this one which I think is the way to go. There was much to like - in fact, stories of her mother were some of the funniest things about her book - but I thought the book was overly long.

I was absolutely blown away by Nanette when I first watched it, and this audiobook adds so much to an already brilliant piece. Gadsby delves into their personal story, their unique journey to understanding themself, their traumas, failings, triumphs and their family. All with the same mix of humour, heart, emotion, and rage that characterized Nanette.

I find Hannah intriguing. Her book was on a list of Oceania options for the library's Winter Challenge (why do I need an enamel pin?). Definitely do the #audiobook. She reads it herself and there are audio clips from her show. I love when there's extra stuff on the audio.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

16-20 Nov 23 (audiobook)
A free audiobook for the month which was well worth listening to. Gadsby is very funny at times but is also just very interesting and insightful. Listening to her life, the way she learned and came to terms with her diagnoses, and her descriptions of her family were enlightening for me. Again has me questioning whether we should be seeking an ASD diagnosis for my older daughter.

I only recently discovered Hannah Gadsby‘s stand up on Netflix, and now feel like I need to revisit Nanette with all of this background information. Hannah has been through a lot, and I feel like I‘ve learned a lot from her experiences as a queer person with late diagnoses of ADHD and autism, and as a survivor of sexual assault.

I really wanted to love this memoir because it‘s hard not to feel for the author Hannah Gadsby, but I found this book suffered from TMI. Some chapters were SO RIDICULOUSLY long, filled with such minutiae. I‘m guessing that‘s how Hannah‘s brain is wired but I felt like some editing was desperately needed. I also had the sense Hannah needed to write this memoir more for herself than for anyone else and for that I applaud her.

Thanks for putting Hannah Gadsby on my radar @britt_brooke - my audio hold just came in
Already I‘m hooked!
#the52bookclub23 #WrittenByAComedian

#12daysofxmas June #12booksof2022

Another month with a favorite for both NF and Fiction. I do not remember which Litten or Littens brought Hannah Gadsby to my attention but I‘m so glad they did. Love her comedy specials on Netflix and her “memoir situation”. Love after Love was a @Cinfhen recommendation and soooo good. This is why Litsy is the best place to hang out. I might have missed out on these books and that would have been a shame.

To do: watch Gadsby‘s Netflix specials.

Narrated by Hannah, this “memoir situation” audiobook contains snippets of her life, from growing up in Tasmania all the way to her explosive Netflix special, “Nanette”. Humor? Yes. Serious and emotional? Yes. Essential? Yes. She discusses her experience discovering that she‘s autistic and also her realization that she‘s gay. Highly recommend listening to her delivery of her own story.

I enjoyed my journey in getting to know Hannah Gadsby by watching her two Netflix specials and listening to her memoir. She has a lot to say with righteous anger where appropriate and with comedy. I am a fan.

#AlphabetGame

Tuesday night outdoor reading with little Casimir. He‘s grumpy because his mat got waterlogged in last night‘s thunderstorm and now he has to lie right on the concrete.

“I loved the idea of “multiculturalism,” because it made sense to me. I‘d always struggled to feel as if I belonged, and so I thought that everyone should be made to feel welcome-because by that logic, then I would be welcome too. Who said selfishness can‘t lead to human rights advocacy?”

I've been swamped with work as I've just changed positions at my company, which leaves little time for reading at the moment. But I managed to finish this book with help from my reading buddy this evening. The last 2 sections were especially gripping and resonating. I appreciate Hannah's candor in sharing her experience.

Finished my second read of #JubilantJuly not sure how I feel about it yet. It was honest and awkward.

@Andrew65

Starting tagged book today and love this epigraph!

#wondrouswednesday

1. The tagged, Ordinary Monsters, The Agony & The Ecstasy, & Skyhunter

2. Me in Tokyo in front of the largest wooden (cypress) torii of the Myōjin style in Japan at the Meiji Jingu Shrine & fireworks set off in Ginowan city on Sunday evening that I saw from my balcony (unrelated to the U.S. Fourth of July holiday, just serendipitous).

Audiobook version was read by the author (naturally). It was terrific companion book to her Netflix special “Nanette”. It gives lots of insight into her family, growing up poor in Tasmania, surviving abuse, and growing up feeling like an outsider (she‘s gay with adhd and on the spectrum). I‘m missing her voice already!

I‘m curious how well known Hannah is outside Australia? I thought she was well known here until this memoir was chosen for book club & a few members had never heard of her.

Hannah is unique, clever & I find her perspective fascinating. Our understanding of Autism in girls/women is burgeoning. This book explored ASD, trauma & Tasmania‘s road to decriminalising homosexuality.

Needed an edit here & there, but overall an excellent read.

Almost finished reading this excellent book club pick. #currentlyreading
I have just commenced two weeks of holidays and as it‘s winter here in Western Australia I‘m hoping to get lots of snuggly reading done 🔥🍷📖🤓👏.

Ten Steps to Nanette is excellent but I‘m glad I watched her two Netflix shows first. I especially appreciate her insights on trauma and how it can affect your life. Still loving the Gaslight murder series.

I made it to 100 pages of French Eating but was not enjoying the experience.

Loving both of my current books.

I will likely finish both kindle books this week. I am going to give French Eating a few more pages before deciding whether or not to continue on. I hate not finishing an #LMPBC choice but I‘m finding the author a bit annoying.

Since MtAoFE wasn‘t holding my attention last night I turned to Netflix and watched both of Hannah Gadsby‘s comedy specials. Thankfully, I watched them in order of release. She‘s smart, funny, brave, insightful. ⬇️

Looking forward to reading this one. Chosen as our next Bookclub read. #currentlyreading

Oof. This was a wildly uncomfortable read. Much like her specials, Hannah very deftly mixes humor and trauma to recount her childhood in Tasmania and experiences as a queer, autistic comedian culminating in the brilliance that is Nanette. This isn‘t your typical “famous, funny person memoir” so proceed carefully. 👍🏼🏳️‍🌈

26/22 It‘s taken a while to write this reviews. I‘m worried I won‘t do it justice. It was raw, courageous, at times funny at others heartbreaking. It deepened my understanding of autism & particularly the experience of ASC girls/women. It gave me greater understanding of my own ASC children. For which I am extremely grateful. It gave me insight into the experience of the Australian LGBTQ community over the last 40 years. It did much more too. 5⭐️

Life has been so wild this week that I didn't manage to post my May wrap-up yesterday. But better late than never! Not a bad month for reading.

Books: 16
Pages: 4,293
Longest: Ten Steps to Nanette (400)
Shortest: Eat the Rich (128)
Women & NB authors: 15
BiPOC authors: 1 (oof not great)
LGBTQ books: 8
Fav(s): Salt to the Sea and Love on the Brain

Growing up in Tasmania, so interesting reading about Autism from someone with Autism.

Earlier this week I read the memoir - and last night I had the chance to see the subject live (and first real public outing in a few years)! Good book. Great show. It‘s been a Hannah Gadsby filled week. 😃 love her.

Excellent and brutally truthful. I loved both Nanette and Douglas, Hannah‘s Netflix specials, and I was glad to get a deeper glimpse at how she got to who she is now.

If you aren‘t familiar with her already I‘d suggest watching her specials first. Heavy content warnings.

Yes, I own the audiobook + the hard copy. And it was brilliant.

Hannah Gadsby‘s story is not an easy one. It‘s full of trauma. More trauma than really any one person should ever have to endure. But her story is one that needs to be read. It‘s a story full of trauma, which is sadly a reality for far too many people, especially neuro-diverse & LBGTQ+ & women.

I recommend first watching Nanette, then reading Ten Steps. Then go watch Douglas.

I listened to Hannah Gadsby read her own work in the audiobook edition of her memoir. She intersperses her personal story—growing up genderqueer and with autism in Tasmania—with facts about the homophobic laws in her state and evolving social change in Australia. Clips from her blockbuster hit Nanette are included. I laughed. I cried. It‘s outstanding. #LGBTQ

My latest Friday Reads includes the tagged book and 8 others:
https://youtu.be/C8fxVNLnuvc

This memoir from Hannah Gadbsy traces the course of her life from growing up in small town Tasmania where homosexuality was illegal until the mid-1990s to her journey toward comedy. She's overcome so much to create this life for herself and it was really remarkable--and heartbreaking-- to read about. I felt it could've been tightened up a bit, but it's a great piece of nonfiction nonetheless. Even inspired me to rewatch Nanette last night.

A smoothie bowl with one of my current reads. I was hoping to finish this one before the end of April, but alas. I do think I'll finish it tonight though. Quite good, if a little long.

#wondrouswednesday on Thursday

I thought I posted this yesterday but 🤷🏼‍♀️

1. Fantasy

2. All the friendships I‘ve made.

3. I can‘t wait to dive into the tagged. I‘ve been saving it for the weekend so I have uninterrupted reading time.

Who else hasn‘t played? Consider yourself tagged.

Oh, Hi!!! I can‘t believe it‘s been a literal month since I‘ve been on most social media platforms (and after making a promise to myself to be more conscientious about posting here, lol, sigh)… it‘s been a busy spring and things are finally calming down. 😄

Two recent book purchases I‘m super excited about (and a new baby cactus cause I‘m basically obsessed with plants these days)

How are y‘all doing? 😘

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ First, watch Gadsby‘s Netflix special “Nanette,” then read this “memoir situation” on growing up in Tasmania where it was illegal to be gay until somewhat recently; on being diagnosed with ASD as an adult; on being an art history major and comedian. Her disdain for Picasso is truly refreshing. Gadsby unpacks significant trauma here and I think many folks will identify. A tough, but absolutely fantastic read! Watch “Douglas” after.

Not that I needed anything new to read, but just look at what came in on my library hold list today. 😍😳🍀 Both of these books are going straight to the top of the #TBR list.🎉🎉😊

Look what my library just got in!

On my hook : a beach skirt for my niece in Catona cotton. No pattern, I'm winging it. #litsycrafters

I downloaded it this morning!

Pressed play so fast

Super excited! 🎉 I loved both Nanette and Douglas. Such an amazing writer and comedian. Although bookshop.org is not yet showing it available for pre-order.

And as an aside, I‘ve never seen a comma used in that date format (Day Month Year) before. I only use a comma when writing the date as March 22, 2022 (Month Day Year). Has anyone else seen a comma in this date format?

If you‘re looking for some great social commentary with humor, I highly recommend Hannah Gadsby. Nanette is her first one and it‘s followed by Douglas. Both available on Netflix.

#pridemonth 🏳️‍🌈

Trigger warnings: sexual abuse