When you’re name checked in someone else’s review of a particular book you’re somewhat obligated to track it down.
“I was a woman sobbing in a hotel corridor, which is kind of incredible, because when I was little I thought I was going to be a senator.”
Jessi Klein was a tom boy growing up, often confused for a budding lesbian, who grew into what she refers to as a “tom man.” As an adult she continues to feel like an outsider looking in on the lives of women she refers to as “poodles.” She eventually channeled her awkwardness into a successful comedy career becoming a writer at SNL and later Inside with Amy Schumer.
My biggest criticism is the non linear time line she employees. At times the only way you can track where she is in her life is by the name of the loser boyfriend she is with at the time. There are a lot of losers.
“I do not intend this in any way to be an advice book, but if there happen to be any young women reading this who have an iota of desire to glean anything from my experience, let it be this: When you encounter a man wearing loafers with no socks, run. I once heard that the late Tim Russert also believed that a sockless man is not to be trusted, which means it is definitely true.”
The title and opening entry is a bit of a misnomer; I felt like she did grow out of the tom boy phase she just didn’t grow out of the “where do I belong” phase. I did like how she touched on some particularly tough topics with a sense of self deprecating humor, especially her infertility troubles.