I think most of us know Retta from Parks and Rec, where she played Donna Meagle and was part of the TREAT YO SELF phenomenon of 2011. I also knew she loved the LA Kings and Hamilton, but really didn’t know much else about her before listening to her audiobook.
Now I know a lot about her…but I still don’t really feel like I know her. RETTA, WHO ARE YOU?
You love handbags. You love your hardworking, immigrant parents. You love Duke University. You are super smart. You love dark roast coffee made in a Keurig. You love to tweet.
You hate weddings. You hate when fans come up and show TREAT YO SELF in your face. You hate flying coach.
Your anecdotes are fun, and your narration is wonderful. But I still don’t know you as much as I thought I would.
I enjoyed listening to Retta talk about getting her job on Parks and Rec and spending time with Jim O’Heir (Jerry), about loving working with Amy Poehler, and getting drunk in front of Robert Redford. These stories were entertaining and fun.
What I disliked was the super long chapters about the preferential treatment that being a celebrity got her when she decided to become a fan of Hamilton and the Los Angeles Kings. I understand that she works hard and deserves her success and any perks that may come along with that, but these chapters were tough to listen to.
But Retta is a wonderful narrator and I enjoyed more than I disliked. If you are looking for something light and breezy, this might work for you. If you are looking for an in-depth memoir, keep looking.
CBR10 Bingo: Brain Candy. Sometimes, celebrity stories after a long work week are just what I need.