Misfit

July 3, 2023
In this winsome memoir, stand-up comedian Gulman (The Great Depresh) shares a self-deprecating account of his 1980s childhood, prompted by his move home as an adult. In 2017, Gulman left New York City for his mother’s house in Massachusetts following a sharp decline in his mental health. Once there, he encountered copious reminders of his bygone school years, which he recounts chronologically—and with impressive sharpness—in the book’s main chapters. Most of the anecdotes are hilarious, as when he’s astonished on the first day of kindergarten after the school bus door opens to reveal that “the driver was nowhere near the door! What is this sorcery?” Others are sadder, as when he’s forced to repeat first grade with a tyrannical teacher who bullies him and stifles his love of reading over a lost library book. Throughout, Gulman alternates his recollections with brief present-tense updates about the status of his adult depression. These can feel aimless and inconsequential beside the more vivid childhood sections, but they give the narrative shape and help Gulman pull off a moving conclusion. Funny and poignant, this will satisfy adrift adults looking to reconnect with their inner child. Agent: Brian Stern, AGI Entertainment.

Starred review from June 10, 2024

Stand-up comedian Gulman (The Great Depresh) proves that he ended up in the right profession with this poignant, funny memoir detailing his '80s childhood from kindergarten through 12th grade. He candidly shares his struggles with mental health, which led to the writing of this book. In 2017, at the age of 46, he returned to his mother's home to escape the stress of New York and seek treatment for thoughts of dying by suicide. The setting kicked off a trip down memory lane, including grade-school adventures, relationships with family, and his impressive switch from high school basketball player to football star. He is as talented an audiobook narrator as he is a comedian. His narration brings each story to life, and he imparts his bumbling adventures with honesty and heart. Though he speaks in a conversational style, his elegance as a performer is evident, taking this audio to a new level. Listeners will hang on every tale and will likely relate to many of the emotions and worries he describes. VERDICT Gulman's profession as a performer translates into an excellent audiobook. This is unmissable and highly recommended for all audio memoir collections.--Christa Van Herreweghe

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