By Megan Thomas
I started listening to the audiobook of Samantha Irby’s Meaty almost immediately after finishing her audiobook of Wow, No Thank You (with a small pallet cleanser between), because not only is it constructed in a way that is easy to stop and start (the only time I listen to audiobooks is when on the move), but also because she narrates it brilliantly. I love it when authors narrate their own books, it’s an extra layer of intimacy and a real treat.
As is often the case when reviewing essay collections – or any anthology for that matter, both poetry or short stories – it is hard to give too much plot-driven commentary. But given that these are non-fiction lifestyle essays, I can say that they cover the universally relatable topics of dealing with societal expectations, love lessons, embarrassing moments, awkward childhoods… as well as more personal but equally engaging topics such as how she goes about living with Crohn’s disease.
Meaty came first and I think that Wow, No Thank You was slightly more refined, but in a way that makes Meaty more authentic. Either way, almost every sentence that comes out of Irby’s mouth/pen is hilarious, graphic and so self-deprecating that it’s almost disconcerting (but only almost).
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