If I did this over, I would have listened to the audiobook version. I think I would have found it more effective in that format due to Mara's ties to the storytelling community and how the book was developed. So if you have this on your TBR pile, that's my recommendation. ( )

I really enjoyed this, learning more about Mara Wilson and her life. Like others of my generation, I watched her movies as a kid, but never knew much else about her. It was interesting to get this glimpse into her life, and especially since she's only a few months younger than I am, it was cool to get her perspective on things that I remember from my childhood/teen years. If you're going to read this, I really recommend the audiobook, because she narrates it herself. ( )

So here's something you may not know about me: I was never a famous movie star when I was a kid. I know, shocking, right? I did not play any cute girl in any movies, and I understand if that's unbelievable but it's true. Mara Wilson, however, did.

You'd think that would make her life different from mine in every aspect, but no, actually, what I really enjoyed about this book was how relatable she is. She does a great job of describing her fears and anxieties, and how they have haunted her for most of her life. I think most people can relate to that, even if our anxieties don't run as deep as hers.

The book also has some sad moments, concerning her mother's and Robin William's deaths, but they are really well-written and heart-wrenching. I also really enjoyed reading about her relationship with her sister, even if I've got a pretty good relationship with my little sister, that part made me envy Mara and Anna. Skyping while doing mundane stuff like baking or painting your nails sounds lovely.

I had some trouble keeping up with the timeline and with what was going on in show choir and stuff. I'm not familiar enough with that part of US culture, it would seem (I mean, I never did watch Glee). Even so, a very good read about a former (sorta) actress that I think most people my age remember from our childhoods. ( )

Picked this up because I loved Matilda and liked Mara when she was a guest of Lindsay Ellis for some Chez Apocalypse episodes.

A very smart and funny voice ~even though I didn't laugh or chuckle once. I cried, however and was moved, especially when she described her OCD.

Felt a bit sad to listen to her refer to herself as straight -since she came out as a fellow bisexual after the Orlando massacre.

Listened to the audiobook at 1.5 speed because she talks frustratingly slow.

Would recommend ( )

I started following Mara on Twitter after reading a Cracked article of hers. I was curious about her memoir, and disappointed that I was the two hundredth person waiting for it at the library. When it finally came in, at first, I wasn't sure to think of the first pages. Like so many others, I knew her as the kid who played Matilda, as the littlest kid in Mrs Doubtfire, and once she called into Radio Disney to do an interview and I hung onto every word. I didn't know anything about her outside of that until the Cracked article, and even then, I was surprised at first. We had a lot in common but on wildly different levels--both child performers and in choir, were the levels I related to her most on. We have a ton of other stuff in common, which I wasn't expecting the first time, so it really freaked me out and I took much longer to finish this, then. The second time, I was prepared for it. I was never famous at all, but I was asked to audition for a few children's TV shows based on my theater talent as a kid. I didn't make it into any, and was more than happy to stay with the theater company until I aged out. I sang well and people kept asking me to do jazz choir, which at our school meant 'advanced' but I refused. I had the theater company, and knew rehearsals would conflict, and was too embarrassed to admit I couldn't sight read, despite being a section leader and having done musical theater since I was a kid. Plus the jazz choir was -begging- people to join and their advertisements were cognitively dissonant to the real thing, and stupid. Musical theater was much more competitive, and I basically wanted to be a big fish in a little pond. Onward. So, Wilson talking about her high school years resonated strongly with me both times.
The way this was written was creative--swinging between humor, tragedy, and embarrassment every other chapter. It was relatable in a lot of ways. I reread it because I wanted to learn if I could read it again and not have as strong of emotions as originally. It's still a memoir I often recommend to others and still a five-star read. ( )