Bedwetter

Sarah Silverman is a Manchester NH native.  Living currently in NH, it is fun to read about someone famous who had their start here.  Also knowing the places she mentions in her book gives you a feeling of closeness to the author.

Silverman has made her career in comedy based on a outspokenness to say, it seems, anything that comes into her head.  Reading the book  makes me feel like maybe I understand her a little bit better.
She grew up with a father who freely uses unpleasant language.  It was acceptable in the house and she found out from a very young age, that if when she said something unpleasant it got laughs.

Silverman writes about her personal embarrassment with bed wetting as a child.  She has made it a large part of her comedy routine.  What I wonder, because as I have mentioned before, I have toyed with the idea of writing a memoir about my life and have though about all the people I would mention and the personal situations that would come to light for strangers to read and had second thoughts about sharing those private moments, I wonder, does using comedy make sharing all these personal encounters and intimate experiences an easier way to share them with strangers?

Not being quite sure how much of what Silverman writes in the book is fact or embellishment of her real life, she says that she knew when she was very young that she wanted a life in comedy.  When asked by a third grade teacher what she wanted to be when she grew up, she writes, "A comedian, an actor or masseuse."

Also long with bed wetting, Silverman talks quite a bit about years of drug use.  The one pearl of wisdom that I really came away from this book with was a conversation she describes having with her friend, Kerry, from high school.  Kerry had gone off to Howard College and was visiting Sarah at NYU their freshman year.  When Sarah offers her some drugs Kerry explains that her new mantra is "Make It a Treat".

Silverman explains it with a few examples which a clever, like only wearing make-up for special occasions so it stands out when you do.  She writes, "'Make It a Treat' is similar in spirit to 'everything in moderation', but still very distinct.  'Moderation' suggests a regular. low-level intake of something.  MIAT asks for more austerity; it encourages you to keep the special things in life special."

So in a sea of crudeness and personal sadness, I  found MIAT the most uplifting and positive point in the book.  I am glad Sarah has made a successful career and seems to have found some happiness.  It is hard to know while reading the book how much is embellished for the comedic effect and how much is honest truth.  But it all makes for interesting reading.