April 1, 2022
In this series of self-deprecatingly humorous personal essays, actress Rajskub, best known for her roles on the TV series 24 and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, explores what it's like to be almost-famous. Not all actors enjoy lives of glitz and glam, Rajskub reveals--indeed, she discusses doing her own laundry and showing up at an event in a discounted skirt from Ross Dress for Less. Her essays tackle her stint at Denny's (waiting on others turns out to be good training for actors because they will be doing a lot of it as they await their big break); her stand-up comedy; the horrors of auditioning (don't go drunk, she cautions readers); and the question fans ask most: What was it like working with Kiefer Sutherland? (Intimidating.) Rajskub also dishes about Gary Shandling (on the set of The Larry Sanders Show, he paused the cameras to give her an acting lesson), Tom Cruise (she made out with him in Magnolia, but the scene was cut from the film), and Harrison Ford ("funny and gruff but kind of humble"). Rajskub's advice to young actors and comics starting out? "Perform as much as possible." VERDICT Aspiring actors and fans of 24 and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will enjoy Rajskub's humor, words of wisdom, and down-to-earth tone.--Rosellen "Rosy" Brewer
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April 15, 2022
An actor and comedian pens a series of tongue-in-cheek personal essays on how "fifty years of living" have transformed her into "a real person with insights and a certain perspective on the world." Rajskub grew up in a Michigan town so small that for a time she dreamed of becoming a trucker to escape it. Until she left, she was worried that she would do nothing more in life than "marry [her] high school sweetheart and work at Olive Garden." The one place she felt happiest was drama class, which gave her room to express emotions she was unable to experience in a world that often made her feel "invisible." Emboldened by her limited theatrical experiences, Rajskub left for Los Angeles. There, her gutsiness as a performer eventually landed her parts in sitcoms like NewsRadio and Over the Top. A small role as Adam Sandler's sister in Punch-Drunk Love led to a stint opposite Kiefer Sutherland on the popular TV series 24. That role earned Rajskub widespread recognition and the chance to work on other projects like Little Miss Sunshine. She spent her modest wealth on everything from expensive cars to a "women's commune" mansion she shared with two lesbian friends. Yet for all the success the author found in her many film, TV, and stand-up appearances, it seemed like she could do no more than rub shoulders with megawatt Hollywood stars, some of whom rejected her on celebrity dating apps. So she settled for the kind of recognition that included seeing her face 10 years after the show ended "on the side of a 24-themed pinball machine" and maternity ward nurses telling her to call Sutherland's character Jack Bauer for help. This funny, quirky account of a small-town girl's rise to something like fame will appeal to both Rajskub fans and readers with a penchant for dryly comedic memoirs. Light, entertaining reading.
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May 1, 2022
Rajskub may not be a household name, but you have probably seen her in one of her many film and television roles, most notably as Chloe O'Brian, the loyal, techy colleague to Jack Bauer in 24. In this memoir, Rajskub relates her strange and wandering path to being ""fame-ish,"" from her young adulthood and art-school days to her time as a performance artist to finally finding herself in her career as an actor and comedian. While not necessarily painting herself as relatable (like that time she bought a mansion in a failed attempt to start a women's commune), Rajskub's antics make for entertaining reading. She offers plenty of Hollywood insights--like the time she was tested opposite Harrison Ford in front of casting to see if she would freak out around him--that will delight fans. Rajskub may be a comedian, but you can tell she takes her work seriously, whether that's making out with Tom Cruise or writing this book. A great read for any comedy or TV fan.
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