Louie Anderson (1) (1953–2022)

GOODBYE JUMBO ... HELLO CRUEL WORLD, by Louie Anderson.
I picked up this book at a thrift store a year or more ago. I read it today as I was in between 'real' books. Turns out Anderson's story of his life-long struggles with his weight, self-esteem, and a dysfunctional family - an alcoholic abusive father, a nurturing but enabling mother, and ten siblings - is pretty damn real itself.

It's a slight book as memoirs go, and a quick read; but it does contain some pretty important truths about show more fat people (Anderson uses the 'f' word freely, so I will too), how they got the way they are and how much they often tend to hate themselves. Anderson is trying to work out his own self-hate and transform it into self-love, all the while still struggling with the recent loss of his mother and unresolved issues with his late father. (I have not read his first book, DEAR DAD.)

Here's a sample of how he tries to explain that 'fat and lazy' don't necessarily go together.

"So there's the fallacy. Fat people aren't lazy. It takes immense practice and energy to plan our day, to eat without anyone seeing us, to pretend we aren't hungry, to sneak and cheat without being caught. The truth is, it takes a lot of work to get your weight up to three hundred and fifty pounds and then keep it there."

So yeah, he's a comedian and he's still joking, but yet he's not. He then says: "It also requires a large threshold for pain."

Because while this is a book that appears to be light reading, it's really not. It's a story of a life filled with pain and yearning to be normal, to be loved. By the book's end, Anderson seems to have reached some kind of peace with himself and his family. I wonder if it lasted. The book was published over twenty years ago, but it's still a pretty relevant read, particularly, I suspect for people who, like Louie, are obese and in pain. It seems ironic that so many talented comics and comedians - people like the late Robin Williams - have such a dark, pain-filled interior life. I remember being surprised at how serious Steve Martin's memoir, BORN STANDING UP, turned out to be. Anderson's is too, but it seemed just a bit too pat, or maybe just too short, to pack as strong a punch as it might have. But I'll recommend it. show less

I rate this well because it delivers exactly what it says, a collection of letters written to his deceased mother. These letters help him to remain connected to his mother and deal with his own issues. Nothing earth shattering. It’s not going to change the world and probably not change you. But the letters are kind and sweet and heartfelt.

Entertaining and the story was very familiar. Down to a father that goes to work everyday-gaddamit- to doing the Prizeword Pete puzzle and sending them in on a postcard. Of course, Louie is just a few years older and grew up in St.Paul. I was about half way though and, unless he's written 2 books, I've read this before!