Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded

(audiobook) nonfiction. Well-written, diverse memoir with humor by youtuber (My Drunk Kitchen) and content creator. LGBTQAI interest, mental health awareness--traumatic youth (includes mother with schizophrenia, father is a Jehovah's Witness, violent stepbrother abandonment by loving stepfather). Deals with ongoing depression, self acceptance for being lesbian, diagnosis/treatment for ADHD in 20s, suicide of stepsister, navigating the mental health laws to help get her mother treatedI had no idea who Hannah was when I started this book (from the cover, I guessed some sort of millennial influencer?) so I was more or less blown away from all that she has been through, and all that she was willing to share of her life. Well worth the read show more if you are experiencing or trying to learn more about mental health issues, particularly the last couple chapters (part 6 of the audiobook) especially if you have a loved one with mental health issues that you are concerned about, but even if you don't--I knew that the system was "broken" and didn't work very well, but I had no idea how or why until Hannah explained the roadblocks. show less

This book was NOTHING like I expected it to be. And yet, it was exactly what I needed it to be. I've loved Hannah Hart for a while now. She's a generally amazing person. So I jumped at the chance to read this book and have it my first review for this new feature I'm adding now that summer is done - to share women authors and reviews for them for their soon to be releases.

And I'm happy I chose Hannah's book to start with. For starters, this book's introduction thing is done by none other than Jenny Lawson, who is one of my favourite authors. Funny AND is a huge advocate to get awareness of mental illness out there. I didn't get that connection at first. I just assumed they were friends for being funny ladies.

But Hannah starts this book show more out with a warning. And this is my warning - this book deals heavily with mental illness, neglect, self-harm, ect. Because that's Hannah's true story, the story she hasn't told until now. It runs in her family and in her. Yes, it tells us the things we do know about Hannah - she's gay, she's awesome, she's caring, she's funny. But this book tells us why. It shows and shares her heart.

I don't want to spoil things about this book. I think it's better to go into this book without that, like I did. It leaves a bigger impression in my opinion. But I will say I found it well written and a bit addicting. Hannah's book was the first time I saw my own mental illness actually acknowledged and left me crying. Although she wasn't the one who shares it with me, the way she described it was dead on and left me feeling less alone. Her own struggles also hit home. I related to her more than I thought I ever could. She knows just how to write mental illness without it being harsh. It was a joy to read. And it made Hannah human, not just some Youtube star that seems nice enough, but who knows if she really is. If she's like she is in her own book, I feel like I said bye to a good friend by the end of it. show less

This was a much more intense read than I was expecting, considering the author.
I have watched My drunk kitchen since it began, off and on, and have always found Hannah extremely funny and charming. She is one of the few Youtube stars who has found fame within the Youtube spectrum, and yet remained very down to earth, at least in my opinion.
This book unmasks a very traumatic life, and does so in a very honest and forthcoming way. She does not hold back from sharing very grim, and often disturbing aspects of her childhood living with a mother who is mentally ill and negligent because of that illness.
Though I was not expecting it, I have always appreciated an honest memoir over a sugar coated one. It would have been very easy for Hannah show more to write a memoir about how great her life has become since finding fame with My Drunk Kitchen, and while she included some stories of her life since, the focus was mainly on her life prior to fame, and the immense struggles she overcame.
It was very dark, yet definitely had a triumphant and positive message to it. I think a lot of people, who may struggle with depression, abuse, self doubt, etc. could find a lot of good in Hannah's writing.
What was missing for me was Hannah's wit and humor. There were a few moments of humor and some funny quips thrown in, but for someone who has built a career on being funny, the book was dry, I do understand that the topics she covered were very deep and very personal, but clearly she has used humor in her life to help her heal and stay strong. Why not include more in her book?
Still, for me, this memoir was very brave, and extremely honest. She allowed us into a part of her life that many people would rather hide. It endears me to her more, knowing she overcame what she did and has found such success despite her upbringing and her personal emotional battles. A solid memoir, worth reading! show less

Confession: until I heard Hannah Hart talking about her book on NPR (one of my key sources for finding worthy tomes), I don't recall hearing about the author or her "My Drunk Kitchen" phenomenon. The radio interview intrigued me. The book fell a bit short of my expectations. Don't get me wrong: it contains some fascinating insights about mental illness, the social services system, coping with dysfunctional families and coming out. When the author is focusing with precision on these important issues, the book works. But for my tastes, the work tended to meander a bit too much. True, anecdotes can help make weighty topics "real" to a wide audience. But tales about tattoos, harrowing plane rides, monks and other topics that could be show more effective nuggets if presented in more abbreviated forms become distractions. Some sections almost like felt like literary padding that was used to achieve book-length parameters. Having said that, "Buffering" offers a valuable glimpse of issues that deserve more attention. Hart is clearly a talented communicator whose authentic voice does justice to showcasing important challenges facing society. show less

This is a review I did for an Army website. Hey, soldiers (and their families) have feelings too - who knew?

Hannah Hart lurched onto the public stage via Youtube. Don't stop reading.

She did a one off badly lit but amusing video called 'My Drunk Kitchen' after relocating to NYC from the West Coast , to help her distant sister to 'cheer the **** up'

To her surprise, a lot of people liked it, asked her for more. My 25 year old son sent me a link- it made me giggle. I watched a few more.

Ten years later she's a new type of commentator, using her YouTube channel for a diversity of stuff. [ LINK if you want to ] Don't stop reading.

Her second book ' Buffering ' explores some of her background and how she came to find her show more voice.

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Number 1 - Hannah is gay. For most of us on [this Army board] - that's neither here nor there, kind of like saying ' the bloke's quite tall' . For anyone who has an issue, don't read this book. For Hannah, coming to terms with her own sexuality was quite a lengthy process, and this book touches on that story, but not as a central issue.

Number 2 - Hannah is a Californian. If that's an issue - don't read this book. The fact that she's a funny, sassy,sexy, striking twenty something frankly does not hurt.

Number 3 - 'Buffering' outlines how this sparky,humourous hotty from a neglected background came,by some weird twist of fate, to be on film,TV and the Web.

Of particular relevance, I think, to the [Army board] audience is the way she describes trying to cope (and mostly failing) with mental health issues, firstly in her mother and secondly in her self.

Her single parent mum was eventually sectioned, leaving Hannah try and raise two younger sisters. It describes that scarring moment when she realises that to save her much loved half- sister from the childhood she herself has had, Hannah must put her in a place of safety. Adopted by a family friend and brought up separately.

This book is outside the normal remit of [Army board] reading. The only mention of soldiering is her step-dad who had served in Iraq and was still National Guard when he got involved with Hannah's Ma.

He comes across as a positive influence, a good man out of his depth.

Growing up , Hannah was skint. She talks about going to school in jeans she'd worn all week (and slept in). There wasn't much food in the house. MRE's were an exotic treat from her step-dad ( 'I loved the little bottles of Tabasco' )

If you don't like Americans - don't read this book, it will simply reinforce that view.

If you don't like Millennials - and have nothing but contempt for their values - don't read this book.

If you have issues with folk who are unsure of stuff in their lives - don't read this book.

The key message, for me, of this brave and unflinching account is the idea that events in your life can be overwhelming. For the best of us.

Hannah's only message: It's okay to give yourself space to process those things.

Just as when you load a video, no matter how good your web speed, that ol' 'Buffering' wheel appears....

Not everybody's cup of lemon tea ( or in Hannah's case Bourbon,vodka or Merlot) but worth ten minutes of any human being's time.

Four stars from me. Disagree by all means. But first, you'll need to get a copy :) Surprise your children - but be warned.

Marmite for [this Army board] - love it or hate it. show less

A powerful autobiography from one of Youtube's millennial vloggers. Hannah Hart rocketed to fame when she posted her first "My Drunk Kitchen" video where she got drunk and cooked, making puns and giggling at her inability to do most of the cooking correctly. While she certainly seems all rainbows and sunshine, a beacon to self love, embracing your uniqueness, and an unapologetic lesbian her upbringing was less than what most would call "normal".

She grew up with a mother with schizophrenia and a father who was a Jehovah Witness pastor making her grow up a lot faster at her mom's place through necessity to care for herself and her sister and struggling to come to terms with her sexuality while at her father's place. This incredibly show more moving tale tells the story of one young woman's refusal to give up and her mission to continue to practice reckless optimism. show less

I could not believe how much I did not know about Hannah Hart before this book. I enjoyed following Hannah on this journey as she talked about her life and what led her to creating "My Drunk Kitchen". I have so much respect for her, more than before really. She's such an inspiration and after finishing this I now want to do whatever I can to help those in situations similar to hers and her mothers. Beautifully written and emotional, even if you aren't a youtube type person you will enjoy this memior of a woman looking back on her life and seeing how far she's come!