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Book Review: Lies My Mother Told Me: Tall Tales From A Short Woman by Melissa Rivers

By georgelthomas on 18 Oct 2024 • ( 0 )

Hi everyone! How are you all? Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing Melissa Rivers’ Lies My Mother Told Me: Tall Tales From A Short Woman.

What It’s About
The book is a lovely retelling of some stories from Joan Rivers’ life, told with a satirical slant from the perspective of her daughter, Melissa.

Writing Style
Melissa’s style is witty and conversational. She has a talent for capturing her mother’s unique voice and sense of humour, and her ability to string these hilarious anecdotes and jokes together cohesively is fantastic.

One of the standout features of “Lies My Mother Told Me” is Melissa’s ability to inject humour and sincerity into this collection of memories. Her wit and charm shine through in every chapter, providing readers with a point of view from the other side of the stage; before, we’ve only heard Joan’s side of these stories, and this turning of the tables lends a new dynamic to Joan’s shows.

In addition to exploring her own comedic style in these satirical and probably revisionistic memories, Melissa delves into broader themes such as family dynamics, self-discovery, and resilience. It can’t have been easy growing up being Joan’s daughter, especially with the added trauma of her father choosing to end his life. I can’t even begin to guess how hard that must have been for both of them; how can you ever feel like laughing again?

It’s also worth mentioning that “Lies My Mother Told Me” not only celebrates the legacy of Joan Rivers but also serves as a tribute to their unbreakable bond despite the ups and downs they faced. As Melissa takes us through some of the funniest bits of her life while honouring her mother’s memory, she reminds us of the power of love and resilience in overcoming trauma. This memoir(ish) serves as an ode to family ties that transcend time and space.

Final Thoughts
I loved Joan Rivers. Her comedy got me through a lot growing up and even more through early adulthood. I don’t laugh out loud at many things, but if I watch a Joan Rivers stand-up show or read one of her books, I definitely will. She’s still a big miss ten years later.

If you loved Joan, then you are bound to love this book.

I’m giving Lies My Mother Told Me a 9/10.

Have you read the book? What do you think?

Thank you, as always, for stopping by to read my review.

Until next time,

George