Real Time ReView: Hello, Molly by Molly Shannon
It is absolutely not an understatement for me to say that I am a Molly Shannon superfan. Molly has always been a light in my life, and an inspiration and source of joy in some dark personal times. This is why I was THRILLED to pick up her memoir, Hello, Molly and as a fan, it did not disappoint. Molly has written a memoir that is all of the things: heartbreaking, hilarious, enlightening, fascinating, visceral and life-affirming.
I thought I knew everything there was to know about Molly, but her beautiful vulnerability is on full display throughout Hello, Molly, telling new and enlightening stories that add wonderful depth to her journey. Through the highs and lows of her life, Molly writes frankly about her experiences with her family, her love life and her career.
I so appreciated how raw and honest she was about some of the most complicated parts of her life and what made her the person she is today. I was sometimes taken aback by her candor and bravery in telling her story; its clear each story was perfectly curated, with all the defining moments of her life being shared in honest detail.
One of the reasons I have always looked up to Molly is the way that she exudes joy and love through her performances, and in real life. Learning more about Molly’s experiences, especially the tough ones, I admire Molly even more. I’ve learned she has always played her characters from a place of truth and reality (even including the dark places), and it’s clear that that is also the way she lives her life. Hello, Molly, just like Molly and the characters she creates, is always true but never missing that beautiful light and joy.
From her tumultuous childhood to being a struggling actress to SNL to finding the love she longed for and creating her own family, Molly's story is an all-encompassing journey highlighting one of our generation's greatest comedic talents.
If you can, do yourself a favor and listen to this book on audiobook. I own the physical copy (which is worth it for the nostalgic photos), but I was so happy and glad to have listened to the audiobook with my husband. While the book is written in Molly’s voice, hearing her read it is a magical and vivid experience full of pain, laughter and, always, joy.
Growing up watching Molly, I always felt a kinship with her and that, even though she didn't know me, I felt like she was a friend. I feel this even more so now, and after reading Hello, Molly, I think you will too.
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