by Carmen J.

Behind the laughter of most comics is a big bag of pain. Laughter, the ultimate defense mechanism, is a way for them to commiserate with their audience. Let me help you forget your pain for even just a few minutes. Let’s laugh at the world’s absurdity. I will take you there. Leslie Jones takes you along for a wildly candid, gritty, and funny ride in her memoir, Leslie F*cking Jones, available in print and OverDrive formats (e-book and e-audiobook).

I devoured this book over one weekend, not only because I’ve enjoyed her work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and on Supermarket Sweep (!). In 268 well-crafted pages, we are taken on a journey through her childhood (and some truly sad tales of abuse, alcoholism, and chronic family illness) to her rise on the comedy scene (from the early auditions and late-night sets to the hard-fought stand-up crowds). Despite the poignant accounts of her difficult relationships with her father, brother, and the occasional ex-friend and former roommate, there is always a lesson with every anecdote. And you will root for Leslie Jones until the final page.

She’s Leslie F*cking Jones, just like the title says. Read her book. Have fun requesting it over the phone; you may want to reserve yours online.

If you want to see her in action, enjoy this clip of “Black Jeopardy” from SNL that included the beloved late Chadwick Boseman.

Carmen J. is a teen instructor at HCLS East Columbia Branch. Among her favorite things are great books, all things 80s, shamelessly watching The Bachelor, gardening, and drinking anything that tastes like coffee.