Like Bridgerton #1, I read this book back in February and – in an effort to get out of a blogging (and general life) funk – I thought I’d share my thoughts on it (if I get back into the blogging rhythm, getting back into life rhythm will surely follow, right?).
I really caught the non-fiction reading bug last year and I was more than happy for this book, The Audacity, to be my first one of 2022. I’m a big fan of Katherine Ryan’s sassy, no-nonsense stand up so I picked her book up on a whim and, in short, I’m glad I did.
Blurb
From the star of the hit Netflix series The Duchess comes a brilliantly funny, fiercely honest, and dangerously astute handbook of life instruction.
“I’ve come to accept that being audacious is a gift I can’t escape.”
People “know” my on-stage comedy persona or my scripted ballsy characters and wrongly assume that I must stomp around all day in designer dresses eviscerating those who dare to cross my path. But mostly, I’m just sat eating pickles and being nice to some dogs.
Whatever strangers think of me is fine with me. How audacious is that? I can always take a joke, I don’t waste time worrying about things I can’t control. I embrace the reality that you just can’t please everyone, so you might as well put yourself out there and have a laugh. As my mother always said, “Katherine, if we all liked the same thing, we’d all be married to your father.”
I’m often asked how I developed my lurid level of courage and assurance and for tips on how others can match. The Audacity is my chance to share my blueprint for just that. You will learn:
• How To Be the Most Popular Girl in School
• How to Waste All Your Money on Designer Dogs
• How To Attract Toxic Men… AND Keep Them Interested!
And so much more…
Secrets are my favourite things to be told and I figured I’d better tell a few juicy ones myself, too. Why not? No matter what I do, there will always be something about me that reads as simply, outrageously audacious.
My Thoughts
As with most books-by-celebrities, we think we know it all but — over the course of the narrative —- we are proven wrong and this was definitely the case with Katherine Ryan following my read of her book, The Audacity.
The Audacity is, for the most part, a race through Ryan’s humble beginnings in Canada and all of the moments that led her to the U.K. , to stand-up-comedy and to marriage and motherhood.
Ryan’s voice in her book is very much like her comedy, witty, sassy and unapologetic. She looks back at her life with a sense of humour, a sense of fun but also an impressive level of hindsight. I expected this from Ryan but there was also an insight and an honesty around sensitive topics I didn’t expect.
The Audacity was exactly what I needed to read when I picked it up. There’s a sense of humour, a wit and wisdom throughout. This might be Ryan’s story but it’s a reminder to us all we’re human, we do cool stuff but we also do less cool stuff (and we should definitely check our plastic surgeons and where we get our pets!).
You can follow Katherine Ryan on Instagram and Twitter.
You can buy this book here.
Jen Rose Writes🌹 