6 reviews for Unladlylike : A Memoir
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Unladlylike : A Memoir
by Radhika Vaz
Description:
Unladylike is a memoir that spans four decades of the author’s life. From stories about a childhood spent wishing she could change everything about her life (including her parents), to her chronically delayed puberty, and the self-esteem issues that accompany a flat chest, Vaz doesn’t pull any punches. She takes us through her college years, where under the vigilance of Catholic nuns she grappled with a major decision to have or not have pre-marital sex as well as the discovery that the female body is capable of some very strange sounds at very inappropriate times. Out of respect for various ex-boyfriends, she will dwell on just one man her wheat-eating, milk-drinking Jat husband. From their extra long courtship (that he didn’t tell his mother about), to their wedding day and beyond, there are lessons for every girl who has ever thought one day I’d like to be married’. The lesson is: Don’t say you weren’t warned’.
About The Author
Radhika Vaz is a comedian who has trained with members of the prestigious Groundlings School in Los Angeles, as well as at the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Magnet Theatre in New York city. Her first one-woman showUnladylike: The Pitfalls of Propriety’ has played to sold-out audiences in New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai, New Delhi, Gurgaon and Bangalore and she has been performing her second showOlder. Angrier. Hairier’ since July 2013. She is a freelance writer and has written for Chicken Soup for The Indian Couples’ Soul. She has a fortnightly column,Read it and weep’, which appears in the Times of India.
Skryf Review
“Excellent Reading”
Tisha
I’ve known female comedians very vaguely in my life. I watch them and move on to the next funny video suggestion on youtube, I’ve never really paid attention to their names or the fact that they were female. One woman in particular comes to mind, she compared herself to Mr.Burns coming out of the shower in the morning. But like I said, I forget names. (If you know who she is please do tell me).The first female comedian I watched, apart from those in films, was Aditi Mittal and her period jokes. I adore that woman and while I don’t get half the jokes because it’s in Hindi, what I could understand was hilarious. What I love about Radhika Vaz is that she does everything in English. Which is a great uniting factor in a country that’s divided by language. The book itself is hilarious. Not in a haha way but in a “Hey, I’ve done a lot of this things, this is hilarious.” way.The story explores her life in a very light manner, a brief manner, and highlights whatever she thinks shaped her to be whom she is today. Starting with a feeling of not belonging anywhere and ending with her baby woes, this is sort of an everywoman’s story. Only thing is the person who wrote it stands in front of a bunch of people on stage and makes them laugh.The chapter where she tried to find out where she belongs after feeling immensely jealous of her Punjabi friend was particularly relatable because I always feel like I don’t belong anywhere. Malayali friends making malayali jokes, Tamil friends with their super fandom and Hindi friends with their……hindiness and I fail to connect with any of them.
Jasmine
A book that takes you inside the mind of the most irreverent comedienne in India. Radhika has an innate ability to turn any uncomfortable memory into a hilarious episode. I love her sense of humor and the potty mouth deliveries that fly like zingers on stage and throughout the book. Pick up the book before a flight and you won’t even notice the cramped leg space and tasteless airplane food. A breezy narrative that leaves you with a smile every time you turn a page.
Hiten
Feminist women generally scare me. To me they are just pricks who’ve found a good enough excuse to justify their overly high sense of entitlement. So when I was told that Vaz is a feminist, reading her memoir was not something I was really looking forward to. But then I was also told that she is a stand-up comedian, so why not?Right from her weird parents, wanna-be childhood, workplace annoyances and dreamy dreamy fantasies to her love life insecurities and her vagina farts (seriously?), Vaz writes candidly about everything her life is. And the element of laid back self-depreciating humor just makes it better. At times it gets annoying though. But that’s just a thing about candid writing. It tends to turn annoying when it doesn’t conform. Vaz seems to be person full of life so it’s definitely worth a read.
pankti
Apart from being outrageously hilarious and incredibly bold, ‘Unladylike’ is indeed that, but an honest portrayal of a girl’s growing up years by a lady who has the guts to talk about things thus far confined to the ladies toilet. Her sense of humor, witticism, and unique style deserve nothing short of a standing ovation. I would read it a second…and perhaps a third time, for the sheer joy of her diction and style.However, the later half, in my humble opinion, lacked that punch. The author could afford to have been a little more economical in covering that part. Nonetheless, it is one book without which a bookshelf would look poorer. Although I read it on my Kindle, I’m ordering the print version straightaway instead of wasting my money on a lot of trash. I wish I could give it ten stars.
Shrawan
Relatable, uncomplicated and inspiring – and other such nice words come to the mind. Met Radhika (rather admired her from a respectable distance) on woman’s day ’16, when we were lucky enough to have her at our office. Honestly, bought the book only because I loved her show so much. And thank god I did. Gonna recommend this one to all the ladies 🙂