Miranda HartReviews

Best for:
Those who have been going through some things and are looking for some sweet advice delivered by a lovely writer.

In a nutshell:
Writer and actor Hart updates her story by sharing her struggles with chronic illness, and what she’s found to be helpful in not just facing those challenges but in thriving as a person.

Worth quoting:
There’s a lot of wisdom in this book, and I wish I had a physical copy to follow along, but alas I didn’t write down any quotes while reading.

Why I chose it:
I somewhat enjoyed her previous book, and had heard this one was interesting. I didn’t quite know it wouldn’t be as traditional a memoir as expected, but I still enjoyed it.

Review:
Finishing this on the day the 45th US President was re-elected, Grover Cleveland-style, seemed appropriate. I didn’t know how soon I’d need her suggestions and positivity (the not-toxic kind).

Hart is an actress folks would know from her show Miranda, or from her role as Chummy on Call the Midwife, or most likely, from her role as Melissa McCarthy’s coworker ‘Amber Valentine’ in the movie Spy. You might have wondered why she seemed to disappear after such a successful role, and she answers that here.

For pretty much her entire adult life, Hart has had health issues, at times not being able to leave her home. She eventually shares her diagnosis, but the focus is on the things she’s learned and sought out to help deal with the frustration and exhaustion that came with her illness. For the book, she calls these her ten ‘treasures,’ and they are sort of what you might expect to find in a self-help book, but she shares them in a relateable way, with her trademark kind sense of humor.

There are a lot of great nuggets of wisdom she shares, pulled from lots of her own reading of a whole lot of ‘ists’ (like psychologists, therapists, etc.). One that really stuck out for me is something I am so often guilty of doing - going out for plans that I don’t want to do, and thinking ‘I’ll just pop in for a few then leave.’ And I love the way she frames that - about how unkind it is to treat spending time with others that way. Either go enthusiastically, or be honest that you don’t have the energy and don’t go. That might not work for others, but it really hit home for me.

There are lots of little bits that I think a lot of folks would benefit from hearing. It’s not groundbreaking, but its shared in a really accessible. Frankly, the book feels like a warm hug.

What’s next for this book:
I might purchase a physical copy to read over again and take some notes in.

I loved this book the first time I listened to it and the last 8 years have proved it doesn't matter how many times I re-listen to the whole thing or parts I will never not love this book. It speaks to the deeps in my soul. While listening I ponder, cry with laughing and generally have an incredible time.
Reading or listening to this are both great, but I do recommend listening as it makes it even funnier.

I really enjoyed this book, my reading level (of books) was pretty bad last year, it didn't actually take over 12 months to read it. I began reading it in January 2021 and read for a few days and then picked it back up during January 22.

I loved the fact that although the book was so much more than a book about Miranda and Peggy in fact, an exploration of mental health, self-worth and the massive benefits that adopting a dog can bring to both.

It is wonderful when it is in your face obvious that there has been no ghostwriter involved with a celebrity book, Miranda's voice literally rings in your ears throughout.

Wasn't as funny as I'd hoped it to be, and found it slightly uncomfortable to read in places. However parts were also very humorous, so overall a good read

Best for:
People looking for a gentle, sweet, memoir with some nice little life lessons and a few chuckles.

In a nutshell:
Actress and comedian Hart shares stories and lessons of her life through the mechanism of talking to her younger self.

Worth quoting:
N/A (Audiobook)

Why I chose it:
Hart always struck me as a kind and fun woman. Plus, as a fellow very tall woman, I appreciate that she’s been able to make a career in film and television.

Review:
I first became aware of Hart when she played in Spy with Melissa McCarthy. She made me laugh a lot, and I was surprised when she showed up in Call the Midwife, which I started watching from the beginning after I moved to the UK. When this book showed up as a suggestion in Audible, I figured I’d check it out.

I listened to this in two parts, with a two month break in between, so I’m afraid my recall of the first half is a bit limited. However I can speak to the overall feel of this book, and it’s that of drinking a hot chocolate while cuddled up on the couch on a Sunday afternoon. It’s not offensive (save for some outdated language that I’d imagine she would have revised were she writing this today) - it’s just sweet. It’s encouraging and supportive, and also self-deprecating in a way that feels authentic.

The rhetorical device Hart employs (which works quite well in audio form) is that she’s sharing tips and stories with her 18-year-old self, while talking to us, the reader. She is 38 at the time of writing this, and has some suggestions. It’s a simple concept, but at times it’s a bit deep, as she captures well the assumptions our younger selves make and how that doesn’t often match reality. And that isn’t sad or anything, it’s just … different. It’s most stark when ‘Little M’ (e.g. 18-year-old Miranda) make some assumptions that author Miranda is married and has children. Which she isn’t and doesn’t. And that’s not a bad thing for older Miranda, but it doesn’t fit what Little M expects.

It got me thinking about what those of us who are creeping closer to middle age would say to our younger selves. What expectations did we have? What dreams did we let go of because it made sense to, or our interests changes? Conversely, which dreams did we let go of that we could perhaps pick up again? What’s changed? What mortifying or hilarious events in our youth do we view differently now, with some time, space, and a bit more wisdom? I’m not sure Hart imagined her book would invoke such thoughts, but maybe she did. If so, job well done!

Recommend to a Friend / Keep / Donate it / Toss it:
N/A (Audiobook)

Unfinished - did not enjoy the conversational style or the way in which the content was discussed.

She writes like she's talking to you, but not in a good way. It's full of digressions and, frankly, I couldn't continue reading. It had great potential because of the themes, but in my opinion she's just not a good writer.

I love Miranda Hart and this book was amazing. It was hilarious and really truly made me laugh so much. If you ever get the chance to read this book, do please, because if you don't you are missing out. I hope that I get to read more books like this and that they will bring me as much joy as this book did.

(This review can also be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).

If you live in the UK, then you most definitely have heard of the comedienne Miranda Hart. If you live elsewhere, there's a slim chance you may have heard of her. If you've not heard of Miranda Hart, you should look her up on YouTube as she is hilarious! Her book is also super funny, and I definitely enjoyed it!

In her book, Is It Just Me?, Miranda Hart asks her readers if they've done the embarrassing things that she's done or is it just her. She speaks to her 18 year old self, and also gives us insight into some embarrassing stories. Along the way, she gives us tips in order to have fun in life and to get through life.

I think the title of this book sums it up perfectly!! Miranda is constantly asking her reader chum if it is just her that a specific thing has happened to.

The photo of Miranda Hart on the front cover made me laugh out loud! I lover her perplexed look!! I also love the photo of Miranda on the back of the book as well as she's seen to have just fallen down, and those of us who know Miranda, know she is famous for falling down! I must say I also love the colour scheme on the front cover...Perhaps, I'm just a bit biased as I love pink.

Miranda does an excellent job in giving us insight into her embarrassing moments, most of which are indeed cringe-worthy. I don't think she could have given us any more detail into her embarrassing moments!! (Don't worry, when I say that, I don't mean that it's too much detail to make it boring, but it's enough to make it work).

The pacing of this book was, for the most, part spot on. However, it does become a bit slow in some places, and I found myself zoning out and having to re-read the sentences I had missed. But, as I said earlier, the pacing is actually really good.

There is some swearing in this book although not very much. The dialogue is fantastic and sucks you in. I love the way Miranda Hart engages her readers by referring to them as MDRC (my dear reader chum) as well as asking her readers questions. The dialogue definitely feels like a conversation between the reader and author.

I found Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart to be well funny. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments in the book, and I was constantly having to read something out of the book to my husband because I found it too funny not to share. This book will definitely keep you in a cheerful mood.

I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 25 although I do believe those aged 35 will get more out of it. Nonetheless, it is still a very funny book!

Is It Just Me? by Miranda Hart gets a 4 out of 5 from me.

The worst rating I can give a book is 2 stars. One star books usually make it clear right away that they are awful. Two star books give you too much hope only to let you down. I love Miranda and the Miranda show, but this book was mostly torture. It wasn't out of character or unexpected, but for me, she doesn't translate well into this media. The book seems over the top and boringly silly. Also, she presumably didn't know the US was going elect him the next führer, but she refers to Donald Trump's wisdom at one point, and I hate it when books make me vomit in my mouth.

The worst rating I can give a book is 2 stars. One star books usually make it clear right away that they are awful. Two star books give you too much hope only to let you down. I love Miranda and the Miranda show, but this book was mostly torture. It wasn't out of character or unexpected, but for me, she doesn't translate well into this media. The book seems over the top and boringly silly. Also, she presumably didn't know the US was going elect him the next führer, but she refers to Donald Trump's wisdom at one point, and I hate it when books make me vomit in my mouth.

I wanted to love this book, but it wasn't as funny as I'd hoped it would be. I think Miranda Hart is an outrageously funny comedian and a talented actress, but too much of the content of the book was already used on her show, so it didn't have the same effect that new, funny content would have had. If you haven't seen her show already, I think this would strike you as funnier since it would be new to you.

Miranda Hart, I have learned only very recently, is a British comedian, not just my beloved Chummy on Call the Midwife. I had no idea. And I've forgotten now how I came across this book, but there it was available on audible, so on I listened. It is hilarious (or hil-air, as Hart might say). She talks very little about her career, but rather about life in general, and the theme is all those little things that happen to people but that no one ever tells you how to deal with (think, oh, giant piece of toilet paper following you out of the restroom as it's attached to your shoe, that sort of thing). Hart has a very upper-middle-class sort of received British accent, and she uses it to great effect in the comedy here. The book is so funny, both in its content and in its presentation, that I spent the thing laughing out loud. People behind me at traffic lights (I was listening in the car, mostly) probably thought I was having some sort of fit. Nestled in among all the jolity are some nice little nuggets of wisdom and encouragement as well. Highly recommended, but do get the audio. I think you'd be missing half the fun if you read it.½

I really wanted to like this book more, I love Miranda Hart on TV. It started out so well, lots of punchy anecdotes. But that was it and nothing really developed. It was a total shame as you could hear the "voice" well but the direction was not really there. Good fun but definitely a "dip-in/dip-out" book which took a lot longer to finish than I expected. I also felt as someone not raised in England it was difficult to relate to some of the references which were left totally unexplained (on the other hand being a tall 39 year old woman a lot of the references were very very familiar). If you don't have a "hook" into this one I think it might be hard going. I would be careful to recommend it to those who are already fans.

OK, but probably better listening to the audio version than reading it.

Amazingly fun, light read. Pretty much what I imagine myself being like at 38.

Having recently finished the Fry Chronicles narrated by Stephen Fry (which I really enjoyed) I thought I had my niche for audiobooks. Funny, self-narrated memoirs with witty British humour.

After searching through Audible I figured Miranda Hart ticked all the boxes of quirky, awkward and funny. The first few chapters of this book were brilliant, I literally was laughing out loud at some of the awkward situations she got herself into. Sure, it was a bit silly but good light entertainment. There were a few things I wasn't so fond of, namely the high-pitched 18 year old Miranda and the continuous lists but they were a minor problem.

However, my view of this book took a turn for the worse on the 'Technology' chapter which seemed to go on and on and on as Miranda explains to her younger self every piece of technology that has emerged since the nineties. This is punctuated by exclamations of 'amazeballs' and 'horrifico' etc which quickly begin to grate on the ear.

Unfortunately once the tide had turned all these little things started to drive me to insanity to the point where my smartphone was in genuine danger of becoming an innocent victim smashed on the road. Despite the promising start this book descended into the tired, well-trodden paths of female health, beauty and relationships. Not a great move from my perspective but I figured I'd run with it. The thing I had loved about Stephen Fry's book was the sheer honesty and insight into his character. Here, Miranda does have some funny real life stories but she gets so caught up in exaggerated imaginings around these stories that it ruins the 'oh I've done the same, I know how you feel' aspect. This results in this being as much fiction as non-fiction and her portraying a character version of herself. It was a real pity as she probably has some interesting stories.

Miranda also massively overuses the type of comedy where you just pick random words out of the sky and string them into a sentence. She succeeded on many occasions (i.e. I laughed as she described her body as like a sack full of offal, kicked down an elevator shaft into a pool of water) and some of the images are funny. However, these get a bit overdone and feel a bit forced. She goes too far into the realm of make believe and the story loses its link to real life.

Needless to say I was pretty relieved to finish this audiobook. I reckon she would be pretty funny and interesting in real life but unfortunately we had to settle for a character in this audiobook.

Miranda is the type of comedian you either love or hate. Fortunately I love her - she had me laughing out loud lots of times, which is rare (for me). Her humour isn't subtle, or clever or even especially witty. It's just straight out funny. I think part of it's her voice which, even saying "is it just me?" which obviously she does a number of times, has me wanting to say no, I feel just the same!" I listened to this as an audio book, which she narrates, so got the benefit of her voice both auditorily and literarily so to speak. She's just a very funny person, but one you feel you'd love to have as a friend as well.

A very funny easy read. Miranda Hart held my interest until the end with her sense of humor.

Such fun!

The comedian is in conversation with her 18-year-old self on topics such as music, hobbies, office life, beauty. Christmas, etc. I like her sense of humour.½

Miranda is just pure brilliance.

That is all.

I have never watched an episode of "Miranda", yet I found myself rip-roaring though this lark of a book within two days. Although I may only be passingly aware of Miranda Hart's comedy, her outlook on life appeals to me. Like her, I was always taller than everyone else (although not as tall as she) and tried to follow trends in order to "fit in". I wonder how many teenages actually do this? Maybe half of One Direction's fans are just pretending to be fans as that is the more socially acceptable thing to do, I know I only got into music because I wanted to fit in (it was New Kids on the Block in my day) then somehow I got into hard rock and heavy metal, and I've never looked back. Anyhow... sometimes I think that the awkward, low-esteemed 16-year old me could have had some good life lessons from the now-in-my-mid-30s year old me. Anyhow, this book is compulsive reading - it's funny, sometimes embarrassing,and also contains some good messages - such as it's okay to be yourself and to follow your dreams. And if you're good with something - stick with it. Highly entertaining - I must track down some episodes of Miranda now, and maybe learn to gallop. I do enjoy skipping, occasionally - and if anyone thinks there's something wrong with an almost 6-foot 30-something woman skipping down the road, well, that's their problem, not mine.

Such fun! Light hearted look at the main events of life with many funny anecdotes and asides thrown in. Miranda's conversations with her 18y old self, highlight how life can turn out differently to what we expect as we leave school and launch into the adult world.

Miranda Hart talking to her younger self (and to the reader) about her various quirks, about being a bit of a buffoon, and about the importance of acting like a child, regardless of what other people might think. I'm very fond of Miranda Hart as a comedian and parts of this book did have me laughing. However, for most of it she gets much too cutesy for my taste and frankly just waffles on. Also, the dialogue between the 18-year-old Miranda and the 38-year-old Miranda feels forced. She is a lovely character, though, and even though I could rarely say "no" when she asks if it's "just her," I still enjoyed the view into her character, but you do need to know that she is capable of being properly funny (see her TV-show "Miranda"), which isn't really discernible from this book.