The New One

March 30, 2020
Comedian Birbiglia (Sleepwalk with Me) reflects on fatherhood in this fast-paced memoir, which also features his wife Stein’s brief, intimate poems. In 2016, 40-year-old Birbiglia was happily married and happily childless: “I’ve lost a lot of great friends to kids,” he notes. Then, Stein (Little Astronaut) tells him that she wanted to abandon their vow of childlessness; desperate to change her mind, he cites his dangerous sleepwalking disorder, high cholesterol, and a teenage bout with cancer as proof he’s “a walking pre-existing condition,” but his wife won him over. Stein develops complications during her pregnancy (she writes of her unborn daughter, “my body may fail you,/ (sorry)”), while the expectant father engages in “sympathy eating.” (“I’m so sorry you’re having cramps—are you gonna finish those fries?” writes Birbiglia). In the months after daughter Oona’s birth, Birbiglia grows fearful that he may never connect with his “little monkey,” yet soon enough he wins small victories, like receiving “record-high approval ratings” from Oona for his rendition of “Ave Maria.” The turning point comes when he plays hide and seek with her in a furniture showroom, and she begins “laughing so hard that I start laughing in a new way... We’re laughing as one.” Birbiglia’s witty take on new parenthood will resonate especially with those who’ve been there.

Entertainer Mike Birbiglia and his wife, J. Hope Stein, work together to present a humorous contemporary story of reluctant parents. The pair are excellent foils. Birbiglia is lively--full of ironic observations and laugh-out-loud one-liners. Stein is more reserved, breathy and sincere as she reads her original poems, which are sprinkled throughout. In this audiobook listeners are getting the best moments of Birbiglia's stand-up comedy routines and Broadway show, which were based on the same theme. His experience as a performer shines through in the pace and timing of his narration. Listeners will appreciate the honesty behind his wit, along with the quieter tone of reflection in Stein's reading. M.R. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Starred review from September 1, 2020

Comedian Birbiglia knocks it out of the ballpark with his second collection of humorous essays and insights. After his first volume discussing his hilariously terrifying sleepwalking troubles (Sleepwalk with Me), he's graduated to a scarier topic: parenthood. His latest chronicles the journey Birbiglia and his wife, Jennifer Hope Stein, take, from denial that they'll ever want kids of their own, grim acceptance when his wife decides that she actually does want a baby, to creating an entirely new lifestyle subject to their child Oona's needs. Peppered throughout are Stein's poems about their daughter, their marriage, their fears, and their love. The poems complement her husband's insights and help balance the story of their forays into parenthood. The anecdotes are poignant, moving, and humorous. Fantastically narrated by both the authors, this is a book that all parents will easily relate to and laugh along with. VERDICT This highly entertaining and engaging listen is ideal for library collections and would make a great gift for new (and old!) parents and comedy fans.--Erin Cataldi, Johnson Cty. P.L., Franklin, IN

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.