Roseanne Barr, Roseannearchy
Featured Book
Brash, self-centered and nutty as ever — that’s why we love her
After the surprise success of Piece of Work, the documentary that traced a year in the life of Joan Rivers, the time is ripe for other pioneering female comedians to remind their fans — and non-fans — of the trails they blazed for the Kathy Griffins and Chelsea Handlers of the world. Hence, Roseanne Barr’s Roseannarchy: Dispatches from the Nut Farm. True to its name, the book contains the requisite rants and raves (on topics including lesbians, wiccans and pubic hair), but in between the diatribes is the fascinating story of a comedian whose career was tempered by some bad relationships, drug problems and, oh yeah, that National Anthem thing (which Barr seems to truly regret).
Those who are curious about the book, but not necessarily Barr devotees, may find Roseannarchy uneven in tone and direction. However, it will remind listeners why Barr is a permanent figure in the comedy landscape, offering glimpses of what it’s like to rocket to fame, to stumble and then rebuild in new and unusual ways (those who didn’t follow Barr’s talk show may be surprised by the depth of guest roster — including an unexpectedly warm Mike Tyson.) Barr is as brash, self-centered and nutty as she’s ever been — but no less funny, smart and complex.
