I See You Made an Effort

Compliments, Indignities, and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50

By: Annabelle Gurwitch

Narrated by: Annabelle Gurwitch

Actress and humorist Annabelle Gurwitch returns with I See You Made an Effort, a collection of essays so wickedly funny it may make you forget your last birthday. Not one to shy away from the grisly realities of middle age, the “slyly subversive” (O: The Oprah Magazine) Gurwitch confronts the various indignities faced by femmes d’un certain âge with candor, wit, and a healthy dose of hilarious self-deprecation.

Whether falling in lust at the Genius Bar, navigating the extensive - and treacherously expensive - anti-aging offerings at a department store beauty counter, coping with the assisted suicide of her best friend, negotiating the ins and outs of acceptable behavior with her teenage kid or the thudding financial reality of the “never-tirement” generation that leads her to petty theft, Gurwitch’s essays prove her a remarkably astute writer in her prime (in so many ways). Is this the beginning of the Eileen Fisher years? Where does one conduct an affair with a younger man? Is 50 the new 40? Or is 50 still just…50? Scorchingly honest, surreally and riotously funny, I See You Made an Effort is the ultimate coming-of-middle-age story and a must listen for women of all ages.

©2014 Annabelle Gurwitch (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Recorded by arrangement with Blue Rider Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.

Kind of off-putting

It had its moments, but all in all, it left me cold. The author has had a long career in Hollywood, and I would have been interested to hear more about that, but the focus of the book- how awful it is to be almost 50, and what it means for her nether regions, pretty much dominated the book. Why do those in Hollywood think its suddenly really funny to say the word 'vagina' casually? I don't get it. I thought the idea that women have causal and funny conversations with each other about their most intimate body parts was an invention of Judd Apatow and his crew. I would say her ubiquitous use of the phrase 'my vagina' was a generational thing but she is only 3 years younger than me. Its just not funny. I don't accept the misogynistic view that women are not as funny as men- but I also know that women who try to be as funny as men by trying to out-gross them are just not very interesting.

Fun read

Though the facts of my life could not be further from Gurwitch's, her observations about life as a woman at 50 are spot on, funny, and touching. Well worth the listen.

Not all that funny

Would you try another book from Annabelle Gurwitch and/or Annabelle Gurwitch?

Probably not.

Would you be willing to try another one of Annabelle Gurwitch’s performances?

No

Was I See You Made an Effort worth the listening time?

Nope....stoped being funny after a very short time.

Any additional comments?

Audio quality was not great. Did not sound professional.

The truth about turning 50

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
My impression was that it was a stand up comedy routine stretched out to fill the pages of a book. Not great literature but a few funny spots.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
I read it as a book club member and was glad I had gotten through it.

Have you listened to any of Annabelle Gurwitch’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
nope

Enjoyable memoir by a comedienne, not a comedy

This is a great "coming of age" memoir, but just a different age than we are used to. Covers the full spectrum of life from the competing demands from kids and parents, career and family, financial security versus artistic satisfaction. While she is often funny, this is not a comedy so some people may be put off by that. But comediennes are people and they have real lives that includes more than telling jokes.
She goes into brutal detail about the indignities of aging. Not only the physical shortcomings of failing eyesight, sleep creases that don't go away for hours, vaginal dryness to the diminishing respect when aging in a youth obsessed industry. I am 45 so I am just starting this god forsaken chapter, don't know if I would appreciate it as much if I were too much younger.
The only thing I didn't like was the coverage of her time in a cult. It was ancient history but somehow she put it in, perhaps feeling like she had to cover it to be honest about her past but I didn't think it added anything. Also, I wanted to know who her rich successful friend was!!! I thought maybe Bill Maher because they are close, but then she mentioned wife. Didn't think it was Seinfeld, but maybe. Anyway rich and famous friend- your secret is safe with Annabelle!!