Maeve in America

Essays by a Girl from Somewhere Else

By: Maeve Higgins

Narrated by: Maeve Higgins

Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

“If Tina Fey and David Sedaris had a daughter, she would be Maeve Higgins.” (Glamour)

A startlingly hilarious essay collection about one woman’s messy path to finding her footing in New York City, from breakout comedy star and podcaster Maeve Higgins

Maeve Higgins was a best-selling author and comedian in her native Ireland when, at the grand old age of 31, she left the only home she’d ever known in search of something more and found herself in New York City. Together, the essays in Maeve in America create a smart, funny, and revealing portrait of a woman who aims for the stars but sometimes hits the ceiling and the inimitable city that helped make her who she is.

Here are stories of not being able to afford a dress for the ball, of learning to live with yourself while you’re still figuring out how to love yourself, of the true significance of realizing what sort of shelter dog you would be. Self-aware and laugh-out-loud funny, this collection is also a fearless exploration of the awkward questions in life, such as: Is clapping too loudly at a gig a good enough reason to break up with somebody? Is it ever really possible to leave home?

“Maeve Higgins is hilarious, poignant, conversational, and my favorite Irish import since U2. You’re in for a treat.” (Phoebe Robinson)

©2018 Maeve Higgins (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Sharp and readable...A keen observer of culture, [Maeve Higgins] offers timely insights about race and immigration in America.... Witty, humane, and topical, these essays offer an enlightened perspective on modern American culture while probing the energetic inner life of a bright young Irish comic. A warmly intelligent and insightful collection.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Wickedly funny...with incisive humor and deep humility.... Higgins has the rare gift of being able to meaningfully engage with politics and social ills while remaining legitimately funny.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Maeve Higgins is the funniest writer I know. And Maeve in America is just so smart and joyful. I especially like it when she’s unhappy. Because she’s very funny about it. Always be unhappy, Maeve!” (Jon Ronson, author of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed)

"[Maeve] is not above creating sound effects for her funniest story, which involves dolphins trying to kill her - complete with hilarious screams, gurgles, and spluttering as she is nearly drowned. Listeners will enjoy hearing a complex comedian who writes funny, thinks funny, and can add physical comedy when needed." (AudioFile)

Laugh out loud

Loved this book. Funny but also wise and compassionate. Recommended to friends and family. Will revisit, for sure.

Delightful!

I'm so glad I chose to listen to this book—the author is simply delightful in her comedic delivery and reading of her words. I was constantly giggling as I listened and walked to/from work. Well done!

Loved It

Maeve uses poetic words to talk about such diverse topics as post-Trump immigration, dog walking, teaching comedy in a war zone, and Instagram. I loved her voice, both on the page, and as she read the essays.

Charming!

I love Maeve on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. such a treat to hear her read her essays.

What we all should know:

The immigrant experience all over the world and throughout time has been a crisis in the lives of the people experiencing it. Nowadays in America it’s become a matter of concern and fear on the part of American citizens. If “comedy is the politeness of despair” then this collection of essays is an enlightening and gentle nudge towards peace and friendly understanding.

awesome! enjoyed this so much.

What a funny and intensely thoughtful set of essays. I loved them so much! She has a very pleasant reading voice as well. Five stars!

Love Maeve!

She is so fun and easy to listen to!
I truly enjoyed this book!! Thank Maeve!

QUITE GOOD

It's nice to hear a different voice coming from a different perspective tackling new issues. The more personal the stories the more entertaining it was to listen, and by the same token, the more general the topics the somewhat less interesting to hear. The author is clearly talented, insightful and intelligent, so it would be interesting to read a purely humorous offering and then separate from that a strictly analytical one. Combining the two, as was attempted here, was not always ideal.

Love That Accent!

True life stories read in a lilting Irish accent? Yes please! I very much enjoyed listening to this book, partially because I thought I could hear Maeve smiling sometimes. The first story about swimming with dolphins is hilarious, as is her adventure with Renting the Runway. Other essays are more serious and poignant, but she finds a way to weave in her gentle humor. Really a pleasure.

Not as advertised

The essays morphed from humor to politics. If I wanted political essays, I’d have looked for that.