Happy Accidents

By: Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett - foreword

Narrated by: Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett (foreword)

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

In the summer of 1974, a 14-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream. A dream to become an actress, like her idols Ron Howard and Vicki Lawrence. But it was a long way from the South Side of Chicago to Hollywood, and it didn’t help that she’d recently dropped out of the school play, The Ugly Duckling, or that the Hollywood casting directors she wrote to replied that "professional training was a requirement".

But the funny thing is, it all came true. Through a series of happy accidents, Jane Lynch created an improbable—and hilarious—path to success. In those early years, despite her dreams, she was also consumed with anxiety, feeling out of place in both her body and her family. To deal with her worries about her sexuality, she escaped in positive ways—such as joining a high-school chorus not unlike the one in Glee—but also found destructive outlets. She started drinking almost every night during her freshman year of high school and developed a mean and judgmental streak that turned her into a real-life Sue Sylvester.

Then, at 31, she started to get her life together. She was finally able to embrace her sexuality, come out to her parents, and quit drinking for good. Soon after, a Frosted Flakes commercial and a chance meeting in a coffee shop led to a role in the Christopher Guest movie Best in Show, which helped her to get cast in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Similar coincidences and chance meetings led to roles in movies starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and even Meryl Streep in 2009's Julie & Julia.

Then, of course, came the two lucky accidents that truly changed her life. Getting lost in a hotel led to an introduction to her future wife, Lara. And then a series she’d signed up for abruptly got canceled, making it possible for her to take the role of Sue Sylvester in Glee, which made her a megastar. Today, Jane Lynch has finally found the contentment she thought she’d never have.

Part comic memoir and part inspirational narrative, this is a book equally for the rabid Glee fan and for anyone who needs a new perspective on life, love, and success.

Read by the author, with a foreword written and read by Carol Burnett.

©2011 Canyon Lady Productions (P)2011 Hyperion (packaging elements only)

Critic reviews

"A triumphant memoir recounting the inner struggles of one of the most versatile actresses working today…Achingly sad and sweetly comic at the same time." ( Kirkus)

"[A] frank, engaging, and at times uproariously funny autobiography of a roller-coaster life." ( Vogue)

I love Jane Lynch

I sort of struggled to finish this one. I love Jane Lynch, but I could not get into this consistently. Her usually animated voice was very monotone and lulled me to sleep at times.... I was a bit disappointed, though I still enjoyed hearing about her life and it gives me more to appreciate about her as an actress.

Delightful

My great fan girl gushing has just expanded. Jane’s life story is fascinating. Her telling it in that wonderful, sardonic voice added to my peek into one of my favorite idols.

More authentic than the usual celebrity biography

Would you listen to Happy Accidents again? Why?

I might listen to it again, or to parts of it that are particularly compelling and that describe transformative moments in the writer's life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's an autobiography so obviously the favorite character is Jane Lynch, the author and narrator of her own story.

What does Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett (foreword) bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Anytime an author narrates his or her own autobiography, it's a plus. A third-person narrator often misses the appropriate tone for specific incidents and feelings that are being conveyed. Carol Burnett's foreword did not add much. It seemed more like a kind of requisite endorsement from an established comic actress (

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An unlikely star sees all her dreams come true.

Any additional comments?

The best things about this reading are 1) Lynch's own narration 2) Her willingness to tell the

Honest and enlightening

Great book that helped me get to understand Jane better and appreciate her work at a new level.

Laughing from start to finish...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this book to several of my friends. It's so fun, funny and an interesting story about Jane's rise to fame. Fun hearing the background stories about how she landed her films and TV series parts.

What does Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett (foreword) bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Having Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett lend their witty voices made the book all the more hilarious and entertaining.

Great book

Where does Happy Accidents rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 1%

What was one of the most memorable moments of Happy Accidents?

She describes roles I've loved her in but also roles (like in 'The Fugitive") that I didn't realize she was in. She made me laugh out loud many times.

What does Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett (foreword) bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jane Lynch has such a distinct voice that lends humor and emotion to everything she says. I generally prefer reading books to listening to them, but this is an instance where you would be robbing yourself of a great experience if you didn't have Jane Lynch's voice reading her book to you.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yep!

Honest and joyful memoir

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I didn't know much about Jane Lynch except for her portrayal of the aggressive lawyer on The "L" Word and the competitive but complicated coach in Glee. After hearing her life story, I now know her as a funny, honest, reflective individual. She is candid about her addiction to alcohol, the journey she has taken to get to where she is now, and the many "happy" accidents that have brought her so far along. Her bright, positive outlook is contagious and refreshing. I was sorry when my life got in the way of hearing about hers. This was a true joy to listen to, and I was sorry when the story ended. I could have listened for hours longer.

I like the lady

What made the experience of listening to Happy Accidents the most enjoyable?

She has a great voice and persona.

Any additional comments?

I like her and I was able to find out about other performances of hers by listening to her book (Lovespring International is hilarious!). There is nothing too surprising in her memoirs, and I did not come away from it seeing the world differently, but it was enjoyable to hear her tell her story in her own voice.

Worth a listen, if you like Jane Lynch

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed it overall, although Jane Lynch's life hasn't really been dramatic or traumatic enough to put this at the level of tell-all Hollywood bio, and she doesn't dish about other stars much, either.

All that's undoubtedly to her credit, but it doesn't exactly make for a page-turner. Still, if you like her work in Glee or anything else she's done, it's a pleasant listen. Not up to the humor in Tina Fey's Bossypants, but interesting enough for listening while driving or walking.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I'm not sure she could have changed it. It was honest, or at least, honest enough.

Which scene was your favorite?

Her struggles with coming out were probably the most interesting parts of the book.

Was Happy Accidents worth the listening time?

Overall, yes, but I'm a fan of her work.

Loved it.

Best take-away was understand not everyone will like you and instead of begging an employer to love you, you need to move on.