God Said,'Ha!'

By: Julia Sweeney

Narrated by: Julia Sweeney

Length: 1 hr and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

In one year Julia Sweeney got a divorce (amicable), bought a small bungalow in Hollywood, and looked forward to a life that said, "Here dwells a happily single young woman!" But then the axe fell. Her younger brother, Mike, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and moved in with her. Her parents came to be with Mike and moved in with her, too. Julia was now on seriously intimate terms with the people she had spent half a lifetime growing up away from.

Just weeks before Mike died, Julia was diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer (what Mike called her "sympathy cancer"), and within days of burying her brother she underwent a radical hysterectomy, beginning her own journey through "the International House of Cancer".

Drawing from these Job-like travails, Julia wrote this remarkably funny and touching monologue about a family that managed to persevere with humor, grace, and love.

There's lots more Julia Sweeney available at Audible®! Just click here to download In the Family Way, her appearances on This American Life, her Un-Cabaret performances, and other great programs.

© and (P) Julia Sweeney

Critic reviews

"A grand achievement...a lesson in love and tolerance." ( USA Today)
"Sweeney offers living proof that laughter is the only revenge." ( The San Francisco Chronicle)

Excellent story telling

Julia is an excellent story teller! Sad, sad time in her life but this funny woman has the ability to find and spread humor and absurdity while discovering her family and her own humanness

So Touching and Funny

Julia Sweeney is an amazing storyteller and comedian. She can take you on a journey through some big issues and make you laugh along the way. The beautiful thing is that the laughs are real, but they do not take anything away from the gravity of the events in the story. She's an amazing talent.

In this particular piece of work Julia takes us through the trials of her brother dying of cancer, being diagnosed with cancer herself, and having her parents come to live with her. It's both touching and hilarious in a way that I don't think many other artists could create.

Julia Sweeney is always great!

I'm a huge fan and was not disappointed.

Highly authentic and enterntaining

I love the way she tells the story, she makes you laugh at the same time she shares her life experiences and how she overcame what she had to go through and go on with her life. Truly enjoyable.

Like catching up with a lost friend...

What an enjoyable listen -- I felt like I was catching up with a long-lost friend. Sad to hear the tragic parts, reassured and ever-so-pleased that after everything, she's emerged from it all in good enough spirits to retell it with such tenderness and humour.

Ha!

As delightful, moving and inspiring as when I saw Julia perform this live on stage!

Spend yer money on this!

Julia Sweeney is VERY funny, and this remembrance of her life is mostly funny. When it isn't funny, it's touching. We were on a long trip as a family & the teenagers & the adults all really enjoyed it. The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is that it isn't long enough! So don't spend a whole credit, but DO spend yer money on this.

Hilarious Takes Despite Some Dark Content

I absolutely loved actress/comedienne Julia Sweeney's Letting Go of God which hilariously details her leaving Catholicism and becoming an atheist, like I did, so I used an Audible credit on God Said, "Ha!.

In God Said, "Ha!", Julia details the period in her life after her divorce and her move to Hollywood in which her younger brother, Mike, is diagnosed with terminal cancer and moves in with her; and, not long after her parents also move in with her to help with Mike's care. Her quiet and relaxing small bachelorette pad turned in to a busy hub of family activity. Adding to this, she herself is diagnosed with cancer during Mike's stay.

It sounds like pretty dark content but she tells of this chapter in her life in a mostly witty and funny way with some touching moments thrown in for the feels. The funny parts had me laughing out loud often. And if you experience this by all means do it via Audible as she narrates it and is absolutely fantastic. I will be checking out the rest of her Audible content.

As a nonbeliever I really appreciate Julia as she has taken the time to speak at atheist gatherings and TV shows in the past. She's appeared at a number of Freedom From Religion events and on their TV show. There are number of her speeches and interviews on the interwebs. She is funny and brilliant, we need more like her in the movement.

absolutely brilliant

I loved this title. This is perfect reading for a commute. Found it funny but yet deep exploring suffering and family. Bravo!

Great show!!

I laughed and cried and came back to Audible to see if Julia Sweeney had made any more audios. She has!! Good for us!