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God Said,'Ha!'  By  cover art

God Said,'Ha!'

By: Julia Sweeney
Narrated by: Julia Sweeney
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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)

What listeners say about God Said,'Ha!'

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Resonated Big Time

This book confirms that true stories are the most poignant and the funniest.

My pre-teen daughter, teen son and I listened to Julia's story five or six times during a cross-country road trip, cracking us up through 7 states. Several passages have entered our family's lexicon.

Thanks Julia for helping us deal with the loss of our husband/father. There is still plenty to laugh about!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

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!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Julia Sweeney is always great!

I'm a huge fan and was not disappointed.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Never look at religion the same again.

Julia goes through her life and what led to her decision to laugh at God. My advice is if your not ready to see the wizard behind the curtain then stay away. If you want a look at life differently then this is for you.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen

Hi entertaining and easy to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love my shunt!

The first time I watched this was at age 17 while I was watching my grandmother come to the end of a two-year battle with cancer. It was cathartic to hear someone else find humor in the situations unique to the families of terminal cancer patients. This made me a lifelong Julia Sweeney fan. Her humor is intelligent and she’s the kind of clever I wish I could be. You’ll cry. You’ll feel your teenage angst again. And, you’ll laugh!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring & unimaginative

Her opinions are not even funny. pitiful. don't bother with this one. she is misguided

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ha!

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

absolutely brilliant

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

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