Where Am I Now?

True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame

By: Mara Wilson

Narrated by: Mara Wilson

"Thoughtfully traces [Mara Wilson's] journey from child actress to Hollywood dropout...Who is she now? She's a writer." —NPR's "Guide To 2016’s Great Reads"

“Growing up, I wanted to be Mara Wilson. Where Am I Now? is a delight.” —Ilana Glazer, cocreator and star of Broad City

Named a best book of the month by GoodReads and Entertainment Weekly

A former child actor best known for her starring roles in Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, Mara Wilson has always felt a little young and out of place: as the only kid on a film set full of adults, the first daughter in a house full of boys, a Valley girl in New York and a neurotic in California, and a grown-up the world still remembers as a little girl. Tackling everything from what she learned about sex on the set of Melrose Place, to discovering in adolescence that she was no longer “cute” enough for Hollywood, these essays chart her journey from accidental fame to relative (but happy) obscurity. They also illuminate universal struggles, like navigating love and loss, and figuring out who you are and where you belong. Candid, insightful, moving, and hilarious, Where Am I Now? introduces Mara Wilson as a brilliant new chronicler of the experience that is growing up female.

Couldn't stop listening!

Very easy to listen to Mara as she narrates her life. I was laughing one moment and crying the next as I joined her on this journey of self-discovery. Have a listen!

Love!

I loved how candid this book is! I think hearing the author read it, is what really made it for me. I've had anxiety over everything my entire life and knowing that I'm not the only one truly helps. I think that my next read will be "Kissing Doorknobs" so I can have a better understanding of OCD

You never know what someone's going through.

Take away the fact that Mara was a famous child actor and you'll get to know an amazing, loving person. Her story would be great for anyone who grew up a rockstar; that is a star athlete, a model student in school, that seemingly perfect child who experienced all the attention only to grow up and realize it was short lived fame. I watched the struggles of my kids who did great things only to graduate high school and realize most of their friends on teams, choir, drama, and clubs were really not their friends. I never knew how much they struggled with fears, sadness, and anxiety until they were in their 20's. As a parent, you can protect them from some of the heart ache.
Mara's story was beautiful, honest, an eye opening for me. I bought the book Kissing Doorknobs for two of my daughters to read when I'm finished. Thank you Mara. You really are a beautiful soul. [e-mail]

Great Read -

The 1996 Matilda movie was trending on Netflix for the US. So I watched the movie to bring back some nostalgia and remembered how much I enjoyed watching Mara act when I was younger. From Matilda to Miracle on 34th Street all the way to A Simple Wish. To this day I still watch Mrs. Doudtfire every few years. I thought the title for this book was perfect, as I sometimes wonder, "Where is this actress now." So clever. This was a great read from her childhood to adulthood. It was comforting to know experiences others have you've never met sometimes have the same experiences as you. The book pulled at the heart strings, made me angry with how journalist or strangers treated her (as a child and adult), and also brought laughter in some of the chapters. I'm really glad Mara wrote this book and shared it with the world. 10/10 would recommend.

This girl can write!

As a 31 year old male I can't say this book was in my wheelhouse but once I started listening I couldn't stop. incredible story telling makes this a fast listen.