Funny Woman #1
Right now I'm reading The Mother of Black Hollywood by Jenifer Lewis. Jenifer Lewis is one of those funny women who makes my heart sing when I see her on the screen. She seems to have a clear character, the diva, and that comes through in the book. Her little asides and catty comments all emanate from the 'diva' character, and that's what makes them funny. As you can probably tell, I'm taking time to deconstruct this book. I'm trying to figure out how it works, how the comedy elements work. I'm also just reading it as a book, and it is fascinating. Lewis's life story is engrossing and her respect for the singers and actors who came before her rounds it all out, showing she has a brain and a heart. I'm halfway through right now, and there are threads already weaving through the text: mental illness and bipolar disorder, self-destructive behaviours, the desire to be a star. I can feel it starting to come together. It's a well put-together book. Wh...