I Know I am, But What Are You?

by Samantha Bee

For what it is, Samantha Bee’s recent book is great. It’s a quick, short (~250 pages) read.  More a series of essays than an actual memoir, the book traces (sparingly) through Bee’s childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

Given that Bee and I are the same age and grew up in the same city, it is not surprising that I found so much of the book relateable. We clearly went to many of the same concerts. I did not, however, ever engage in car theft or using illicitly gained money on hotel suites. So.

Bee is most entertaining when talking about her childhood and adolescence, and the book would have been better had it focused more on that period of her life. The essay style allows her to cover a lot of ground, but it ends up feeling like a stand-up act. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I was left feeling that she is capable of far more.