Fierce, Funny, and Female

Memoirs are tricky. How many people really have lives interesting enough to carry readers through an entire book–especially one of this size? Not many. That said, Marti MacGibbon is an exception to that particular rule. But don’t for a moment think because of the title that this is a romp through the world of comedy. It’s not, but it is a very interesting look at the life of someone who faced an incredible amount of adversity, particularly in her adolescence and early twenties. What MacGibbon suffered through in these years is not for the faint of heart. Between drugs, sexual assault, and mental hospitals, some arranged by controlling relatives, this is an incredibly dark chapter in this woman’s life. But this time and MacGibbon’s fortitude in fighting through this period of her life is the foundation she has to build to make it possible for her to go forward and truly become all that she can be.

MacGibbon is forced to give up almost all rights to her daughter, but even that doesn’t stop her. Off she goes to Texas, where she wheedles her way into a manly job working in the oilfields. Gutsy. The stories of her time as an oilfield worker are amazing and often funny. They show a strong, smart, and sassy woman taking the Texas good ol’ boys by storm, earning their respect, and developing a self-described badass attitude that pays off handsomely in her ability to earn good money and gain some visitation with her daughter. The confidence MacGibbon builds through her time in Texas is what propels her to the next chapter in her life — that of standup comic. Timing, luck, and talent all converge to make this another chapter of success for MacGibbon, although the shortest chapter of her life so far.

This is a well-written memoir, one that will keep readers engaged throughout this long book. MacGibbon is a natural storyteller, and her life story is a most interesting one. The characters she has run across during her life journey are well-drawn and absolutely fascinating, particularly the good ol’ boys in the Texas oilfields and her nefarious in-laws. MacGibbon’s encounters with some of comedy’s royalty are a fun addition. All that said, the book has parts that are overly long with too much detail. A little editorial paring is in order, but overall this is a fun and interesting read.