May You Live in Interesting Times

A Memoir

By: Laraine Newman

Narrated by: Laraine Newman

“Not only is May You Live in Interesting Times a riveting memoir of Laraine's life and stellar body of work, but just hearing the genuine charm in her voice will make you fall in love with her. An extraordinary treat.” (Alan Zweibel, Emmy Award-winning writer and cocreator of It’s The Garry Shanding Show)

“Hearing Laraine Newman’s amazing life story told by the comic genius and comedy pioneer herself is an experience you hope will never end. I loved every second of it.” (Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy)

“Laraine Newman’s writing is fun and smart enough as it is, but to get to hear her warm, weary voice reading her words? This is beyond a win-win.” (Patton Oswalt, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian and actor)

From growing up in Los Angeles with movie star neighbors, bearing witness to the music scene in the 1960s and seeing the rise of comedy in the early 70s, to studying mime in Paris under the tutelage of Marcel Marceau to becoming a founding member of the seminal comedy troupe The Groundlings, it's no wonder that Lorne Michaels offered Laraine Newman a spot in the original cast of Saturday Night Live. There, along with famous cast members John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtain, Garret Morris, and Gilda Radner - Bill Murray was passed over at first and joined in a later season - Laraine was part of the show that changed TV - and comedy - forever. But it isn't all yuks and glamor. Laraine struggled with demons, arriving in New York City with an attraction to drugs that started as a vice and grew to be an all-consuming addiction - even as she skyrocketed to fame via her memorable characters on SNL.

May You Live in Interesting Times is a warm, funny, heartfelt snapshot of 1970s New York City and SNL's unexpected rocket to success, with all the giddy headiness that that entailed. After five seasons, Laraine left SNL, and worked in movies and television, while having adventures and relationships in Hollywood that, in her words, “should have gotten me killed.” Now with longterm sobriety, she became a parent and reinvented herself as a voice-over actor and has a thriving career working on such animated favorites as Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., Despicable Me, Inside Out, Shrek, and Minions.

©2020 Laraine Newman (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

©2020 Laraine Newman (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

Fascinating stories leavened with humility

This is everything you might hope for: memoir, stories pre- and post-SNL. I never expected it to be as warm, generous, and humble. She really performs the reading, too. Highly recommended.

Three more reasons to love Laraine!!!

Great book and FABULOUS narration. You will love this book and its (thankfully) happy ending!

Touching, helpful, honest

The remorse she expressed about her behaviors, and how she belittled herself, which drove her into addiction was very familiar to me. I got clean about the same time she did and can relate to the feelings, self doubt, and hyper critical self examination she expressed so well. It is very important for us to remember what drove us to sobriety. I graduated high school in 1980 and SNL played a large part in how we all saw the world, and probably helped us to become addicts and alcoholics. I am glad she made it out, and am very grateful to her for sharing her experience, strength and hope.

Fantastic!

Hearing Laraine tell her story was absolutely fantastic. I loved it. A must read for old school SNL fans.

Loved this

I love SNL. I was born in the 70s so this Era of SNL I didn't watch until late and in reruns, but I was a huge fan of all the players. This book made me remember so much of why I am a diehard fan, until this very day.

Newman read it all

Loved the history of Laraine and Saturday Nights got Live . So glad she survived herself

Witty and Honest

Ms. Newman is heartbreakingly honest, and captivates us with her witty delivery. She is one funny lady!

Funny Brave and Endearing

Fast paced and well written, Laraine Newman’s memoir covers a lot of fascinating territory with surprising vulnerability and candor. The list of people she has rubbed elbows with (or rubbed much more) is vast and impressive. Her narration is, of course, terrific. My only complaint is the way a subject would change without a beat. A little pause for transition would have helped my brain change gears instead of thinking we were still in a story that had just concluded. A minor flaw, it wasn’t enough to not give the “overall” a top rating. There is so much going on that is worthwhile and good in the telling of her story. Thanks Audible for getting this made and WTG, Laraine! ❤️

Loving Laraine

For most people Laraine Newman's story is a rollercoaster ride. For Laraine, it was just her life. Delightful insights into SNL and life around show business. But it was not all glamour. I'm glad she made it this far and could write this book.

Loved the book

I don’t know why I picked this audible up,
I think maybe the Jewish cowboy bit.
Ended up loving her voice and the actual book. So informative and fun.