Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis (from NetGalley): In this debut collection of essays, lists, musings, and quips, New York-based comedian Zach Zimmerman delicately walks the fine line between tear-jerking and knee-slapping, and does so with aplomb. In this laugh-and-cry-out-loud, memoir-esque exploration of selfhood, Zimmerman dives into the pros and cons of retiring a Bible-Belt-dwelling, meat-eating, God-fearing identity in exchange for a new, metropolitan lease on life—one of vegetarianism, atheism, queerness, and humor. Whether learning to absolve instilled religious guilt or reminiscing over Tinder dates gone horribly wrong, this book is a candid and hysterical look at one person's journey toward making peace with the past and seeking hope in the future. Non-Spoiler Review: When my sister introduced me to stand-up comedy in 2019, my life changed. (I became insufferable.) I began quoting Ronny Chieng. John Mulaney's relationship woes kept me up at night. Comedy Cellar videos began popping up on my TikTok. Stand-up comedy is so different from scripted comedy; though both are rehearsed, only stand-up comedy relies on the sole figure on stage, armed with nothing but a mic, a stool, and a trembling glass of water, to leash the crowd and be funny while doing it. It is that kind of practiced ease with which Zach Zimmerman approaches his debut essay collection Is It Hot in Here? Zimmerman tackles topics ranging from capitalism to his religious upbringing. Favorites of mine include "#2," "The Seven Days of Creation under Capitalism," and "Testimony." These essays are both reflective and determined, subdued and dry. However, the collection is not perfectly cohesive, and I found some of the essays anticlimactic, especially given how short they are. Given that some of the essays are reprints, however, it's unrealistic to expect perfect cohesion. While I don't think my humor aligns perfectly with Zimmerman's, I admire his enthusiasm; Is It Hot in Here paints a sweet portrait of not only a young comedian but also a young man—and all of the complications that come with that. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Is It Hot in Here is out April 15, 2023.
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