At fourteen years old, Jane Lynch had a dream of becoming an actress. She started sending out letters which, when anyone bothered to reply were kind rejections or advice giving such as, “get some professional training and look us up in five years or so…”
Jane however did not give up and as her book is titles, by a series of Happy Accidents, her dreams eventually did come true. Jane’s story however is not without hardships. Jane suffered from anxiety and a lack of self-worth. She felt unsure of herself and out-of-place in her own skin.
This audio is pretty funny as Jane pushes her book at a book store:
proximity -you do not have to throw people away, you can decide how close you want to keep them. Not everyone has to be a best friend some can be good friends, and some can be acquaintances.
~Jane Lynch
Confession: I have never watched Glee. Ok, I have seen maybe a partial episode, but I have never sat down and watched it. However, I did recognize and know Jane from other roles she had played… little roles that eventually led her to bigger roles. (I am pretty sure she is the nurse in a Gilmore Girls episode but I can not find a you tube slip to back up that statement…) She was for sure on Two and A Half Men, Julie and Julia, 40 Year Old Virgin, Criminal Minds, Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives, Friends, King of Queens, Gilmore Girls (Yes! I knew it!), and many more.
I wanted to listen to her book because 1. she is funny like a cross between Tina Fey and Ellen Degeneres and 2. I really wanted to know more about her story.
I enjoyed Jane’s story very much, it just was not as humorous as I thought it was going to be. While there are many funny moments (I do think I snorted at least once), it’s also a coming of age story, and a hard one at that as she worries about her sexuality, and an early fondness for alcohol.
I enjoyed hearing about Jane’s life and how she came to be casted for Glee, which turned out to be the career move she needed to go mega star. Her story interested me so much that now I think I need to start watching Glee. 😀
Amazon Rating
Goodreads Review
The 2011 WHERE Are you reading map has been updated to include Happy Accidents
I purchased this from audible.com ♥
Book Journey 
I think I’m the only person in the world who just doesn’t get why people think Jane Lynch is funny. I do have a sense of humor, but . . . Well, different strokes for different folks, I guess.
I like dry humor, I cant recall seeing her in a big roll yet but hope to watch some Glee and maybe one or two of the movies she was in
I’ve never watched Glee either…I already have far too many shows on the DVR! lol
But I’ve enjoyed her in movies and on sitcoms.
I hope to read the book at some point.
LOL – I don’t watch a lot of TV, have about three shows I make time for each week and two of the three just had their season finales.
Oh, I just remembered which GG episode she’s in! It’s in the first season when Richard is in the hospital. You’re right, she’s a nurse.
I’ve only watched the first season of Glee and had to take it in small doses because it seems like each episode has virtually the same plot.
Yes! I was just watching the season again and when I seen that one I thought… hmmm, I think that is Jane Lynch. 😀
I could picture listening to this. I’ve always enjoyed her before she hit it big on Glee. She is always in those Christopher Guest movies, which I love and adore. She deserves her success!
I need to look up some of those movies, she talks about working with Christopher Guest.
Start at the beginning with Glee…it is magical. But this season..not so much. Jane is fantastic. I’ve pretty much loved her in everything she’s been in.
Thanks for the advice Staci! I will start with season one 😀
I enjoyed this book even though it was just a funny book. I think she is an interesting and intelligent woman
I think so too Helen, she has overcome some amazing hurtles!
Her role on Two&Half Men is my favorite. In fact, I won’t watch that show ever unless she is in the episode.
I will have to look for those Care, I cant recall having seen her on Two and a Half Men 😀
I’d like to read this, too, Sheila. I enjoy memoirs and though I usually don’t read celebrity memoirs, this one sounds good.
And you MUST watch Glee!! We are all Gleeks in our family – the show itself is very good, but the musical numbers are fabulous! Lots of fun. That show can make me cry and laugh all in one episode.
Thanks for the review!
Sue
I think you would really like Rob Lowe’s Sue… I cant even begin to tell you how impressed I was.