I'm The One That I Want by Margaret Cho
Review by: Candi

I was expecting it to be a funny, self-depracating life story. Well, it's a self-depracating life story, but it's not funny, it's mortifying. It's horrible how Margaret Cho was treated as a child.. the other kids were evil to her. She grew up thinking everyone hated her, and wanting desperately to be white. She was raped, and became an alcoholic, a drug addict, a sex addict... when filming "All American Girl" the producers harped at her constantly to lose weight, so she became addicted to diet pills and laxatives. It became so bad her hair fell out in clumps, and people would still call her fat. The Korean community hated her because of the show, and she would get letters telling her that they were ashamed she was Korean, and how fat she was. Her entire act is based on a lifetime of pain, and that is soooo sad. I suppose this is the way it is with all stand-up comics. But I had NO IDEA how much she's been through.

The worst part of all is that the back cover of this book says, "Savagely funny," and "Funny and compelling," and things of that nature. Compelling, yes. But funny? Did these people even READ the book? Yes, Margaret's humor is found throughout the book. But I didn't laugh. Not once. The only review that's even close to being accurate is the one that says, "Cho shatters racial and stereotypes with merciless wit."

It was really a downer, if you want to know the truth. But I'm glad I read it. I'd recommend it to anyone. I have found a whole new level of respect for Margaret because of it.

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