Nonfiction

Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute)

Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute)

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-05-05 14:16:45
  • Update Date：2025-09-24
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Gary Janetti
  • ISBN：125022585X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

From New York Times bestselling author Gary Janetti comes Start Without Me， a collection of hilarious， laugh out loud， true life stories about the small moments that add up to a big life。

Gary Janetti is bothered。 By a lot of things。 And thank God he’s here to tell us。

In Start Without Me， Gary returns with his acid tongue firmly in cheek to the moments and times that defined him。 He takes us by the hand as we follow him through the summers he spends in his twenties， pursuing both the perfect tan and the perfect man to no avail and much regret。 At his Catholic high school， he strikes up an unlikely friendship with a nun who shares Gary's love of soap operas， which becomes a salvation to them both。 And don't get him started on how a bad hotel room can ruin even the best vacation。 This laugh-out-loud collection of true-life stories from the man “behind his generation’s greatest comedy” （The New York Times） is for anyone who has felt the joy in holding a decade-long grudge。

Whether you are a new convert to Janetti or one of the million who follow him on social media for a daily laugh， Start Without Me will have you howling at Gary's frustrations and nodding along in agreement at the outrages of life's small slights。 It's the literary equivalent of a night out with your funniest friend that you wish would never end。

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Reviews

Jill ，

Gary Janetti is back with Start Without Me， a new book of essays about growing up and growing older。 The bestselling author of Do You Mind if I Cancel？ and a producer and writer for Will & Grace and Family Guy， among other shows， brings his ironic， acerbic take on life。 There are the stories about his childhood， like how much he loved that one day every year when The Wizard of Oz was on television （it was before streaming， so you only had one chance a year to catch the primetime airing of the mo Gary Janetti is back with Start Without Me， a new book of essays about growing up and growing older。 The bestselling author of Do You Mind if I Cancel？ and a producer and writer for Will & Grace and Family Guy， among other shows， brings his ironic， acerbic take on life。 There are the stories about his childhood， like how much he loved that one day every year when The Wizard of Oz was on television （it was before streaming， so you only had one chance a year to catch the primetime airing of the movie）。 And the year that his parents bought a new television set and he found out that part of the movie was in color was a revelation to him。 There are stories about him in his 20s， reading books in New York’s great gay restaurants and tanning his way around Europe。 There are tales of his Catholic high school and how he got out of his physical education classes while the class was playing football。 And there are the snippets of his life now， and how he’d rather move than spend time talking to his neighbors。 There are the stories about the friends he made while on the cruises that his family got to take on account of his father working for a cruise company。 And the stories about his family， like how hard it was to talk his mother into letting him stay up for The Carol Burnett Show （until the one night that the police knocked on the door （I’m not going to tell you what they said， but that story alone is worth the price of the book）。 Janetti includes a commencement address that skips over the platitudes and tells the truth。 His Trip Advisor review goes in to details about the issues on his vacation。 And his rant about destination weddings is what we all think and don’t say。 But while he is entertaining us with his stories of growing up in Queens in the ！970s and ‘80s， of going to college on Long Island， of living in Manhattan as a young man， Janetti is drawing us in to his life。 He offers up snarky stories and poignant memories， but really he is offering up his own heart and soul on a silver platter。 These are personal stories， but he uses his vulnerability to show how alike we all are， even if we don’t actually want to talk to each other。 There were moments I laughed so hard at Start Without Me that I had to stop the audio and wipe the tears from my eyes。 And there were moments I could feel the sadness coming through Janetti’s voice。 He narrates the audio himself， which just adds to how honest these stories sound。 I thought that there were moments where he sounded a little robotic reading these stories， but that just made his punch lines zing with extra flair， so the more I listened， the more charmed I became。 I’m not sure this book is for everyone。 I think you have to be a fan of Janetti or his work in Hollywood to appreciate it。 It helps if you were a child of the ‘80s or a theater kid or a true fan of Judy Garland to truly understand some of these stories。 But if you were socially awkward as a kid or grew up in Queens or just really want to lay out and get a good tan， then you might just find that Gary Janetti is one of your people， and you will enjoy these stories with gusto and guffaws。 A copy of the audiobook for Start Without Me was provided by Macmillan Audio through NetGalley， with many thanks。 。。。more

Lauren Woods ，

Five stars。 This wasn't a laugh out loud read for me。 Instead， it was incredibly poignant， which I truthfully what I prefer in a read。 There were moments that he recounts that mirrored mine as a child。 I still remember being on the bus pulling away from my elementary school as a 7th grader， leaving the parking lot for the last time， and feeling as though a chapter of my life had closed。 I would say this book is a compilation of those little forgotten moments or feelings that make up a person's l Five stars。 This wasn't a laugh out loud read for me。 Instead， it was incredibly poignant， which I truthfully what I prefer in a read。 There were moments that he recounts that mirrored mine as a child。 I still remember being on the bus pulling away from my elementary school as a 7th grader， leaving the parking lot for the last time， and feeling as though a chapter of my life had closed。 I would say this book is a compilation of those little forgotten moments or feelings that make up a person's life。 。。。more

Jessica ，

Listen on audible！ Love Gary Janetti’s GenX childhood memories！

Allison ，

If you just finished Randy Rainbow’s memoir Playing with Myself and are having withdrawal pains， this is the book for you。 Both hilarious and painful in equal measures， Start Without Me explores much of the same territory that Randy did — growing up gay， but a decade earlier。 Don’t worry about repetition。 The anecdotes are unique and so is his perspective。 His analysis of The Wizard of Oz alone is worth the price of the book。

☕Brenda☕ ，

Aarggghhhh this has to be one of the dumbest books I've ever read。Only could make it halfways through。I picked it because it was supposed to be humorous and witty。Definitely disappointed。 ⭐ Aarggghhhh this has to be one of the dumbest books I've ever read。Only could make it halfways through。I picked it because it was supposed to be humorous and witty。Definitely disappointed。 ⭐ 。。。more

Elizabeth Hesselbach ，

I could just copy and paste my review of Janetti’s other book - his essays are equal parts laugh out loud funny， poignant and snarky。 I could read his work all day！

Christine Patronick ，

love love love！

Amy Schroeder ，

Funny in parts - probably better as a read than an audio。 Author's voice annoying。 Funny in parts - probably better as a read than an audio。 Author's voice annoying。 。。。more

Caitlin R。 ，

I love Gary already， so this was a fun audiobook for me （it was read by the author himself）。 So full of wit and humour， I found myself laughing out loud at times！ Such a fun little book about Gary’s life growing up - and fun stories along the way。 Thanks so much to MacMillan audio for a copy of this one for review！ It released last week， so go find a copy！

Aimee Truchan ，

Gary Janetti does satire with such brilliance， and here he is once again， doing it exquisitely within another series of personal essays。 His snark and precision to detail， particularly around his childhood in Queens， is truly hilarious。 Marry that with the heartwarming experiences he shares of growing up feeling like an outsider， the book is as personal and intimate as it is fun。 Fans of David Sedaris， Augusten Burroughs， or Grant Ginder: add to your TBR pile！

Karen ，

I can hear him talking。 Very funny stories about him growing up。

Lori ，

Janetti's essays are laugh out loud funny， snarky and poignant。 Janetti's essays are laugh out loud funny， snarky and poignant。 。。。more

Sarah ，

6。75/10

Hilary ，

The Wizard of Oz， Commencement Address， and Tan。。。 ！！！

Kevin ，

A quick look in the mind of Gary Janetti who I find completely hilarious！ I want to be one on his short list of friends。。。 you listening Gary？As much a history of New York as essays on growing up。 A look at sleep away camp， P。E。， Catholic School， learning to swim， reading for other people and attending a Broadway show for the first time。

Deborah ，

Gary Janetti’s book Do You Mind if I Cancel is one of my favorite non-fiction books，—it’s laugh-out-loud funny， wry， and candid。 I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much， but it still held his trademark entertaining blunt honesty。 It’s a collection of essays about his life， being a loner kid in school but preferring it that way， his summers spent traveling in his 20s， and now being an unabashed judgmental 50-year old。 His observations and commentary will crack you up; like the lengths he goes to in Gary Janetti’s book Do You Mind if I Cancel is one of my favorite non-fiction books，—it’s laugh-out-loud funny， wry， and candid。 I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much， but it still held his trademark entertaining blunt honesty。 It’s a collection of essays about his life， being a loner kid in school but preferring it that way， his summers spent traveling in his 20s， and now being an unabashed judgmental 50-year old。 His observations and commentary will crack you up; like the lengths he goes to in order to avoid running into his neighbors or how much effort he puts into seeming like he’s engrossed in a book when he’s reading in public 。。。more

Paula Fahey ，

I actually had the audio version。 It’s fun to hear him read his own essays， although I kept picturing the Little Prince reading， instead of Gary。 There are dozens of laugh out loud lines in this book。 It would be hard to say which essay is my favorite， but he really surprised me with Commencement Speech。 I was starting to get tired of the negativity， but then he turned the story around， and it honestly contained some of the best advice that a graduate could hear。 It wasn’t the funniest essay， bu I actually had the audio version。 It’s fun to hear him read his own essays， although I kept picturing the Little Prince reading， instead of Gary。 There are dozens of laugh out loud lines in this book。 It would be hard to say which essay is my favorite， but he really surprised me with Commencement Speech。 I was starting to get tired of the negativity， but then he turned the story around， and it honestly contained some of the best advice that a graduate could hear。 It wasn’t the funniest essay， but he really nailed it！ 。。。more

Zibby Owens ，

This is a collection of hilarious stories from the author behind Family Guy。 It chronicles the moments and times that defined who he is today。 There are many stories about his struggles throughout childhood， and some of them are tearjerkers。 He talks about growing up gay in Queens， New York， loving soap operas and Wizard of Oz。I loved the sister and felt she was the most hilarious character。 It was funny to see how the author portrayed his family and， at the same time， celebrated them in the boo This is a collection of hilarious stories from the author behind Family Guy。 It chronicles the moments and times that defined who he is today。 There are many stories about his struggles throughout childhood， and some of them are tearjerkers。 He talks about growing up gay in Queens， New York， loving soap operas and Wizard of Oz。I loved the sister and felt she was the most hilarious character。 It was funny to see how the author portrayed his family and， at the same time， celebrated them in the book。 To listen to my interview with the author， go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens。com/transcript/gar。。。 。。。more

Elizabeth Preston ，

Fun essays！

MK ，

ily gary

Mina ，

A light， quick， and entertaining read

Lisa Stillings ，

Gary shares his experiences in a series of essays。 Entertaining。

Nicole ，

An outing from the author who brought you "Do you mind if I cancel？"， this short memoir which is a series of multiple essays delivers another round of hilarity and amusement。 The audio version is read by the author and this provides a level of intimacy as you imagine you are being regaled by Janetti over cocktails about the assortment of tales from his youth and young adulthood。 This was my kind of humor - a bit raunchy， self-depreciating， and usually spot-on。 Those readers who don't enjoy readi An outing from the author who brought you "Do you mind if I cancel？"， this short memoir which is a series of multiple essays delivers another round of hilarity and amusement。 The audio version is read by the author and this provides a level of intimacy as you imagine you are being regaled by Janetti over cocktails about the assortment of tales from his youth and young adulthood。 This was my kind of humor - a bit raunchy， self-depreciating， and usually spot-on。 Those readers who don't enjoy reading profanity， frank discussions about sexuality or homosexual escapades （both real and imagined） might want to give this a miss。 For those who enjoy a bit of sarcasm and nostalgia about a time gone by （the 70's！）， read on。 Really a lot of fun。 。。。more

Patricia Gamboa ，

Light hearted and funny。 People think introverts are loners。 It’s isn’t the case， it only looks this way。 They have wit， can make anyone laugh， and have deep-deep friendships。

Carlos ，

Book: 4/5Audiobook: 5/5

Diane ，

I seem to have little in common with the author。 I don't care about movies， tv， the theater; I loathe musicals， but reading， and re-reading， this book makes me feel like I know him well and he's my favorite friend。 Under the bitchy exterior is a lively mind。 I laughed， I almost cried。 Every paragraph startles you with its unflinching honesty cloaked in hilarity。 I couldn't begin to give a favorite quote。 I recommend this book for anyone。 Thank you to Henry Hold and Co。 I won this book in a Goodr I seem to have little in common with the author。 I don't care about movies， tv， the theater; I loathe musicals， but reading， and re-reading， this book makes me feel like I know him well and he's my favorite friend。 Under the bitchy exterior is a lively mind。 I laughed， I almost cried。 Every paragraph startles you with its unflinching honesty cloaked in hilarity。 I couldn't begin to give a favorite quote。 I recommend this book for anyone。 Thank you to Henry Hold and Co。 I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway， and I never would have read it otherwise。 I'm glad I did。 Now I'm going to go back and re-read it。 。。。more

Kurt Anderson ，

Often hilarious， occasionally touching and all together entertaining。 The Commencement Address should be read by anyone about to graduate college

Suzan ，

I am not leaving a review for this book。 I was unable to finish the book and should never have asked to receive it。

Tam📖 ，

Even at 10， Gary was no one’s opening act。 I love him

Kevin ，

Gary Janetti's second collection of autobiographical essays， "Start Without Me （I'll Be There in a Minute），" is as funny as the first （"Do You Mind If I Cancel？"）， but what is unexpected from the writer and producer of WILL & GRACE and FAMILY GUY is the tender poignancy that laces this one。 His memories of the numerous gay restaurants in 1990s Manhattan are wistful and hilarious: "The food was terrible but it was a gay restaurant，" he writes， "you didn't go for the food， you went for the gay。" H Gary Janetti's second collection of autobiographical essays， "Start Without Me （I'll Be There in a Minute），" is as funny as the first （"Do You Mind If I Cancel？"）， but what is unexpected from the writer and producer of WILL & GRACE and FAMILY GUY is the tender poignancy that laces this one。 His memories of the numerous gay restaurants in 1990s Manhattan are wistful and hilarious: "The food was terrible but it was a gay restaurant，" he writes， "you didn't go for the food， you went for the gay。" His religion also gets some of his best one-liners， including: "The Catholics are the RuPaul's Drag Race of religions。 We put on a show， honey。"One chapter details his childhood tradition of watching the once-a-year broadcast of THE WIZARD OF OZ， "the gayest motion picture ever made。" What wasn't there to love for a gay kid？ Dorothy gets to wear ruby slippers， kill two witches， "gets her hair blown out" and sings。 "Do you know how hard it is to learn every line of a movie when you see it only once a year？" he asks。 "Kids then had to WORK。 No rewinding， no play it again。" One gets the feeling Janetti was always wise （and wise-ass） beyond his years。 Scamming a high school guidance counselor for an excuse slip to avoid gym class， he keeps her enthralled by inventing drama at home。 "Eventually， I just start rehashing plotlines from KNOTS LANDING，" he writes。An abundantly funny and nostalgic collection of memories of growing up gay that leaves a sweet aftertaste。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute)

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute)&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute)&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0