Hello, Molly!: A Memoir

I read this in a day, and as a mom of a toddler, that should tell you how much I loved it. This was a profoundly beautiful and moving books. Some of it is a love letter to her dad, others is to her mom. All of it is to the beautiful and bittersweet moments of family life and seeking a life bigger than you can imagine. One of my favorite books of this year.

Saturday Night Live’s Molly Shannon is famous for her funny characters, sketches and slapstick comedy. But this Cincinatti born actress and comedian has written an incredibly funny, inspiring memoir. It is quite the homage to her late parents, especially her dad.As we discover in the first chapter, Molly’s life was turned upside down when at the age of only four, her mother, younger sister and cousin were killed in a car accident in which her father fell asleep at the wheel. Waking up in the hospital no one wanted to tell her what happened and all she kept saying was she wanted her mom. Her life and her sister Mary’s changed forever after the tragedy.As Molly, her older sister and father tried to adjust to the new family dynamics, their father, who never really recovered psychologically or physically from the accident was at a loss as to how to move on. He turned to drinking and Molly became his best friend. He would get jealous if Molly wanted to go out with her friends and she would have to prepare herself when she knew she had to tell him she would be going out. He did not understand why she would want to go out when they could have fun together. There were times when anger would get the best of her father and he would lash out screaming. Molly and her sister became adept at knowing what mood he was in just by the way he would enter their apartment.But, for all her father’s faults, he was her biggest fan. She feels her creativity came from the crazy situations her father would get them into and then get them out of. From the moment she decided to become an actress, he pushed her to pursue a career, telling her never to take no for an answer and just keep pushing herself because he knew she could do it.So that is just what Molly did. After graduating from college in New York, Molly headed to Los Angeles where she began waiting tables and trying to find work and an agent. It was there that she began the creation of Mary Catherine Gallager, a young Catholic schoolgirl who was prone to anxiety and clumsiness. The tagline “Superstar” is actually a nod to a childhood friend. She even had her own one woman show which she would invite all the guests from the restaurant, (and even homeless people) as well.She and one of her male friends actually had a hustle where they would claim to be calling from playwright David Mamet’s office late on Friday afternoons recommending each other to the casting offices and setting up appointments for each other. They would each have to get five meetings before they could call it a day. Talk about persistence and genius!But then she was finally cast on Saturday Night Live where she worked with Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and Cheri Oteri. And she became a “superstar”! That portion of the book is filled with wonderfully funny stories about how certain sketches came to fruition and all the back-stage drama that comes along with working with different personalities on a weekly basis. Throughout this time her biggest cheerleader was her dad who was still dealing with heartbreaking conflicts but was a favorite friend to all the cast at SNL.As you read and understand Molly’s tragedies and triumphs, you also get the feeling after all these years that perhaps Molly is also healing herself and putting all the heartbreak behind. One theme throughout the book is her hope that upon reading, women who want to break into the business can learn that they must be more persistent and stronger and wiser as well as think outside the box when it comes to getting their foot in a door.Hello, Molly is a fantastic memoir filled with heartwarming stories, some funny and some horribly sad, but certainly gives the reader a perspective into Shannon’s upbeat personality, her wisdom and her charm.

A story of tragic loss but mainly of a life well lived and accomplishments well deserved. Someone told me once we never escape our childhood, it is the outline which frames us. But the rest is up to us...along with that unknown called the guiding hand of fate. Molly has filled in her destiny well so far.She tells her story in her voice which is what I really enjoyed. How good was this book? Well, it lasted about 3 nights, with many OMGs and LOLs and tears and totally relatable experiences along the way. In other words, I couldn't put it down.Bob in Seattle

I was a 15-year-old kid when Molly was on SNL, and I loved her characters and how silly she was. Years later, I loved her in Other People, The Other Two and The White Lotus. Now, having read this beautiful book, I get to love her -- the person! And it gives me this beautiful opportunity to re-watch her work through another lens, understanding so much more about who and why she is. The world would be a better place if we could all channel a little more Molly in our attitude. We're alive! And that's a reason to smile, to be kind and -- most importantly -- to laugh.

memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, tellalls and then there's this. A compendium of love which is so well organized and pithy, one suspects she could have been a scientist. First, she loves everyone. Even says ok to some agent in LA who says don't do Mary Katherine Gallagher and her father who drunk drives his family out of existence and she still loves in and out of the closet. Thankful for Deb Palumbo's brother who always believed and to George Cheeks, an honest attorney. Mostly to you Molly, a marvelous experience.

When you think of Molly Shannon you think of three primary memories; "Saturday Night Live, Comedy, and Beauty with brains." When growing up, I always got puppy eyes with the super star we know as Molly Shannon.With this book, and without giving any kind of spoilers, we can get an amazing story where we learn some of her hard walking steps into Hollywood. Yes, Molly is great, but Molly Shannon is better. HEY~! SUPAH STAR!

One of my favorite genres is memoirs, and many contemporary memoirs have that “ghost written” feel, Molly Shannon’s memoir sounds as if she is sitting across the living room and is excitingly telling you her life stories. There is tragically, a few events that shaped her life’s work, but ultimately this is an uplifting book, mainly because of Molly’s incredible ability to remain upbeat and incredibly empathetic.Not a tell-all Hollywood/SNL gossip story. But it is filled with stories that demonstrate just how difficult it can be to break into show business. An easy read, and yet somehow profound.

By far one of the most enjoyable books I've read lately. I devoured this. Molly's life is truly worthy of publication. Each page is interesting, hilarious, heartwarming, inspiring ~ and so much more than I could have expected. (This is a non-paid, non-advertisement recommendation if you're in the mood for a really fun read.) I LOVE MOLLY!

Would recommend this book, it was funny and honest. It was easy to read and had me in tears in some parts because I could relate and laughing out loud in other parts of the book.

Warm funny sad true whimsical heartfelt honest wise hilarious smart fullcircle moment. And freeExactly what expected. Makes you feel like being more yourself

Excellent story