In 'Grand,' Sara Schaefer takes readers on a witty and heartfelt journey through the complexities of fame, identity, and personal growth. As a comedian grappling with her own insecurities, she reflects on the absurdities of the entertainment industry and the pressures of being in the spotlight. Through humorous anecdotes and poignant revelations, Schaefer explores what it truly means to be 'grand' in a world obsessed with perfection. Her candid storytelling invites readers to question their own definitions of success and happiness. Prepare to laugh, ponder, and connect with a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.
By Sara Schaefer
Published: 2020
""Life is a stage, and we're all just improvising—sometimes the best moments come from the scenes we never saw coming.""
For fans of Mennonite in a Little Black Dress and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, comedian and Emmy Award–winning writer Sara Schaefer’s hilariously honest memoir follows Sara’s trip through the Grand Canyon with her sister that causes her to reflect on her childhood and the scandal that changed her family forever. When Sara Schaefer is in first grade, her father warns her to always tell the truth because one lie leads to another and soon you will find yourself in a hole you can’t escape. A few years later, the Schaefer family is completely upended when it’s revealed that their grand life is based on a lie. Her parents become pariahs in their upper middle class community and go from non-religious people to devout church members. The idea of good and evil as binary, opposed forces is drilled into Sara and it becomes the perfect framework on which to build her anxiety and increasingly-obsessive thoughts. The year she turns forty, Sara decides to take each member of her family on a one-on-one vacation culminating with a whitewater rafting journey through the Grand Canyon with her younger sister. The only problem is she’s terrified of rafting. Along the way, she grapples with unresolved grief over the death of her mother and the family scandal that changed the trajectory of her life. Heartfelt, candid, and witty, Grand is a story about family, identity, and struggling to make something of yourself. Sara deconstructs her struggles with anxiety and depression, what it means to be a good person, and the radically discordant stories we tell ourselves and share with the world.
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“"Life is a stage, and we're all just improvising—sometimes the best moments come from the scenes we never saw coming."”
Grand
By Sara Schaefer
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Sara Schaefer is a celebrated author and comedian known for her sharp wit and engaging storytelling. Her notable works include the critically acclaimed memoir "Great," which delves into the complexities of self-acceptance and the pursuit of happiness. She is also recognized for her contributions to television, having written for shows such as "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine." Schaefer's writing style blends humor with poignant insights, drawing readers in with her relatable anecdotes and candid reflections.
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