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I Am Not Myself These Days A Memoir

by Josh Kilmer Purcell
I Am Not Myself These Days A Memoir

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ISBN13: 9780060817329
ISBN10: 0060817321
Condition: Standard


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Staff Pick

I loved this memoir. Josh goes from being a famous-in-Japan drag queen, known for his use of live goldfish as part of his costume, to living with his crack-addicted male escort boyfriend. His hilarious, self-deprecating style of writing reminds me of David Sedaris, but his unusual experiences are all his own.   Recommended By Anna M., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

I Am Not Myself These Days follows a glittering journey through Manhattan's dark underbelly — a shocking and surreal world where alter egos reign and subsist (barely) on dark wit and chemicals...a tragic romantic comedy where one begins by rooting for the survival of the relationship and ends by hoping someone simply survives. Kilmer-Purcell is a terrifically gifted new literary voice who straddles the divide between absurdity and normalcy, and stitches them together with surprising humor and lonely poignancy. As Booklist raved "as tart and funny as a Noel Coward play, for Kilmer-Purcell is especially good at dialogue, and, as in Coward's best plays, under the comedy lies the sad truth that even at our best, we are all weak, fallible fools. Again and again in this rich, adventure-filled book, Kilmer-Purcell illustrates the truth of Blake's proverb, 'The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.'"

Review

"Again and again in this rich, adventure-filled book, Kilmer-Purcell illustrates the truth of Blake's proverb, 'The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.'" Booklist

Review

"[A] delicate narrative that spares not an ounce of pain but never once aims for contrition. Effortlessly entertaining yet still heartfelt; the romance of life as an escape artist." Kirkus Reviews

Review

"[D]arkly hilarious and entertaining....Highly Reccommended..." Library Journal

Review

"[P]lenty of dishy anecdotes and moments of tragi-camp delight." Washington Post Book World

Review

"...In a word, wonderful." Clive Barker

Review

"I laughed. I cried. I laughed again. I Am Not Myself These Days is tawdry and brilliantly witty." Simon Doonan

Synopsis

"A glittering, bittersweet vision of an outsider who turned himself into the life and soul of the party. Kilmer-Purcell's cast is part freak-show, part soap-opera, but his prose is graced with such insight and wit that the laughter is revelatory, and the tears--and there are tears to be shed along this extraordinary journey--are shed for people in whom everybody will find something of themselves. In a word, wonderful." -- Clive Barker

"Absolutely hilarious and heartbreaking and heartfelt." --Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City

The New York Times bestselling, darkly funny memoir of a young New Yorker's daring dual life--advertising art director by day, glitter-dripping drag queen and nightclub beauty-pageant hopeful by night--was a smash literary debut for Josh Kilmer-Purcell, now known for his popular Planet Green television series The Fabulous Beekman Boys. His story begins here--before the homemade goat milk soaps and hand-gathered honeys, before his memoir of the city mouse's move to the country, The Bucolic Plague--in I Am Not Myself These Days, with "plenty of dishy anecdotes and moments of tragi-camp delight" (Washington Post).

Synopsis

The New York Times bestselling, darkly funny memoirof a young New Yorker's daring dual life—advertising art director by day,glitter-dripping drag queen and nightclub beauty-pageant hopeful by night—was asmash literary debut for Josh Kilmer-Purcell, now known for his popular PlanetGreen television series The Fabulous Beekman Boys.His story begins here—before the homemade goat milk soaps and hand-gatheredhoneys, before his memoir of the city mouses move to the country, TheBucolic Plague—in I Am Not Myself These Days,  with “plenty of dishy anecdotes and moments of tragi-camp delight” (WashingtonPost).

About the Author

After "retiring" from drag in 2000, Josh Kilmer-Purcell refocused on his advertising career, winning numerous awards, and is now a partner in a midsize creative advertising agency in lower Manhattan. He lives on Manhattan's Upper East Side with his partner of five years.

5 4

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 5 (4 comments)

`
monique.colver , September 16, 2008
I was amazed at the similarity between Kilmer-Purcell and myself, as if we were but two halves of the same coin, our angst a result of our somewhat desperate attempts to find some sort of sanity in an insane world. Though I am not gay, not a guy, not a drag queen, not in advertising, and live on the west coast, there was still that striking identification, as if we're all playing the same game. Could that be?

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`
lindsey beadle , January 23, 2008 (view all comments by lindsey beadle)
Given to me by a coworker for a Christmas exchange gift - one of the best exchange gifts I have ever gotten. Heartbreaking and funny. A fast, enjoyable, and at times, educational read.

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`
lilmizzlyndzmarie , September 27, 2007
I have read this book a total or four times now. Being a straight 18-year-old girl, this has to speak wonders. I am completely amazed by Kilmer-Purcell's ability to write and convey feelings with the wit and dialogue that captures the most random readers. Two thumbs way up!!

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caitlin , August 29, 2006 (view all comments by caitlin)
This was one of the best books I read this summer. Easy, fast-paced, hilarious and serious at the same time.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060817329
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
02/07/2006
Publisher:
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS
Pages:
336
Height:
.83IN
Width:
5.30IN
Thickness:
.83 in.
Series:
P.S.
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2006
UPC Code:
2800060817321
Author:
Josh ell
Author:
Kilmer-Purc
Author:
Josh Kilmer Purcell
Author:
Kilmer-purcell
Author:
Josh Kilmer-purcell
Subject:
Personal Memoirs
Subject:
New york (state)
Subject:
Transvestites
Subject:
Biography - General
Subject:
Transvestites -- New York (State) -- New York.
Subject:
Kilmer-Purcell, Josh

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List Price:$14.99
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
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More copies of this ISBN

  • New, Trade Paperback, $17.99
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