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How Y'all Doing?

Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived

Audiobook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

Audie Award Winner, Humor

Viral sensation and Emmy Award-winner Leslie Jordan regales fans with entertaining stories about the odd, funny, and unforgettable events in his life in this unmissable essay collection that echoes his droll, irreverent voice.

When actor Leslie Jordan learned he had "gone viral," he had no idea what that meant or how much his life was about to change. On Instagram, his uproarious videos have entertained millions and have made him a global celebrity. Now, he brings his bon vivance to the page with this collection of intimate and sassy essays.

Bursting with color and life, dripping with his puckish Southern charm, How Y'all Doing? is Leslie doing what Leslie does best: telling stories that make us laugh and lift our spirits even in the darkest days. Whether he's writing about his brush with a group of ruffians in a West Hollywood Starbucks, or an unexpected phone call from legendary Hollywood start Debbie Reynolds, Leslie infuses each story with his fresh and saucy humor and pure heart.

How Y'all Doing? is an authentic, warm, and joyful portrait of an American Sweetheart— a Southern Baptist celebutante, first-rate raconteur, and keen observer of the odd side of life whose quirky wit rivals the likes of Amy Sedaris, Jenny Lawson, David Rakoff, and Sarah Vowell.

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  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      June 1, 2021
      The actor and surprise Instagram phenomenon dishes on his career, his past, and his foibles. Before the pandemic, Jordan was best known as a diminutive scene-stealer with supporting roles in Will and Grace, Boston Public, The Help, and American Horror Story. But as he relates early in this casual, good-natured memoir, his flirty and funny gay-uncle personality also made him a perfect fit for Instagram, which rewards colorful personalities who are quick with a zinger; he went from zero to 5.5 million followers in less than a year. Virality hasn't gone to his head, though, and the prevailing mood here is one of humility and self-deprecation. He interweaves run-ins with the likes of Lady Gaga, Carrie Fisher, and Dolly Parton with recollections of his childhood in east Tennessee (where he fumbled to understand his sexuality), his early professional stumbles, and past addictions. Most of his stories are of the breezy, funny-incident variety--you can picture him relating them on a talk-show couch (or an Instagram video)--and his descriptions of other actors are unstintingly polite to the point of clich�. (Vicki Lawrence is "wonderfully loving, exceptionally talented"; Gaga was "beautifully brought up.") But it's not all fluff. In a chapter about Truman Capote, Jordan recalls how the author's gay persona, after terrifying him at first, appealed to him and led to an ultimately disastrous effort to portray him onstage. A homophobic incident at his local Starbucks prompted him to recall his volunteer work with AIDS patients during the crisis. In the closing chapter, the author nicely balances a sweet and sour tone, venting his heartbreak at the Orlando Pulse shooting while relating his inexpert attempt to toss a first pitch at a baseball game shortly after. A lightweight but inviting clutch of remembrances from an outsize personality.

      COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      April 1, 2021
      In an effort to combat quarantine-related boredom, actor Jordan took to Instagram to relay stories of his misbegotten youth, always beginning with ""Well, shit. How y'all doing?"" That one line perfectly encapsulates Jordan's style--folksy, charming, and a little profane. His five-and-a-half million Instagram followers agree, though it was a long road to becoming an overnight sensation. In this collection of sharp recollections, Jordan details his life growing up as a church-going boy outside of Chattanooga to misadventures in drag to moving to Los Angeles in the midst of the AIDS crisis. He is, in every sense, fierce, a hilarious storyteller who makes the mundane seem magical (see ""The Time Debbie Reynolds Called My Mother"") and a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ community (see ""Not in My House""). Especially interesting is the entry on Truman Capote, how Jordan was alarmed when he saw him on Johnny Carson, and how, despite their physical similarities, he never could capture the role. Plus, there's plenty of celebrity gossip. This breezy collection will appeal to readers of pop culture, celebrity memoirs, and Southern storytelling.

      COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      From his opening line--"Well, shit, how y'all doing?"--Leslie Jordan brings his sparkling energy and humor to the narration of his memoir. The Tennessee native, who starred in television's "Will & Grace" and "American Horror Story," has of late achieved a loyal social media following after going viral (a status he didn't even know the meaning of until it happened) on Instagram. Jordan narrates in his trademark Southern accent, with a delightfully whimsical and flamboyant touch. His colorful narration dovetails with his colorful life, which is on full display, from growing up gay in a Southern Baptist family in a conservative area to his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and his later sobriety and successful career in the performing arts. S.E.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

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