Book Review

Jenna Goldstrom
The book that I chose to read for my book review was the autobiographical non-fiction
novel Are you there vodka? Its me Chelsea by the television comedian Chelsea Handler. It really
jumped all over the place, which I liked but also saw diminish the existence of any sort of
organized or identifiable plot. She chronicled some very memorable and meaningful experiences
from her life, from being the poorest girl in her rich New Jersey town, to being the incredibly
innovative and mature Jewish youngest daughter in her family. She also goes to show how her
adult life is one of the more questionable, obnoxious, and truly uninhibited ones I personally
have heard of, but definitely also on the general scale of societally acceptable behavior.
Not only did Chelsea give graphic detail on her second DUI, she also talks about the rude
things shes done to and with her friends, a lot more of which I think were perpetuated by her
writing her book with such graphic and truthful accounts of real life people in her life. Im not
quite sure if her examples of re-gifting, casual and hurtful sexual encounters with men, or just
being an overall inconsiderate friend are to sort of set as an example of what the general
populous should shy away from or the exact opposite, as some sort of self-serving guide to
gliding through life as slyly as Chelsea Handler does, but its a pretty interesting and fun read in
general.
Some of the most prevalent social issues that I saw touched in the book were things like
alcoholism, women-against-women behaviors, as in the way women diminish feminism by being
overly competitive and comparative for the sake of men rather than having comradery with other
women, and classism from young ages onwards. Not only does Chelsea handler literally mention

vodka nearly every other page, shes also drinking it on every one. She talks about her two DUIs
very casually, and doesnt seem to mind her accumulated habit of compulsively binge drinking.
In fact, Id go so far as to say that she basically celebrates it as a form of social and individual
behavior.
Now, I wouldnt call Chelsea Handler a feminist, but I would an empowered woman,
because of her incredibly take-no-bull, or prisoners for that matter, attitude about society and life.
She doesnt seem to make men be the most validating thing as far as her opinion of herself is
concerned, which is never made explicitly clear but abundantly so by way of her words and
portrayal of them in her life. The way she reacts to male aggression and rejection is also very
independent and shows her ability to recover without (or seemingly without) the need to
mentally establish dependence on men due to societal conditioning. All of this being said, her
relationships with women arent much better than those with men. I cant tell if shes brutally
honest as a friend or just plain unabashedly and unnecessarily judgmental and rude to those
closest to her, but she definitely doesnt regard them as much as Id imagine one would.
Not only does she go to talk a lot of negatively on most of her friends, she always shines
them in pretty unflattering lights too. Dont get me wrong, its clear she loves and appreciates
them with the nice quips she adds in about each and every one of them, yet the fact remains that
for the most part Chelsea Handler doesnt have to make her friends look like that. She calls out
most of them on things from mistaking a dumb gift for a very meaningful one, being moronic
when talking to cops, bad roommates, etc. I think that its this sort of constant judgmental
criticism that perpetuates the sort of girl-on-girl hate that stimulates the patriarchys need to
make women less than that of what which they could be. Female comradery is a very sacred and
special bond that transcends male influence, which is why its so threatening to a male dominated

and repressive society, constantly scrutinizing women against each other and themselves. Its this
sort of judgment that not only reflects how a person sees themselves, but also the harsh climate
of society thats driven them to these malicious behaviors.
Now, in the beginning of the book, Chelsea describes being what most would consider
middle class, but in her small rich sect of the East coast she was in fact the lowest of the low. Her
father, a tax evading used car salesman, is a strange man who does exactly what he pleases and
when, and with the cantankerous manor of Larry David, plans her Bat Mitzvah. She was upset at
it though, because it wasnt half as lavish as shed wish. On the grand scheme of things, it was a
fine celebration, but the internalized feelings of inadequacy by comparison clearly took their toll
on her self-esteem. She also enters the book with a very descriptive account of her most
elaborate of lies. She told everyone at school that she was an actress working on a movie with
Goldie Hahn, and when they believe it enough to stop bullying her for being poor, she has no
choice but continue the faade for self-gain. A world where this is a reality is not a civilized one,
no one should feel compelled to do such a thing in order to avoid an already extreme amount of
ridicule for a problem thats literally made up by societys expectations.
I found the book to be very interesting and unique. Since its describing a person with a
very multifaceted life, its all very scattered and intriguing. I really liked hearing what Chelsea
had to say, especially since it was coming from someone as witty and hilarious as she just so
happens to be. I would read it again if I hadnt already renewed it twice through the library. I
highly suggest it, but only as an enjoyment read. Its hardly academic, and while I found a lot to
do with social injustices in the world in it, its definitely not the central focus of the novel
whatsoever.