Member Review
Review by
Richard P, Reviewer
It would be nearly impossible to not get caught up in the force of life that is Leslie Jordan, an Emmy Award-winning actor and viral sensation whose misadventures and mischief are captured in abundance in his latest book "How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived."
A series of essays connected pretty much only by Jordan's Southern charm and former Southern Baptist sass, "How Y'all Doing?" is pretty close to exactly the book you hope it will be if you're even remotely familiar with the often supporting cinematic player who picked up the 2006 Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on "Will & Grace."
Filled with an abundance of humor and heart, "How Y'all Doing?" is as vibrant and wondrous as Jordan himself whether he's talking about his Southern Baptist upbringing in Chattanooga, Tennessee or sharing poignant stories about his military father who died when Jordan was just 11-years-old. Jordan can be wildly flamboyant and achingly vulnerable in the same moment, a guy who seems befuddled by the fact that he has millions of Instagram followers who are, no doubt, drawn to his engaging personality and transparency. Jordan is boldly open about his ongoing recovery from drug and alcohol abuse and equally open about that time Debbie Reynolds gave him a call.
Unashamedly queer, Jordan is a magnificent storyteller and "How Y'all Doing?" mostly reads like he's right there with us in the room. If you've ever seen his performances, and you have, you will no doubt hear Jordan's voice as you're reading this breezy, fun, and often hilarious book.
While I've long been familiar with Jordan's work, it's been his collaborations with Del Shores, whom I've interviewed twice as a film critic, that have largely made me such a huge Leslie Jordan fan. Jordan's work as Brother Boy in "Sordid Lives" is simply remarkable, one of several times he's collaborated with Shores and maximized his ability to be both hilarious and emotionally honest.
You can't help but get the feeling that "How Y'all Doing?" only begins to tell the stories dwelling deep inside this man who seems to present "as is" and we absolutely love him for it. If I have one complaint about "How Y'all Doing?" it's simply that the book comes to an end. Turning the last page, you can't help but think to yourself that "This is someone I want to spend time with again and again and again."
A series of essays connected pretty much only by Jordan's Southern charm and former Southern Baptist sass, "How Y'all Doing?" is pretty close to exactly the book you hope it will be if you're even remotely familiar with the often supporting cinematic player who picked up the 2006 Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on "Will & Grace."
Filled with an abundance of humor and heart, "How Y'all Doing?" is as vibrant and wondrous as Jordan himself whether he's talking about his Southern Baptist upbringing in Chattanooga, Tennessee or sharing poignant stories about his military father who died when Jordan was just 11-years-old. Jordan can be wildly flamboyant and achingly vulnerable in the same moment, a guy who seems befuddled by the fact that he has millions of Instagram followers who are, no doubt, drawn to his engaging personality and transparency. Jordan is boldly open about his ongoing recovery from drug and alcohol abuse and equally open about that time Debbie Reynolds gave him a call.
Unashamedly queer, Jordan is a magnificent storyteller and "How Y'all Doing?" mostly reads like he's right there with us in the room. If you've ever seen his performances, and you have, you will no doubt hear Jordan's voice as you're reading this breezy, fun, and often hilarious book.
While I've long been familiar with Jordan's work, it's been his collaborations with Del Shores, whom I've interviewed twice as a film critic, that have largely made me such a huge Leslie Jordan fan. Jordan's work as Brother Boy in "Sordid Lives" is simply remarkable, one of several times he's collaborated with Shores and maximized his ability to be both hilarious and emotionally honest.
You can't help but get the feeling that "How Y'all Doing?" only begins to tell the stories dwelling deep inside this man who seems to present "as is" and we absolutely love him for it. If I have one complaint about "How Y'all Doing?" it's simply that the book comes to an end. Turning the last page, you can't help but think to yourself that "This is someone I want to spend time with again and again and again."
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.