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Queer Book Club is a small but enthusiastic community that meets monthly to discuss queer-themed books spanning numerous genres.
Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion as we celebrate World Autism Month with a deep dive into Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by multi-award-winning comedian and writer, Hannah Gadsby.
In this New York Times Bestseller, Gadsby shares the defining moments of their life, offering readers an intimate look at their journey to self-acceptance. Gadsby grew up as the youngest of five children in a small, isolated town in Tasmania, where homosexuality was illegal until 1997. While their childhood felt "safe" and "normal," Gadsby soon realized the world around them would challenge their queerness, and the "vulnerably thin veneer" of their existence began to crack.
After moving to mainland Australia and studying art history, Gadsby spent years drifting through various jobs while enduring isolation, homophobic and sexual violence. At twenty-seven, without a home or the ability to envision a future, a friend urged them to enter a stand-up competition. Gadsby won, marking the beginning of their career in comedy.
Known for their self-deprecating humor, Gadsby captivated audiences with autobiographical jokes—until a pivotal moment during the 2015 Australian same-sex marriage debate led them to question their approach. This introspection gave birth to Nanette, a revolutionary comedy special that redefined comedy and storytelling.
Ten Steps to Nanette expands on this transformation, chronicling Gadsby’s struggles with late-in-life diagnoses of autism and ADHD, their relationship with comedy, and the painful yet empowering choice to renounce self-deprecation in favor of truth-telling.
