Author: Em Rusciano
ISBN: 9781925310757
RRP: $32.99
Em Rusciano is a multi-talented Australian who has done quite a lot throughout her career and I was not familiar with her until this book. She is a writer, comedian and singer who has had quite a diverse career to date with radio shows, sold out stand-up shows and a spot on Australian Idol.
Try Hard takes us inside the mind and the life of Em, from her beginnings as a precocious child who loved the spotlight and spent much of her time performing for a captive audience of toys, and her loving family of course.
What I wasn’t expecting was the accomplished sportswoman with elite sporting dreams, the anxiety, the major spelling struggles and the brutal honesty.
I was expecting the humour, the bad language and the in-depth look at the life of Em Rusciano from her childhood through to now and I wasn’t really sure what to expect in terms of enjoyment.
Usually I’m not really a memoir kinda gal, but I am glad I picked this one up. Most people would pick up the memoir of someone they are familiar with and admire, and that would probably change the reading experience, but I’m not most people.
My sister had a friend on the 2004 season of Australian Idol so I did watch some of it, I don’t remember seeing Em… actually I don’t remember any of it except that I watched a couple of episodes so I could vote. I’m not really into stand-up comedy and I don’t listen to the radio. Pretty much sums up all the places I wasn’t going to know of Em Rusciano, but having read Try Hard I certainly feel like I know her a lot better now and I’m glad of it.
Em takes us on a journey through her life from birth through to the writing of the book. Keeping in mind that Em is a successful stand up comedian you can expect the writing to be filled with humour, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. But the life of a stand-up comedian isn’t all laughs and it seems much of their material comes from the things that go wrong in life so you can expect a lot of that too.
Try Hard is the story of a woman with the strength to follow her dreams through near crippling anxiety, a woman not afraid to take us into the very depths of herself and what moulded her into the woman she is today.
Try Hard is not always said with admiration or affection, and quite often the connotation is that it’s not really a good thing. I remember Try Hard being said quite negatively in the school yard to those who were seen to be trying too hard to pass themselves off as something they are not. But that’s not the only type of Try Hard, and it’s certainly not Em’s brand of Try Hard; her brand of Try Hard is to go at everything in her life with everything she has and to be the absolute best she can and be the hardest on herself while she’s at it.
Yes, there are definitely chapters riddled with too much information, things you never really wanted to know about another woman but it’s there for a reason. It helps to paint the picture that is Em, to show all the facets of the woman she’s become. She takes us through her childhood, her years as an athlete, presenting on radio, Australian Idol and her comedy shows. But more importantly than all of that she takes us inside her family, her friendships, her marriage and her children to where the true heart of her lies.
Em’s not afraid to tackle the hard times in her life and who helped get her through them. She’s not afraid to open her heart and soul, and tell us how much even writing about those times hurt.
Try Hard is interesting and insightful as well as entertaining; it paints a vivid picture of Em Rusciano and lets us in on her personal life as well as her career.
Fans of her work will love this but I think all women and all mothers will find something to take away from the read.
Em Rusciano can be found on Facebook, Twitter and her Website.
Try Hard Tales from the Life of a Needy Overachiever is published by Simon & Schuster and available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Try Hard is book #60 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2016
Thanks to Simon & Schuster 20 of our lucky Beauty and Lace Club members will be reading Try Hard Tales from the Life of a Needy Overachiever so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I am so thrilled to be picked to review this one! I love em!
Very in depth review, thanks, I wasn’t quite sure what this book was about, now I understand more about it.
I love this book!! Very brutally honest and to Em, you are so brave and have a strength that you don’t seem to know you have! There is no way I would put my life out on public display , I am not strong enough. But being a public person this such a fantastic way for us to see the behind the scenes and get an insight into your life, thoughts and general life.
As a mother, I can totally understand your fierce protection of your children, they sound like the perfect balance for you. Your husband must be very understanding , there is no way my husband would allow me to do that, he would chuck the biggest hissy fit.
I love how you incorporate groups that are in your life and support them with your whole being, such as beyond blue. enough cannot be done for our young people.
You have a wonderful way of getting your message across, hilarious and I would say exactly how your mind is working. I’m guessing that its your inner child emerging, and not too serious about life. Not sure if there is to be follow up but if there is I would definitely look at getting it!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this, its not something I would have probably bought unless recommended to me or given by a friend to read. Such an insight!
This is a quick read book and I loved the open honestly of Em Rusciano’s insights into her life and world.
Each chapter takes us on a funny and honest journey through Em’s life from her first class at Miss Sheila Fancypants School of Dance to attending her first concert; John Farnham no less, to her dreams for becoming an elite athlete to her radio and comedic career with an appearance at the Oxfam comedy gala. There are so many stories, tales and events that make you feel you are 10 years old again or a young teenager going through puberty, starting your first job, falling in love, falling pregnant and becoming a mother and falling out of love. The ups, the downs and the jubilation of these times shines through. I laughed and cried along with Em.
Her letter to her daughters and the self help chapters at the end of the book are a must, must read.
I would not normally have picked this book up to read so I’m glad I got to read and review for the Book Club. It is funny and sad and enlightening so get a copy and read it as you won’t be disappointed.
This book was a real eye-opener for me. I don’t remember Em on Australian Idol (I probably didn’t watch it), but I used to listen to her on ‘mamamia’ every day. I was so sad when she finished there and I just assumed that it finished because she (and Dave) wanted it to for whatever reason. I never realised how cut-throat the radio industry is in Australia.
I love the way Em writes, it’s the same way she talks. One thing that I noticed is that I was happily reading along and suddenly I thought ‘how are we on to this subject now? I was just reading about x’. She just seemed to seamlessly jump from one topic the the next and I did find myself backtracking multiple times to work out when the change happened and how it happened.
I am amazed at how strong Em is – nothing like me at all. I loved reading about her friendships and made me wish for friends like them who would do anything for me. I’m a planner, but Em just goes with the flow and I really enjoyed reading about it.
Thank you Em for sharing your life with us! Just as a funny little aside, throughout the book are little shooting stars and every time my eye caught one as I turned the page I thought it was a dead bug squashed in the pages!
Thank you Beauty and Lace for another great book to review >:o)
WOW!!! This book gave me a whole new insight to Em, she is the most bravest, talented and gorgeous woman that everyone will love even more when they read this sensational book.
Before reading this book I thought Em was a single mum, came from Adelaide and was on a show called Popstars as a girl group with Sophie Monk and god knows who else in the year 2000 called Bardot??? I only say this year because I missed out who got through because I was in labour and had to go to the hospital. Does anyone else remember this or was I delusional?
Anyway, I have learnt that I am normal from reading this and I could relate to a lot of things especially back in the 80`s haha, what fun times really and I had forgotton about Dolly magazines until she mentioned them 🙂 so funny! I have never read a book that had me laughing loudly to myself why my family members looked at me wierdly haha, what a fun ride she took me on, thanks Em!
I now feel I really know that Em is the most courageous person I have ever known and would inspire to be more like her any day.
I love her pictures too and the quote from Theodore Roosevelt near the end was something I will show my kids and may go back and reread from time to time.
I will never think any negative thoughts of Rob Mills again as I did think he was a self absorbed romeo but boyyyyy………was I so wrong!!! He was the most giving person to Em and I will try not to ever judge anyone again.
Loved Em`s dad too as he was a special man and she was some lucky girl growing up.
After reading this, I think most well known people should all write a book about themselves and their lives as it opens up a whole new world.
Who would have ever thought Em doubted herself from looks to confidence? I have always thought she was confident, great figure, great looks but it goes to show we are all human and we can trick people into thinking we are ok when we are not at all. Glad she seeked help and opened up about her life because a little bit goes a long way and I`m sure you have healed some of my doubts now.
Thanks Em Rusciano, I will be emailing, Facebooking and Tweeting you feedback from this book because it really touched my heart. May you always fight to win Em 🙂
So much thanks to Beauty and Lace, Simon and Schuster and all the people involved in this story as you all made it special.
I absolutely loved this book. Em tells a great down to earth and honest story of her life and struggles. It was so easy to read and I really connected with her. She talks about her friends and family in a funny and slightly sarcastic edge. Her marriage, births of her much loved girls and deaths of some of her close family members are shared with the reader in such a way that you are happy and sad with her. Since reading the book I have sent Em a message on Facebook and watched online videos of her and her wacky antics. Thanks Em for writing a great story and being a solid Aussie chic.
Oh my goodness. This is definitely a book all mothers should read. I love how it’s written, I can hear her voice in my head speaking exactly as I read the text. She is witty, hilarious, strong willed, determined, walks her own way, and is just downright amazing.
I swear throughout the book, the it took me back down memory lane as we obviously grew up in the same eras. Some of these made me chuck just thinking about those times too. Everything is out in the open, not holding back, so many home truths, she really is brave to put these to paper but it really is an eye opener and also a reality check for those who read it. It really brings in you emotionally too.
Love, love, love her. She keeps it real, thanks for the laughs, the cries and the “WTF’s” hehehe. Em, you are a STAR!!!
I giggled, I smiled and boy did I cringe.
Em is alarmingly honest, candid and WOW does she like to share. She writes so effortlessly it is like listening to a close friend. She shares some amazing highs and some devastating lows of her life thus far. For some amazing giggles I would highly recommend this book. It is to use a cliché.. “hard to put down” Perfect Christmas pressie for that hard to buy for friend.
Em Rusciano’s book Try Hard is hilariously entertaining, brutally honest & a rollercoaster ride of emotion. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. I’ve read lots of new books this year & whilst they’ve all been good in different ways, this is hands down my favourite. I follow Em on facebook & I find it intriguing that her byline is ‘Comedian’. Of course, she is a funny gal, but she’s so much more than that. This book is raw, warts & all & I love Em for that. She had me laughing out loud one minute & wiping away tears the next. And the ‘characters’ in the book (aka her lunatic family) are so entertaining, you couldn’t make that stuff up! The things her Dad Vincie got up to, what a hoot! As a mum of two kids , I can relate to Em’s mama bear instincts & her honest account of PND after her second child. I vaguely remember her from Australian Idol so that chapter piqued my interest & it was good to hear the behind the scenes take on things. Do your self a favour, if you’re a mum, wife, daughter, music lover, fun lover, Aussie….heck if you’re anyone at all & you can read, GET THIS BOOK!