God, Jenny Slate’s books are such a comfort because living a human life is so herculean. I really can’t praise this new book more highly.

I read her first book, Little Weirds, in the first year of the pandemic, and it hit me so much harder than I was expecting. I have a vivid memory of sitting in my house in my bed and feeling like my soul and brain were being tugged along to little places unknown by a happy and jumpy bird. I loved Lifeform even more. It feels particularly nice that this book would also cover some of that same time period of the pandemic, as well as the time soon after becoming a new parent myself. Those bits are some of the most accurate and meaningful pieces I’ve read on the subject, ever. (For fun: the second most accurate, to me, can be found in Madeline Miller’s Circe.)

Slate captures her intrusive thoughts like they are each a darting dragonfly (or a rabid bat) and then offers them to you in a shiny jar with her whole heart. At least, that’s what it felt like to me. Many of her essays also feel like a modern evolution and expansion of the themes and likes of Mary Oliver; they really feel that good. I hope she continues to write more books like this.

4 stars

Fans of Jenny Slate's will be expecting a high energy, quirky production, and that's exactly what this is. The audiobook, especially, enhances all of these vibes.

While this is clearly a memoir, the style - a series of essays and reflections - really enhances the readability and uniqueness. Slate reflects on pregnancy, her relationships to her partner and child (among others), and her engagement with nature (which is frequently both fascinating and hilarious). Through these varied writings, Slate synthesizes what should feel like fragmented thoughts into a clear and surprisingly moving narrative of her experiences.

Throughout the listen, I constantly appreciated the Jenny Slate-ness of this work. I also often thought that a reader who is unfamiliar with her might find this a little too experimental for the genre. Fans of Slate's and those who appreciate a creative approach should check out this one.

Lifeform by Jenny Slate was just okay for me. While I’ve enjoyed Slate’s humor in the past, I found that this book didn’t fully meet my expectations. The vignettes and offbeat style, similar to her previous work Little Weirds, were quirky but didn’t always resonate with me. Some sections felt disjointed, and while I appreciate the creativity, it sometimes made the book harder to connect with.

Slate covers a lot of personal ground—her pandemic experiences, mental health, becoming a mother—and while I could relate to some of the emotions, the overall execution felt a bit flat. There were moments of humor and tenderness, but I didn’t find myself as engaged as I hoped. The audiobook, which she narrates herself, does add a personal touch, and Slate’s voice is undoubtedly captivating. However, even that wasn’t enough to elevate the content for me.

I think fans of Jenny Slate’s unique style and those who loved Little Weirds may still find Lifeform charming, but for me, it was just an okay read. If you're looking for something light and quirky, it could be worth checking out, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

This book was such a refreshing look into Jenny's mind. I have to say, I enjoyed being there. All her intrusive thoughts felt so genuine and real and relatable. I especially loved her pregnancy dreams because I can remember just how vivid and wild mine were too. She has the same issues we all have, she is a real human and hearing about her struggles and her neurocies just solidifies that she is just like the rest of us. I have been a fan for a long time and I am even more of one now.
The audio was especially great with her narrating.
Thanks to Hachette, Jenny Slate and Netgalley for an early ALC.

I liked that Slate narrated this one, but found the overall story to be mid at best. I DNF’d at 45%. I really tried with this one

Lifeform by Jenny Slate is another weird excellent little slice of a memoir like her first-Little Weirds. This book follows Slate's time during the pandemic--meeting her now husband, having a child, and new motherhood. Of course, with her usual offbeat charm, it is told in vignettes like the neighborhood raccoons gossiping to each other or letters to her doctor. I loved the audiobook and would recommend it to be able to hear one of our great voice actresses of our time tell her story with the help from a few friends. My favorite section of the book was about Slate giving birth to her daughter; I teared up as the love for her family is so palpable. Loved this quirky little delight of a book and would recommend it to anyone who is fan of Slate's previous book or her acting work.

I adore Jenny Slate's voice! I could listen to her forever. It was great to hear her read her new book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another excellent read!! Jenny Slate has a way of explaining the unexplainable feelings I experience daily.

Going into ‘Lifeform’ I did not know what to expect. I loved ‘Little Weirds’ so much that I knew I had to check this out. ‘Lifeform’ follows Jenny through the ‘plague’ (pandemic) as she battles with her mental wellbeing. The way Jenny writes her struggles is hilarious yet heartwarming. At certain parts I didn’t know whether to laugh from relatability or cry because I felt understood.

Terrific listen! Thank you to Net Galley and Hatchet Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC!

I’m a huge fan of Jenny Slate and I adore her writing! Lifeform was a wonderful listen and I loved the cameos with the narrators. Will Forte was amazing.

I love Jenny’s humor and her essays were so silly and fun to listen to. I hope Jenny continues writing, I love her mind so much.