Leah Remini

Having just finished GOING CLEAR the marvelous and lacerating history of Scientology, I wanted even more Scientology and fell into this. Familiar with Remini’s brassy image—wasn’t sure how that would translate into a narrative. Anticipated a few interesting anecdotes—maybe trying too hard to be funny (or worse, this is too serious to be funny about) and half expected not to finish it. Pleasantly surprised. Open hearted look at her family dynamics and how they folded into Scientology, I was drawn in immediately to her neighborhood and family. Genuinely funny and self-effacing in ways that enhance the story rather than diffuse or distract from the reality of what’s going on. Nice companion to GOING CLEAR (which I would recommend reading first) TROUBLEMAKER brings personal detail to the big picture. It’s a given when you start the book that she will leave Scientology—reinforced when she starts dishing the dirt—but there is still drama in what will be the final straw. There is also frustration. Just like in reading GOING CLEAR, it is maddening that in the face of mounting insanity people still cling to Scientology. What ends up being the last straw, the hill she decides to die on—is much less personal than many previous issues but it was just time. Would have loved her to expand on each of these points where they drew her back in. Part of the charm of the book is that it moves briskly but a few more pauses would have helped. Also, the very entertaining fire from the hip brusque narration in time made me start to worry about how close she was sticking to the facts. I don’t doubt anything specific she’s saying, but at least for me there is sometimes an odd disconnect between bravado and sincerity. Overall, though, an entertaining desert to the multicourse meal that was GOING CLEAR.… (mer)