SelmaBlairhasplayedmanyroles:IngenueinCruelIntentions.PreppyicequeeninLegallyBlonde.MusetoKarlLagerfeld.Advocateforthemultiplesclerosiscommunity.Butbeforeallofthat,Selmawasknownbestas...ameanbaby.Inamemoirthatisaswildlyfunnyasitisemotionallyshattering,Blairtellsthecaptivatingstoryofgrowingupandfindinghertruth.“Blairisarebel,anartist,anditturnsout:awriter.“--GlennonDoyle,Authorofthe#1NewYorkTimesBestsellerUntamedandFounderofTogetherRisingThefirststorySelmaBlairBeitnereverheardaboutherselfisthatshewasamean,meanbaby.Withhermouthpulledinaperpetualsnarlandaheadsofurryithadtoberubbedtomakewayforherforehead,Selmaspentyearslivinguptoherterriblereputation:bitinghersisters,lyingspontaneously,gettingdrunkfromPassoverwineattheageofseven,andbehavingdramaticallysothatshewouldbethecenterofattention.AlthoughSelmawentontobecomeacelebratedHollywoodactressandmodel,shecouldneverquiteshaketheperiodsofdarknessthatovertookher,thecertaintythattherewasagreatmysteryattheheartofherlife.Sheoftenfeltlikeherarmsmightbeonfire,asensationnotunlikeelectricshocks,andshesecretlydranktoescape.Overthecourseofthisbeautifuland,attimes,devastingmemoir,Selmalaysbareheraddictiontoalcohol,herdevotiontoherbrilliantandcomplicatedmother,andthemomentssheflirtedwithdeath.Thereisbrutalviolence,passionatelove,truefriendship,thegiftofmotherhood,and,finally,thesurprisingsalvationofamultiplesclerosisdiagnosis.Inavoicethatispowerfullyoriginal,fiercelyintelligent,andfullofhard-wonwisdom,SelmaBlair’sMeanBabyisadeeplyhumanmemoirandatrueliteraryachievement.
