Spellbound

January 6, 2025
In this humorous and affecting debut memoir, Canadian comedian Hanley discusses how he built a career in spite of his debilitating dyslexia. Hanley grew up in Oshawa, a medium-sized city near Toronto (“Like Detroit minus the European flair”), and struggled academically from an early age. In elementary school, he frustrated his teachers with his inability to keep up with his classmates; in middle school, he was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. With college off the table, Hanley started booking work as a model on a friend’s suggestion. Then an acquaintance in the film industry asked him to punch up jokes in a movie about a chimpanzee detective, and he became a freelance script doctor. That boosted Hanley’s confidence, and he started honing a stand-up act that drew from his early classroom experiences, which eventually led to bookings across Canada and the U.S. “When I look at my life, it’s impossible to think of dyslexia as a curse,” Hanley concludes. “I look at the things I cherish most... and I can connect them all to my disability.” Throughout, Hanley matches that optimism with plenty of laugh-out-loud observations (“I thought adults collecting toys might be a UK thing, like getting blasted during the day and calling it Sunday roast”). This inspires.

February 1, 2025
Hanley's candid, heartwarming memoir presents the world from the perspective of a dyslexic person persevering against societal barriers to find his way and, somewhat unexpectedly, his words. Hanley's memoir takes readers through far-flung new beginnings--Hanley's modeling career in Milan, breakout into Vancouver's comedy scene, and move to New York--each forcing him to confront the painful hardships of being dyslexic in a society so reliant on written communication. Through witty anecdotes and vulnerable confessions, the author's stories demonstrate how dyslexia extends beyond difficulties with spelling and reading to challenges with mental health. Spellbound is also notable for its focus on relationships familial, romantic, and platonic, drawing attention to both healthy and unhealthy systems of support. Carried by Hanley's sincere voice, the memoir remains lighthearted despite intense frustration and heartbreak. One of its charms lies in its careful portrayal of local settings, particularly the comedy scene in Vancouver, British Columbia. Spellbound will appeal to readers looking to step into multiple worlds via words that shouldn't be taken for granted.

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