Is It Hot in Here

August 22, 2022
In his cheeky debut, comedian Zimmerman charts his path from “conservative, Southern Baptist carnivore” to “gay vegetarian atheist” and his life struggles along the way. Raised in a deeply religious family, Zimmerman was taught from a young age that homosexuality was a sin. But at Princeton he found “the place... to explore my identity and passions,” and when a close high school friend died in the Virginia Tech shooting, Zimmerman began questioning his faith. This led to a reckoning with his mother, who quasi-accepted his gay identity while asking “can we not make this the discussion of the weekend?” His blossoming life as a gay, irreligious man in the hipster set of Chicago and New York City leads to the memoir’s more raucous scenes, including a date that goes horribly wrong (the chapter title sums it up: “The Twink on the Fire Escape”). More poignant segments deal with his relationship with an ex, who after years living together breaks up with Zimmerman on the plane during what was supposed to be a romantic trip to Europe. He later experiments with meeting men at the sauna, but ultimately decides he’s looking for something more lasting, even though he can’t be sure if his parents would attend his wedding. The tonal changes can occasionally feel abrupt, but Zimmerman’s good humor makes this slice of modern life a charmer. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic.

March 15, 2023
Debut collection from a gay Southern comedian. From Jesus Christ to "Some First-Date Red Flags To Watch Out For" to his status as "a longtime fan of the Papa Johns brand and its garlic sauce product," Zimmerman ranges widely in these (mostly) comedic essays. Throughout, the author's dry wit comes across as appealingly ridiculous. Some essays are introspective, exploring his upbringing in the Bible Belt, his relationship with his God-fearing mother, and his identity as "a queer, vegetarian, atheist socialist." Others are short and quippy--e.g., "Seven New Sins--and Tortures Too," a bullet-point list of some of the annoying parts of existence, including "engaging in bad-faith discourse about topics that do not materially impact your reality" or "using the word nonzero." Most of the book is well written, but there are some abrasive or abrupt cuts from the longer personal stories to the quick, chuckle-inducing lists. In many of the pieces, Zimmerman pinpoints the emotion of growing up and away from your family's ideals while still holding love for its members. Chronicling a recent experience at Thanksgiving, he writes, "instead of yelling about athe-ism, Christianity, Trump, abortion, homosexuality, kids in cages, racism, capitalism, and socialism, we passed the mac 'n' cheese and potatoes." The author also tackles such noncomedic topics as freezing Chicago winters, conversations with Satan, 30th birthdays, and questions for God: "Right now, are more people smoking a cigarette, drinking whiskey, or struggling with their relationship with their father?" Zimmerman's essays function like breaks in a stand-up routine, and most of his material translates well to the page. The narrative flow is rapid as the author delivers refreshingly funny looks at a variety of unfunny topics. Some readers will find deeper resonance with the author's self-deprecating but honest story, especially if they grew up with a religious background. Fans of stand-up and lighthearted essays will appreciate Zimmerman's sensical absurdity.

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