Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens

British comedian and actor Izzard—whose numerous awards include two Emmys for the cable television special Dressed to Kill in 2000—brings his unique stream-of-consciousness performance style to the audio edition of his new autobiography. The narrative traces Izzard’s evolution from street performer to stand-up headliner and also his personal life; he explores his transgender identity, his dyslexia, and his transformation from carb addict to marathon runner. Izzard builds on the frequent footnotes and asides already in the text to also include “real-time” clarifications for the audio edition, adding impromptu updates to several of the book’s anecdotes. Izzard’s acting chops manage to shine through quite nicely in his characterizations and imitations, and he possesses a special gift for American accents. Those not previously immersed in Izzard’s comedic work may find themselves scratching their heads at the frequent interjections, but fans will appreciate his knack for defying convention to deliver a distinct listening experience. [em]A Blue Rider hardcover. (June) [/em]