This book debuted #2 on the New York Times bestsellers list for nonfiction. Do you think it merits the hype?
I know we’re going to hear mixed reviews because I’ve talked to a few of you. I know at least one person couldn’t finish it. Several people laughed out loud late into the night and couldn’t put it down. Where do you sit on the spectrum? I’m somewhere in the middle, which should come as no surprise. I’m a longtime, committed David Sedaris fan, so it’s not easy for me to welcome “weird” from someone other than an acerbic gay man with a sing-song voice shrill enough to strip wallpaper. But I did! I have a new appreciation for Jenny Lawson. I never knew much about her, other than the linking to people holding twine or wearing red dresses or saving Christmas. All of which is fine and entertaining, but I felt like I was trying to laugh at jokes where “I had to be there” to appreciate the humor.
I’m not sure how much of this book is republished content, but for me it was a good primer for her blog. I’ve watched videos of her (infrequent) public talks and they’ve all been fantastic. She was supposed to speak at Camp Mighty, but bowed out at the last minute due to health reasons. I was disappointed, because I think she is someone that comes off better in person to those unfamiliar with her work. Without context, it can be unsettling to read about deer suits and cow vaginas. I fully expected her to inspire me at Camp Mighty, and I bet if I heard her speak tomorrow, she would.
I’m afraid this discussion post will be weak. It’s summer and despite best intentions, it’s hard to read when the sun is out and camp is calling. I hope you’ll join in regardless of where you are in the book, and share who your favorite misfit writers are, whether you read The Bloggess regularly, and if you think that had an effect on how you liked the book. Or not. You could just share the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you and call it a day.
I really wanted to like Jenny’s book. I preordered it months in advance and started reading it the day it arrived. I found the majority of the content to be regurgitated from her blog and the new stuff just seemed like it was trying too hard to be weird. You can only read someone making fun of their life in an attempt to feel okay about it for so long before it just becomes sad. I walked away feeling sad for her more than anything.
Since I don’t read her blog, it was all new to me. I was under the impression that most of it was supposed to be new. I remember reading somewhere on her blog that she was working on a book for ten years, and that she had saved up all her best stories for that. But even I–someone who doesn’t read her blog–recognized the story of Beyonc� the chicken and a couple of others, like the one with the butter and waffle marks.
Another negative response here. I couldn’t get past page 6 (honestly!). I usually will push through at least 50 pages before abandoning a book, but honestly I found it annoying. (I don’t know how I can make italics show here, but pretend honestly and annoying are in italics, and then add a footnote where I do the Brittany y’all thing by page 6.)
I do read blog posts that are written in her style and enjoy them. Maybe I am in different frames of mind when I read blogs and when I read books. Maybe I’m too old to enjoy it. I agree with Corrin also on the trying too hard: I was 8 when my parents threw me out of the house. Not really – I’m lying. That didn’t happen. I was 11. And they let me sleep in the backyard under a tarp. With our pet rat. And come in to take a bath once a week…really, y’all.
If Jenny really has had a rough life (and I didn’t read enough to know) and this is how she processes it, then I’m happy she has found the way to do that and make money at it too. And now I’ve written almost as many words as I read, so I’ll stop. :)
And because I’m me, I’m second-guessing what I wrote and the fact that I wrote something negative – and I definitely didn’t mean to make fun of it. Just (lamely) trying to illustrate.
I’m sure many people enjoyed it and it was a great summer pick. As a wise friend of mine used to say – that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla! :)
Jenny is adored by her readers, and it’s wild to see her get celebrities to do random things for her, like collate paper or hold twine. Crazy. I mean, to get Jenn Lancaster to blurb your book cover? That’s not easy. I think she is a unique voice and because of that, she won’t be for everyone. I’m not convinced she is for me, to be honest, but I still find her inspiring in a weird way.
I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! I think she is a hoot and just reading a book that any blogger wrote inspires the heck out of me. That being said, the only thing I have read lately is the back of cereal boxes (shame) so of course this would truly be a step up. I can’t wait to read more reviews!
I had only started reading Lawson’s blog a few days before picking up the book, so for me, it wasn’t regurgitated content. Overall I thought the storytelling was colorful enough that I really understood what it was like to grow up with a dad that might just let a wildebeest loose in your house or to be approached by your own evil turkey in the hallway at school. My only “however” on this was that this wasn’t a book I was able to read in one sitting as the writing would make me feel overstimulated and kind of like I needed to leave the room for a bit. I think a lot of the “Editor’s Notes” could have been cut because, in most cases, they didn’t add to the writing. Yes, Lawson frequently deviated from the story at hand. I expect that. I don’t need a pretend editor interruption to clarify it for me. I’m not a moron. Just tell your story the way you tell it and get on with it or, well, be a better writer.
I think things like the “Editor’s Notes” and the asides are part of her writing voice, and I think her goal is to make it read like you are inside her brain: convoluted, up/down, slow/fast, manic. This is my main quibble. You don’t need to write like a misfit to communicate misfit. Sedaris is proof of that. I don’t think she’s crazy and I don’t think she’s as irregular a writer as she pretends to be. She worked Human Resources for years; she knows how to write a tight sentence. In fact, I found a few essays where I could see what a strong writer she is when she isn’t playing up the weird.
I’ve read her blog infrequently in the past, and came to it pretty late (but before the book). I’ve admired her blog writing, just because of her wild humor, her frankness, her courage to really share her crazy. That’s something I’ve struggled with myself, to share my “authentic” self. (In the beginning, I think my posts sounded like stilted, self-conscious English 101 essays. Still working on that.)
With the book, I feel a little 60/40 in like/dislike and I’m not sure which one is in the majority. I felt like I had to wade through a swamp of apologies and over-explaining for the first few chapters, and then once things took off, I did sometimes laugh (or snort) out loud. On the other hand, reading about Beyonce the chicken in its original post nearly brought me to tears laughing in front of my monitor– big difference, as nothing in the book was nearly as funny.
So… I do think “the Bloggess” is a character, a persona, and that Ms. Lawson isn’t at all as crazy as she sounds. Or crazy like a (stuffed) fox. I also had to take frequent breaks and read other stuff, because the voice was just too manic and full of constant asides for me to handle straight through. (And I’m still not done.)
Reading over this comment, I totally contradict myself, because first I say that I’ve admired her strong, true voice on the blog, but then think that her book’s narrator of Jenny Lawson is a constructed persona. And maybe that’s the key to my issues: I still believe her blogging voice is more true, whereas in book form it’s trying too hard to appeal to the masses, and that strain just read as a little too strident of a voice in my head.
I was shaking my head the entire time I read your comment, so I guess I’m full of contradictions, too, when it comes to this book.
(Maybe one day I’ll pick a book for book club that bowls me over?)
Shaking, not nodding…so you disagree? It’s all good either way — just wondering. :-)
Hah! No, I meant nodding. Sorry about that. I haven’t slept much lately. I need to cut down on my caffeine! I’m in a vicious cycle of not enough sleep–caffeine–not enough sleep. :)
So, I don’t read her blog regularly, but I did recognize the chicken story. Also, I listened to the audiobook while I was at work, mostly, so you know- it was entertaining versus not listening to anything at all. I liked it, laughed out loud too many times for a person at work should, and had to quit listening to parts of it because I could not stop snorting. However, if I did read her blog(which I don’t because it does feel like you’re listening to a “should have been there” sort of joke), I’d probably not have enjoyed the book so much.
OMG–this is SUCH an excellent point. I went to see David Sedaris at a reading, and as much as I love him, I have rarely, if every, laughed out loud at his essays. I didn’t even bother having my husband read any, because I knew he wouldn’t see the humor. Well. Same essays, but read aloud by Sedaris = laughter until our sides hurt and tears ran down our eyes. We had SO much fun! I can’t emphasize the difference it made to hear him speak, and I suspect that’s the same with Jenny Lawson. I bet the same so-so story read aloud at a book signing would be hilarious. I’m imagining the laxative essay right now.
I ‘read’ the audio book too. She reads it in a similar squeaky voice shared with Sedaris. It was snort out loud funny for me, more so than reading the book.
I’m glad to hear this, because I’ve felt the same about the couple of Sedaris books I’ve read. I snort and sometimes chuckle, but rarely think he’s as HIGH-larious as the blurbs would indicate. Or maybe I’m just a tough crowd?
I’ve never “laughed until I cried!” reading a book, so whenever I read that on a book flap I ignore it. Impossible! Maybe I’m a tough crowd, or maybe I’m not a good enough narrator. All I know is that David Sedaris was hilarious in person.
Oh yes. The first thing I look for in an audio book is whether or not it’s read by the author. It doesn’t mean I won’t get it if not, but dang- Mindy Kaling was SO fraking funny reading her own book. I think it adds a lot.
The colon cleanse story had me laughing so hard, I couldn’t finish reading it outloud to my husband.
I agree with the poster above: it’s a great ‘summertime’ book.
That’s the story I’m thinking should be heard out loud. I imagine out loud it’s even better!
I’m still on the library wait list for this one so I can’t jump in. I have quite a few friends who have read and loved it so I’m surprised to see not everyone did. I have read Jenny’s blog maybe a few times so I’ve wondered what non-blog-readers would make of it. The fact that friends said they cried with laughter was enough reason to request it from the library, though.
Are your friends regular Jenny readers? I’m curious to hear what you think of it once you get it.
Your photos made my day! They tell the complete story. Way to work the high shutter speed action auto sequence type function on your camera!
I liked it. Not enough to read it multiple times, as I have Sedaris’ books, but it was fun. I agree with the writing, I felt she was trying too hard in some places. I’ve been reading her blog for about a year now and there too, some posts are better than others. I have a hard time laughing at others very real pain though and its when that comes through that it can be tricky for me.
I actually liked the essays where she wasn’t trying to be funny the best. Weird, right?
I *JUST* started reading Jenny Lawson’s blog, so all the anecdotes were new to me.
I spent all day in the sun, so my synapses are fried, and it’s in my best interests to keep this short.
I really enjoyed the book- as in, I stayed up until midnight, even though I get up at 4:15 am, because I thought it was funny and I wanted to see what came next. My husband was not quite as impressed, as my giggling tended to wake him up, but I figure it’s payback for all the times he gets home at 2 am after playing hockey and wakes ME up. Anyway.
I thought this was the perfect book to kick of the summer portion of the Book Club- lighter, funny, not too long, and with just enough realism to remind me that this is (perhaps a slightly altered version of) someone’s reality.
That’s all I got. On to July’s pick!!!
I’m also still on the waiting list at two libraries for this one so I’ll have to come back and chime in later. I’m glad to see mixed reviews because I tend to get all amped up about reading something that got tons of great reviews and then end up with too-high expectations and not enjoying it as much.
I enjoyed her book and thought it was good. Not over the top fantastic, but a solid great summer, brain candy read. I’m a frequent reader, not daily but maybe weekly/monthly reader. I like that there was a mix of humor and reality. I didn’t feel sorry for her. Just viewed it as an unusual life story. (I guess I am used to having unusual friends?!)
I LOVED the Beyonc� the chicken story online more so than the book. Not sure of the editing difference but I didn’t tear up crying and die laughing during the book.
Also- I don’t know if I could have finished the book as quickly if I was physically reading it opposed to listening to it. She does have a stream of conscious writing that is not for everyone. Unfortunately my brain and conversations work this way- maybe that is why I love her blog?!
I think as an influential writer she does quite a bit of good and that makes me smile even more.
PS: Jules- what a bummer deal not being able to see her at Camp Mighty!
Hello! I’m late to the party, but I thought I’d toss in my two cents. I think I’m about halfway through. Some parts are absolutely hysterical. I was snorting and almost peeing my pants several times!! I’ve read the blog a few times here and there, and I recently added it to my reader. So, most things are new to me. I agree with a few reviews above that some chapters felt like she was trying too hard. I really could have done without the chapter about how she’s never had any girlfriends/it’s so hard/meeting other bloggers is so angsty. I do appreciate how openly she talks about her struggles and her depression and anxiety. She even admits that Victor doesn’t/didn’t? truly understand the depths of her illness. It’s very hard for people to understand, and hopefully in some small way, this will help. I find that I’m comparing this to last year’s beach read, Bossypants. Similar structure, and I find myself hysterical laughing at some parts and “eh” at the others. I am enjoying it and have already recommended it to friends.
I haven’t read the book (that’s always a great start when joining a book club discussion, no?), but I do read Jenny’s blog. I think she is hysterical 50% of the time (Beyonce the chicken, Wil Wheaton collating paper–I actually started reading Wil’s blog after that post, and he is actually a Deep Thinker on many fronts), but I also just don’t “get” a lot of her stuff (taxidermied animals?). Her book is on my list of things to check out of the library, not actually buy. There’s only so much weird I can process in a given sitting.
David Sedaris, on the other hand–LOVE HIM TO DEATH. Even though his last two books have been not really funny. I actually have laughed out loud at most of his stuff. I read Me Talk Pretty Some Day when riding the train during my second summer in law school, and I was the weirdo laughing out loud on the subway. The image of his sister wearing the bottom half of a fat suit has stuck with me for ten years. Agreed that he is ten times better in person. I have actually gotten a lot of his stuff on audiobooks out of the library to listen to him read them.
I like her writing style even though I don’t understand why the Beyonce the chicken story is such a big hit. It just seemed like such a giant waste of money and I was pissed for her husband for her spending money on it!
I’m getting to this really late & I’ve not read it yet either, but I wanted to share… I’ve read everything Jenny’s written in the past few years [including gigs not on her own blog], I follow her on Twitter, etc. I think she’s hilarious & an awesome, good person [I’m one of those helped by her ‘Save the Holidays’ drive]. When I read something especially funny [BTW I *have* laughed until I cried] I usually save it to read aloud to my mother [she also laughed until she cried]. That is, until we watched the “trailer” for the book that she filmed with Wil Wheaton [one of my favorite people], wherein she said that her book was “funnier than the Bible” — my mother was NOT pleased. Ever since then, she’ll smile politely if I read her something Jenny’s written, but really, that trailer “ruined” Jenny’s writing for my mom & it only got worse when I got the book in the mail & read her the blurbs on the cover. She basically told me she doesn’t like people who make fun of the Bible because it’s blasphemous and they’re going to Hell. *I* wasn’t offended in any way, I still like Jenny just as much, & I know that she meant no offense, but to my mom, mocking a person’s religion/beliefs is a HUGE no-no. [My mom & I practice different religions, so perhaps she’s a bit sensitive?] My point is, I think the reason why I haven’t started reading the book yet is because my mom lives with me & I don’t want disapproving looks/comments from her.