Book Number 29

Well I had to get another Jen Lancaster book.
I had to.
She's just too funny. I'm almost all caught up now, apart from her first book that has so many dang holds on it at the library that it'll be a long long wait until I get to read it.

The Novel: Pretty in Plaid A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or The Wonder Years Before the Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass Phase.
The Author: Jen Lancaster
Link: http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/
Synopsis:
The hardcover debut from the New York Times bestselling author— the prequel to Bitter is the New Black.In Pretty in Plaid, Jen Lancaster reveals how she developed the hubris that perpetually gets her into trouble. Using fashion icons of her youth to tell her hilarious and insightful stories, readers will meet the girl she used to be.Think Jen Lancaster was always "like David Sedaris with pearls and a super-cute handbag?" (Jennifer Coburn) Think again. She was a badge-hungry Junior Girl Scout with a knack for extortion, an aspiring sorority girl who didn't know her Coach from her Louis Vuitton, and a budding executive who found herself bewildered by her first encounter with a fax machine. In this humorous and touching memoir, Jen Lancaster looks back on her life—and wardrobe—before bitter was the new black and shows us a young woman not so very different than the rest of us.

Well what did I think about this look into a young Jen Lancaster's life??? I loved it. Possibly not as funny as Bright Lights, Big Ass or Such a Pretty Fat....BUT it still was dang hilarious.

Because I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ms. Lancaster, and I fear that I'm due to repeat myself if I take the time to write a regular review, I'm going to go in a different direction.....
Whilst reading this book, I decided that I must write down which pages had made me laugh out loud. You'll just have to read the book to see what I'm talking about.
1) pg 16...Her reference to a Brownie craft involving a toilet paper roll turned Christmas ornament.....and her subsequent response.
2) pgs 33-35....More Brownie/ Girl Scout related anecdotes.....funny to me because I totally get what she's talking about....if you've ever been involved in guiding/ scouts as a member or leader, you'll think this is hilarious also.
3) pg 146...The footnotes had me laughing out loud.
4) pg 231...Her letter to her apartment building neighbours. Funny!

There were so many more instances in which I had my beverage come shooting out of my nose because I found something she wrote really funny.

I give "Pretty in Plaid" a rating of 4 out of 5.

I like how I can just relax and laugh while reading Jen Lancaster's books. It's nice to just chill out, not think and just laugh at someone else's life for a bit.

Book Number 13

Lucky #13, done!
So far I have read 2 books by Jen Lancaster. Both out of sequence, but I don't mind (surprise!). Sure I'll probably be a little irritated when the library finally gets her first book in for me since I'll already know some of what has happened.....But it won't bother me as much because her books are freakin hilarious. Hence why I have a girl-crush, it takes a pretty hilarious person to break through my "must read books in sequence or die" peeve.

The Novel: Bright Lights, Big Ass A Self-Indulgent, Surly Ex-Sorority girl's guide to Why It Often Sucks in the City, or, Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?
The Author: Jen Lancaster
Novel Summary: From the Publisher
Lancaster hates to burst your happy little bubble, but life in the big city isn't all it's cracked up to be. Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, most urbanites "aren't" party-hopping in slinky dresses and strappy stilettos. But lucky for us, Lancaster knows how to make the life of the lower crust mercilessly funny and infinitely entertaining. Whether she''s reporting rude neighbors to Homeland Security, harboring a crush on her grocery store clerk, or fighting-and losing-the Battle of the Stairmaster- Lancaster explores how silly, strange, and not-so-fabulous real city living can be. And if anyone doesn't like it, they can kiss her big, fat, pink, puffy down parka.
Link:http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/

What can I say? This book did not disappoint. I'm not surprised, this is the second book by Jen Lancaster I've read and already I am huge fan.
A well written, humorous look at her life, Jen Lancaster makes me practically pee myself laughing. I enjoy her witty humour as well as her "homage" to some of my favorite shows and movies (family guy, the big lebowski, etc)
If ever there was an author that I'd want to be friends with, it would be Jen Lancaster (if only to be corrupted by her snarky, humorous ways).
I just can't get over the use of footnotes in her novels. So funny. I also love that she has no compunction about laughing at people, telling it like it is, or using the f word.

I give "Bright Lights, Big Ass" a rating of 4 out of 5.

Hurry up and write more novels Ms.Lancaster!!

Book Number 2

As I said in my "I'm so freakin' tired" post, I was up until almost 4am reading book number 2. It was well worth it though.

The Novel: Such a Pretty Fat One Narcissist's Quest To Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big or Why Pie is Not The Answer

The Author: Jen Lancaster
Linkage: http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/books.html

This book reads like chick lit fiction, but is actually a freaking hilarious biography. I loved this book.
I damn near laughed out loud each page. When I say laughed out loud, I literally mean out loud. My poor husband was trying to study, but it's hard when you live with a hyena apparently. He's lucky he's used to my loud snoring (apnea?) because dude didn't even wake once when I couldn't stop laughing at page 296 (right around 3 am).

What I really enjoyed about this book were the funny little footnotes. Also, this book reads like regular people think and talk (people with a sense of humour anyway). I love how Jen Lancaster tells it like she sees it. There's no mincing words with this woman, but it's done in such a funny way.
I think I may have a bit of a girl crush.
My one problem with this book is that I couldn't stop snacking while reading. So as she's losing weight during the book I'm probably adding a few pounds to my expanding arse. It's pretty hard not to snack while reading when the author is talking about all the delicious food she was craving (or eating). It'd be like me reading a gourmet cook book and then deciding to eat a plain lettuce salad...it's just not going to happen.....Although...I did laugh A LOT so I must have burned some calories right? Whatevs, I can fast while reading book #3 (which I intended to finish today, but so not happening...yawn)

I give "Such A Pretty Fat" a rating of 4 out of 5.

If this book would have made me cry I'd have rated it 4.5, but happy tears don't count on my rating scale. This book was truly fantastic though. I cannot wait until her other books arrive for me at the library. Another author added to my "all-star" list.