Book Summary from Amazon
Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb.
She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.
This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good.
Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.
She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.
This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good.
Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.
My Review - 2 1/2 Not my Cup of Tea
I really wanted to enjoy this one, when I find humor I love, seriously I cannot get enough and would have had to stop reading to control myself, well this failed the funny department, more like hitting my funny bone, which HURTS.
I downloaded the sample and was laughing, thought ok I will like this, BAD DECISION. JenL is not likable in my opinion and as a memoir it is hard to read a book by someone that is conceited, bitchy, stuck up, bratty, has no class and doesn't learn from mistakes. I have to give it to her for finding someone to give her the opportunity to write and then make money from it.
So for all the bloggers out there and Facebook users that put all their life on it, you may just get the opportunity to write your memoir.
One main thing from the book though, she is true to herself, knows who she is and is not apologetic for it at all. The title - Confessions of a condescending (Yes), egomaniacal (Yes), self-centered Smart-ass (Double Yes), or why you should never carry a Prada Bag to the unemployment office, (Seriously, sigh). She is all of that and more.
The parts I thought were funny was me laughing at her, which is sad. She is an absolute disgusting drunk also, never nice to see/read. (She may not be a drunk anymore, this was written in 2006)
This really was not my cup of tea at all. It took me 2 months to read, a little here and there until finally i'm done.
I wanted to read this one after Steph (StephtheBookworm) said she loves Jen and this is one of her favorite books. If JenL is funny to you, you will love it. Maybe go to her blog and have a peek, which I didn't but here it is. www.jennyslvania.com
At least I get to put this towards my Memoir challenge. I really want to try different memoirs this year, I find them a hit or miss so far.
Sorry to hear that this book wasn't your cup of tea! I haven't read a lot of memoires, but if I want to read one I'm for sure not going to pick this up. Great honest review. ;)
ReplyDeleteSorry this didn't work for you. I've never tried Lancaster's work, but have read a lot of raves about it.
ReplyDeleteAh sorry it didn't work for you :/ I have been wanting to read this for a while actually, since so many have been recommending it to me. Maybe it will be something I would enjoy.. we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI like to read memoirs sometimes, but I don't pick ones about whiners. I read inspirational ones if I can. Sorry this didn't work out-- I have heard people either really like her books or hate them, no in between, oh well. Rae
ReplyDeleteSorry you didn't like the book , but thank you for being honest.If you want to buy "The Memory Palace" by Mira Bartok on Kindle it would probably be o.k. because the artwork is in black and white. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteI have this one on my wiah liat after a few other reviews I read, but now I'm rethinking that! My reading time is too short to spend time with horrible people.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't like it. :( Jen is not for everyone because she is so mean. I love her sarcasm though!
ReplyDeleteSorry this doesn't work out. Don't think this one is for me either as I almost only like inspirational memoir only, and can't stand it if the protagonist is whiny! I did recently read a memoir I really like - Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas. Now if only I'd hurry up and write the review!
ReplyDeleteSad to see you didn't enjoy this one! I remember liking it when I read it a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI loved it!! I so enjoy all of her books!! She is witty and wise and wonderful. She IS NOT a drunk, she simply writes about when she is drinking, and come on people, you can see how that would be funny, right?!? She is well-educated and her books are on Best Sellers List around the WORLD. She didn't just find someone that would give her money for writing crap! She has a way of telling a story that makes you feel so warm and happy at the same time that you don't know whether to laugh or cry; I always end up laughing though. She IS brutally honest and her language is not kid-friendly, but we aren't kids! You know when something funny happens to you and you try to tell the story to someone and you have to stop and say "Sorry I guess you had to be there" well I bet she never has to do that, because she makes you feel like you were standing right beside her when it happened.
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