The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life by Laurie Notaro Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life
Book Review: Laugh-out-loud funny!
Summary: 5 Stars
Laurie Notaro's life is a neverending string of embarrassments and frustrations...and she's willing to wallow with all of us!
From digging through a Dumpster on a 114 degree Arizona day searching for her friend's keys to being mistaken for a homeless person while heading for jury duty, Notaro's always on an adventure. And while she's generally understandably upset at the time, she also remembers to poke fun at herself, and life in general. Is there really anything to hold back on? Not to Notaro, it seems...even the cremated remains of a rich old woman which inexplicably found their way into Notaro's home are exempt from humor.
Between the stories - which are written as short individual essays which could stand alone - Notaro isn't entirely without heart. Although grudgingly, she befriends two little neighbors who seem to be living with less than savory parents, and concerns herself about their well-being.
Give this collection a try...you'll soon be cracking up nonstop!
Book Review: Hilarious!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read a couple other books by Laurie Notaro and each one is equally funny. Her stories are witty and cunning, even if some of them might not be true! Very funny book, recommend it to anyone and will continue to read her work.Book Review: Freudian in Phoenix
Summary: 5 Stars
Funny and fearlessly confessional tales of smoking, drinking, brawling, mate-seeking, peeing, defecating, menstruating, undressing, nudity, dentistry and gynecology in Phoenix. While sexuality is prominent, and male partners are mentioned, the relationships and physical appearances described mainly concern females; friends and relatives and children
I am not usually guilty of deconstructionist literary criticism, but in this case could not help thinking of Freud's "Drei Abhandlungen zur Sexualtheorie" (Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, the one where he explains the oral, anal and genital stage stuff) which is not as funny but may explain some of Notaro's preoccupations, or rather the pleasure we get out of reading about them.
I was also reminded of the Augusten Burroughs of "Dry" and the Helen Fielding of "Bridget Jones's Diary" which may seem faint praise, but isn't really because those are comic geniuses .
Book Review: 2.5 Stars to be exact. But I don't round up.
Summary: 2 Stars
As I read each "chapter", I find that I can see her punchline coming a mile away. Notaro does a great job painting a picture of herself with these stories and I feel like she's sitting there next to me telling me how her visit with Nana went or how she's landed a job to get her mom off her back. But it's like you're listening to the loud girl at school. The one who wants every one to hear her funny story, but we're all kind of bored with her tales by now. Because she tries too hard and she's predictable. I can also tell by the gleam in her eye she thinks she's creating a hilarious set-up, but I know what she's going to say before she says it and. I really wanted to like this book, and I feel bad writing a negative review. Usually I just wouldn't say anything, but I'm compelled to let people know I'm underwhelmed.
It's not something I won't finish reading. But I wouldn't recommend it either. There are a couple of gems, and her subjects are all situations women in their 20s-30s can relate to (being the butch protectress of your hot friend at bars, using public restrooms, trying to get male attention, how to get drunk faster (skip dinner)) but for the most part, Notaro is trying to be really clever, but has taken a long leap past the clever line and landed just shy of annoying and blatant. If you want self-depricating humor and amusing family memoirs, spend your money on David Sedaris instead. It's not from a female perspective, but it's laugh-out-loud entertaining.
Book Review: Hilarious
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book. I tried to read some excerpts to my husband, but laughed so much that he couldn't understand me. I recommend this book to anybody who needs a good laugh. An absolute delight.