I don’t really remember how I discovered Laurie Notaro, I think it might have been that I had to pick up a book called <The Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club. Seriously, how could you NOT buy a book with that title?
Laurie Notaro writes first person essays making fun of herself, her family, her friends and her life (not necessarily in that order). As you read, you alternate between laughing and remembering your own most embarrassing moments (though they never seem as bad or as funny as Notaro’s). But even though her embarrassing moments are worse than mine, I still kinda want to be her. And not even just because she makes her living writing.
I think it’s because she’s so accepting of herself and her loved ones. Okay, and the published author thing.
Anway, become an Idiot Girl! Or at least try one of her books. They’re memoirs with a sense of humor. And each chapter is short, so they’re easy to fit in.
It seems like this book is everywhere lately.
Oprah picked it and even had the author (Elizabeth Gilbert) on her show. Not that I actually saw the show. But I heard about it.
I didn’t really know ANYTHING about the book before I read it. I just knew it was the January pick for my book club. So I read it while on Christmas vacation, diligent book club member that I am. I enjoyed it. Gilbert is a wonderful writer, honest and witty and clear. Her emotional/spiritual journey was compelling and filled with lots of self-deprecating humor (my favorite kind).
I enjoyed it so much that Hubby wanted to read it. So I passed it on. The first comment he had on the book was, “She sure whines and cries a lot.” And that is true. She does whine a lot. She cries on a regular basis in the beginning. If you have a low tolerance for depressed and neurotic New Yorkers, you might not enjoy the book as much as I did. Hubby eventually began to appreciate the book, especially as she ate her way through Italy.
In my book club we discussed the concept of taking a year-long spiritual journey like Gilbert. Many of us thought the idea of traveling for a year had a certain appeal, but no one thought that it was the key to spiritual fulfillment. One member who had seen part of the Oprah show said that a lot of women said that this book was their new Bible. Which was so NOT the author’s point.
While Gilbert’s book inspired me to reflect more on my own spirituality, I don’t think she meant to become a guru or suggest that hers is the only or even the best path. So if hearing about those nutso fans of hers has kept you away from the book, don’t let it. Gilbert makes no attempt at preaching or indoctrination. The book simply describes her growth and her discoveries. Hell, she’s not even the best character in the book (That’d be Richard from Texas).
Have you read it? What did you think? Do you plan on reading it? Why?
(You don’t have to answer these questions to comment. Though I’m really curious about what you thought of the book, I’m more thrilled by the idea of comments on a brand-new blog. So feel free to comment about anything. Unless you’re selling something. Then you can pretend comments are disabled.)
