I am a big fan of Jen Lancaster. I'm not sure if you've ever read any of her books, but each one I have read I usually end up in some sort of asthmatic laughing attack. My family stares. They ask what is so funny, but I cannot respond. I need oxygen. Jen is bitter. She is snarky. She is picky. She NEVER writes about sex, but she is V*E*R*Y foul mouthed and not for the faint of heart. I love reading her non-fiction, self indulgent, rantings. I quote her at least once a week, and am excited that she is about to publish some fiction. If you don't want to indulge in her books, you can always read her (non-foul mouthed) occasional blog about her dogs and life named Jennsylvania here.
A few weeks ago Jen (we are on a first name basis) wrote on her blog about what she was reading. She mentioned that SHE had a snorting, laugh out loud fit about this book...
I figured heck, if she is laughing out loud at this Wade Rouse guy, I had better get my hands on this book. So I did. I got a used copy at my favoritist place on earth, Amazon, and started reading it the moment I received it in the mail.
And people, Jen did not steer me wrong. I have to admit that this is the first book that I have EVER read where I was laughing so hard I had to stop and take a potty break (what can I say, I'm getting old) before I peed myself a little, but then during the next chapter I was sobbing so hard that I could not continue reading because I could not see through the tears, and was so emotionally affected I had to stop. Even now when I think about those chapters I start to tear up. This book was amazing. But...and you knew there had to be a but, Wade Rouse is gay, AND a democrat. Not that there is anything wrong with his choices, (don't tell my family I'm a Democrat) but this book that I loved so much, I could not share with my sister, my husband (too broke-backy for his taste) or anyone without knowing them EXTREMELY well. So I sent it to Jennifer.
In a nut shell, Jennifer was my BFMN (best friend when we lived in MN) and prevented me from killing both of my kids, or my husband, too many times to note. I figured that Jennifer would love it (excellent taste in books, an ex-librarian, and political guru) and everyone loves getting crap in the mail. And she did. Laughed. Cried. Ex-cetera. Ex-cetera. Jennifer LOVED it. No shock there.
I vehemently opposed to abridging books or banning books, but I almost want to cut out my favorite chapters and share them with my other favorite people because they affected me so deeply and I loved them so much. Wade Rouse's backstory is so interesting and memoir is so amazing I want to share. But will people be able to get past those interesting differences and read the story for what it is?
3 comments:
It is sad when you can't share a book with a family member like a sister/husband just because of thier political or religious views. Unfortunately it is so in my family too. And the worse thing is, Hubby and I are liberal and it is 2 of our 5 grown kids that are ultra conservative.
Thanks for the book review, I'll go check both out immediately.
Oooh. Is Wade Rouse anything like David Sedaris? Cause I laughed so hard I cried reading "Me Talk Pretty One Day."
Andrea- Wade Rouse is a bit similar to Sedaris, but he isn't as deadpan dry witted as Sedaris, whom I also L*O*V*E. Wade Rouse is a little more hmmm...how would I say this...stereotypically gay? His partner is a hoot and I think I want them as my neighbors/party hosters.
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