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411th out of 2,390 books
—
15,579 voters
Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner
In Such a Pretty Fat, Jen Lancaster learned how to come to terms with her body. In My Fair Lazy, she expanded her mind. Now the New York Times bestselling author gives herself—and her generation—a kick in the X, by facing her greatest challenge to date: acting her age.
Jen is finally ready to put away childish things (except her Barbie Styling Head, of course) and embrace t...more
Jen is finally ready to put away childish things (except her Barbie Styling Head, of course) and embrace t...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
May 1st 2012
by NAL Hardcover
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This book received mixed reviews. Notably one snarky, verging on "personal vendetta" professional review.
And for the first time ever, I was moved to comment on that reviewer's site in defense of Jen Lancaster and thus join the fray.
This? Is the ONLY author I have bookmarked sections, or even an entire chapter, so I can share it with my husband. She makes me laugh out loud. Not LOL, but truly, loudly, snort and chortle. What's more, she makes my husband laugh too.
The negative review made us go...more
And for the first time ever, I was moved to comment on that reviewer's site in defense of Jen Lancaster and thus join the fray.
This? Is the ONLY author I have bookmarked sections, or even an entire chapter, so I can share it with my husband. She makes me laugh out loud. Not LOL, but truly, loudly, snort and chortle. What's more, she makes my husband laugh too.
The negative review made us go...more
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Judging by the title, I thought this book would provide laughter and first-hand wisdom into adult life all rolled into one, but I quickly realized I made a mistake with that hope. While it IS a very funny read and the author does provide a one or two sentence life lesson at the end of each chapter, she doesn't provide any profound lessons that I feel the general public hasn't already heard, read or figured out on their own. The lessons themselves may not have been new to me but her humorous anec...more
Based on the other comments on this book I am probably the outlier here...but I am REALLY disappointed with this book. The whole time I was reading I had the feeling of "been there done that". The biggest issue I had was that most of the material had already been posted to her blog or addressed in her column. I was really looking forward to this one after the disappointment of her novel, but this one is leading me to believe she might have lost her touch...which makes me sad.
12 likes · like · see review
I seriously think Jen lost her way. I no longer find her funny. I feel like she isn't even telling a story anymore its just a mish-mosh of random crap. This book does not even compare to the genius wit of her first three books. Her last book left me disappointed and unable to finish as is this one. Gone are her laugh-out-loud-so-funny-I-snorted writings and I'm left extremely underwhelmed. I'm really really struggling with finishing this book so much I've decided to put it down and move on to th...more
Jen Lancaster has finally decided to take Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians. She's no longer a child, reasoning as a child; she's become a grown-up and putting aside her childish things.
Well, except for her Barbies. And her Barbie styling head.
Jeneration X is Jen's quest to live like a grown up. That means bank meetings, home ownership, and balanced, home-cooked dinners. After all, Gen X (to which both Lancaster and I belong) ARE the grown-ups, squeezed between the Peter Pan Baby Boomers and the s...more
Well, except for her Barbies. And her Barbie styling head.
Jeneration X is Jen's quest to live like a grown up. That means bank meetings, home ownership, and balanced, home-cooked dinners. After all, Gen X (to which both Lancaster and I belong) ARE the grown-ups, squeezed between the Peter Pan Baby Boomers and the s...more
this lady's books are really starting to grow on me. every now & again, she drops in a little tidbit that makes it difficult to overlook the fact that she is a gun-toting republican former sorority girl, but if you can just get past that, she really can be pretty funny. maybe as she becomes more invested in her career as a serial memoirist, her authorial voice is maturing a bit? becoming a little more accessible or something? she's still snarky as all get out, which i like, but the bitter ed...more
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I picked this book up off the library ‘new books’ shelf on a whim. I don’t often read humor books, but the description sounded fun- a late coming of age story. I figured I’d read the book a little at a time, in between bouts with a history of China book. Instead, I found myself addicted, ignored the serious book, and read this straight through.
Each of the 27 chapters describes events – some pivotal, some simply ludicrous- as the author is dragged, kicking and screaming, into late onset adulthoo...more
Each of the 27 chapters describes events – some pivotal, some simply ludicrous- as the author is dragged, kicking and screaming, into late onset adulthoo...more
I love Jen Lancaster's books! Really I would give it a 4.5. She is my favorite humor author. When I'm having a bad day I love pulling out when of her books because they are seriously laugh out loud books. My husband knows if I'm laughing when reading it's a Jen Lancaster book. I did enjoy this book. As someone who grew up in Wilmette, IL and swam at Lake Forest Swim Club I really enjoyed her descriptions of the North Shore. Particularly now that I've been in MA for so long and thus am more remov...more
Unlike many of the other reviewers, I'd never heard of Jen Lancaster before I picked up this book in the public library (no disappointed, "That was already on her blog" from me). The cover looked interesting, so I sat down to take a look while the kids were finishing up their bookhunts. A half hour later I was rocking from side to side in my chair, holding my belly while tears of laughter ran down my cheeks; my completely embarrassed thirteen year old tugged the book out of my hands and hurried...more
Jen Lancaster and I were separated at birth...or at least we lived down the block from each other. How else would she know every freaking thing that has happened to me in my life? Seriously, I have never read an author that gave me such serious belly laughs that I had to put the book down because I was afraid I would lose my page.
I do believe I have a special affinity for Jen's writing (and yes, I call her Jen) because we live in the same area and I've been to many of the same places she's refer...more
I do believe I have a special affinity for Jen's writing (and yes, I call her Jen) because we live in the same area and I've been to many of the same places she's refer...more
http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....
In her typical hysterical fashion Jen (my imaginary BFF) uses the self deprecating humor that she has perfected to tell us some stories that have helped her realize that she is becoming an adult. Like buying her first home in the suburbs of Chicago. Or hosting her first holiday dinner. Or when she returned to her Alma Mater to receive a distinguished award. (I nearly wet myself laughing so hard at her adventures after the fancy shin-dig). She teaches us so...more
In her typical hysterical fashion Jen (my imaginary BFF) uses the self deprecating humor that she has perfected to tell us some stories that have helped her realize that she is becoming an adult. Like buying her first home in the suburbs of Chicago. Or hosting her first holiday dinner. Or when she returned to her Alma Mater to receive a distinguished award. (I nearly wet myself laughing so hard at her adventures after the fancy shin-dig). She teaches us so...more
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In "Jeneration X" Jen Lancaster takes us on a journey with her as she grows up -- finally.
It's about Jen and Fletch (her husband) buying a house in the suburbs. And buying trophies on eBay, buying vintage hockey skates, and buying old-time football helmets.
Jen has a knack for making everyday situations hysterically funny. When the cleaning women need help and in their Eastern European accent tell her that "the shit is small," Jen immediately assumes that the offending article comes from the dogs...more
It's about Jen and Fletch (her husband) buying a house in the suburbs. And buying trophies on eBay, buying vintage hockey skates, and buying old-time football helmets.
Jen has a knack for making everyday situations hysterically funny. When the cleaning women need help and in their Eastern European accent tell her that "the shit is small," Jen immediately assumes that the offending article comes from the dogs...more
Long ago, I got hooked on Jen Lancaster's blog, Jennsylvania.com and her memoirs, starting with Bitter is the New Black. Five books followed, each funnier than the next. So, when she announced her next book was going to be a "I'm an adult, how the hell did that happen" kind of book, I immediately pre-ordered it (Hey, Jen! Where's my signed bookplate? Come on, girl!).
And, when it arrived yesterday, finished it in one night.
Oh, Jen. You, with your eccentric and tolerant husband, Fletch and band of...more
And, when it arrived yesterday, finished it in one night.
Oh, Jen. You, with your eccentric and tolerant husband, Fletch and band of...more
Jen Lancaster is almost always going to get 5 stars with me. Almost. I couldn't get into My Fair Lazy and I didn't attempt the fiction book she did last year(maybe that's next). This is full of trying to grow up wisdom. How to move out of the apartment you've been in with your hubby for many years, how to "boycott" Thanksgiving with your insane family(My favorite chapter, I think-and yes, I will be putting that into practice this year) and have a Thanksgiving with your friends instead, how to tr...more
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This book, while very humorous, was definitely not what I expected. It was supposed to be about an adult reluctantly growing up, doing scary grown-up things like buying a house, considering my fear of housing commitment, I thought I would easily relate to this book. However, there were two problems: one, I didn't realize I was not a part of Generation X (whoops), so clearly that made her perspective different from mine. Two, she didn't really dive into the issues. She basically said ok, we bough...more
I really wanted to like this book. I was an early Jen Lancaster adopter, reading her books and snorting and laughing, even in public. The problem with this book? It's almost all recycled material. Many of the chapters are slight expansions of some of her blog posts, especially the stuff about buying a house and the dog training. And the rest of it was material she used in her fiction debut published last year. Add in that the chapters are disjointed and out of order -- hard to read a memoir wher...more
This is Jen Lancaster's fifth memoir. In this book she has focused the content around "Reluctant Adult Lessons Learned," which is really just a way for her tell her stories and add a moral at the end of it. Jen writes about her life, obviously as it's a memoir, but recently, she moved from being a renter in the city of Chicago to buying a home in the North Suburbs. Logically, many of her stories deal with this transition in her life as well as the humorous capers her pets have committed since he...more
Jen Lancaster. People either love her books or hate them. OK. I'm just gonna say it. I love Jen , and if we knew each other I know we'd be friends. LOL. But really, I do feel as if I know her. I've read all of her other books except My Fair Lazy, which I hope to get a hold of soon.
If you've read her other books you can see how much she's matured in this latest memoir, both in her life and in her writing style. And, that's is why I love it even more. Jen can be judgmental, rude, crude and social...more
If you've read her other books you can see how much she's matured in this latest memoir, both in her life and in her writing style. And, that's is why I love it even more. Jen can be judgmental, rude, crude and social...more
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May 06, 2012
Deb
added it
I'm on page 137 - nearly halfway through this book on the first night. First, I'll say I'm enjoying it quite a bit. I'm not "braying like a jackass," but I'm certainly entertained. However, I'm not thrilled to report that so far 4 chapters contain material recycled from the author's blog. Now, I do thoroughly enjoy her blog, and don't mind re-visiting some stories, but when previous books have been more strongly original, I have to say I'm disappointed. I'm just not sure if I should be disappoin...more
I feel like this book was Jen Lancaster's comeback. My Fair Lazy and Pretty in Plaid were entertaining, but I haven't enjoyed reading one of her memoirs this much since Such a Pretty Fat.
I read more than half of the book the first night I got it, and I felt myself comforted by her snarky tone. I was amused by many of the stories; I was giggling while reading. I didn't want to put it down. I rushed home from work Wednesday through Friday and the first thing I did was grab my copy. I was into it;...more
I read more than half of the book the first night I got it, and I felt myself comforted by her snarky tone. I was amused by many of the stories; I was giggling while reading. I didn't want to put it down. I rushed home from work Wednesday through Friday and the first thing I did was grab my copy. I was into it;...more
Geez, I fight myself on the star rating here. I wanted to give it a 3 star rating because there are points in which I chuckled. I do think she has a good sense of humor, though it's that kind of "one liner" humor that wears out its welcome in time. However, when I finished the novel, I felt like it was just "OK." There was a lot of self-promotion and personal book name dropping that got a little tedious. I didn't feel like I walked away with any sense of true transition from young adulthood to m...more
If you were feeling disappointed with Jen's last couple of books and you were considering giving up on her, don't! She's back again with a new memoir that is possibly one of her funniest.
Jen and Fletch have decided to move to the suburbs and buy their first house. It's quite a change from living in the city (No gunshots.) and paying rent (but your landlord not paying the water bill). Now they have privacy and enough property for the dogs to run. (So it's only natural that they would add another...more
Jen and Fletch have decided to move to the suburbs and buy their first house. It's quite a change from living in the city (No gunshots.) and paying rent (but your landlord not paying the water bill). Now they have privacy and enough property for the dogs to run. (So it's only natural that they would add another...more
Who doesn’t love staying up till 4 AM watching your favorite reality show? Or maybe your guilty vice is rifling through your neighbors’ trash looking for details on their sordid life. Not your cup of tea? What about froot loops for dinner?
No one wants to grow up, but we all have to. Even Jen Lancaster. The hilarious writer and blogger came to the conclusion that it was finally time to face facts and realize what she had become: an adult. In her new memoir, Jeneration X; One Reluctant Adult's At...more
No one wants to grow up, but we all have to. Even Jen Lancaster. The hilarious writer and blogger came to the conclusion that it was finally time to face facts and realize what she had become: an adult. In her new memoir, Jeneration X; One Reluctant Adult's At...more
I felt like I was re-reading rejects from her blog. I also was on my toes waiting for the infamous Landsend bathing suit and bought used car debacle incidents (you can read about those on her blog, and actually respond to some of those topics - or you could at the time - on her FB page). I've gone from LOVING, ADORING this author to being weary after her thinly veiled "fictional" book about new home buyers.
I knew about this book when I went to see JL speak at B&N after her Pretty in Plaid me...more
I knew about this book when I went to see JL speak at B&N after her Pretty in Plaid me...more
Reader beware that if you read this book (or any of Jen Lancaster's books for that matter), be prepared to put on notice any friends, family, co-workers and others in your life that when you're reading this, you will be laughing out loud, snorting, giggling and often than not, stifling your laughter (so as to not appear completely like you've lost your mind), to the point where you seem to be wheezing from a form of an asthma attack.
In other words?
This crazy chica is HILARIOUS.
Jeneration X, wh...more
So disappointed. Not only did the book feel like a tired retread, but I was fed-fucking-up with hearing how "entitled" my generation is. As someone who didn't take nearly a decade to finish college (Lancaster did), who has a Ph.D. (don't recall Lancaster having an advanced degree), who hasn't ran up a ton of debt from selfish and self- indulgent purchases (natch), whose parents didn't pay for a car and a wedding (you know where this is going), I'm just not entirely sure where it is that MY gener...more
I have to admit, I was reluctant to pick up this book. I don't generally read memoirs, and I'd never heard of Jen Lancaster until my new book club selected Jeneration X as our first read. On top of that, I was warned some might be offended by the tone and language. If that's not an invitation to dive right in, I don't know what is. I'm so glad they selected this book. As a writer, I'd be remise not to genuinely appreciate Chapter 7, pages 81-87, and as a Generation X-er, I chuckled my way throug...more
I don't know that I've ever hated a book - until now. I only finished the book because my book club is reading it. Many of us are a little self absorbed, but most of us have the good sense to be ashamed of that fact, not Jen. Where exactly does this woman get off calling both baby boomers and gen y entitled? This is a woman who admittedly did not grow up until her 40's. She took a decade to graduate college, ran herself into financial ruin, made ridiculously self-indulgent purchases she couldn't...more
Laugh, make that snort-laughing out loud, funny! Jen Lancaster's books never disappoint. She says exactly what's on her mind, and it's usually exactly what I was thinking! Even the most mundane things of daily life become wickedly hilarious morsels in her hands (words?) The best part is that she doesn't hesitate to go for the laugh, even if it's at her expense. Her honest and unflinching memoirs are like sitting down for coffee or a drink with a good friend. Lancaster is genuine and genuinely fu...more
I know this goes against pretty much every review out there, but I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. It was ok, and I will admit that Jen Lancaster is funny at times (she uses some hilarious slang, I’ll give her that), but the book didn’t make me laugh as much as I thought it would. The only other Lancaster book I’ve (tried) reading was her fiction If You Were Here and I couldn’t get over the footnotes enough to finish reading. While I didn’t mind them as much in here (I kind of expect it with non...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Hilarious excerpt! | 2 | 23 | May 15, 2012 02:20pm |
Jen Lancaster is the author of her own memoirs including: as Bitter is the New Black, Bright Lights, Big Ass, Such A Pretty Fat, Pretty in Plaid, My Fair Lazy, and the newest: Jeneration X.
She has also dabbled with fiction in her first book, If You Were Here.
More about Jen Lancaster...
She has also dabbled with fiction in her first book, If You Were Here.
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“Maybe I've moved to the dark side, but it's clean and nice and we never run out of toilet paper.”
—
10 people liked it
“In Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand stated that there's no such thing as real altruism. She espoused the principle of ethical egotism, meaning that a person's moral obligation is to promote their own welfare.
Translation?
I still have the musical sensibilities of a teenage girl and I kind of want to see a shitty pop concert in the guise of doing something nice for my pal's kid, so I need to find a way to make it happen.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
Translation?
I still have the musical sensibilities of a teenage girl and I kind of want to see a shitty pop concert in the guise of doing something nice for my pal's kid, so I need to find a way to make it happen.”
