My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto by Jen Lancaster

Oct 10, 2011 Gus rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, humor, read-2010

Okay, I feel horrible giving a Jen Lancaster book only 2 stars, but I honestly thought it was "okay" and not much more. I normally love JL, I think she's hilarious and perhaps it was my excitement over this book that led to my disappointment. It's nothing like the other ones, where the storyline is coherent and there's (somewhat) of a goal to reach at the end. While I loved the last chapter of My Fair Lazy, the rest felt forced and very little of it was about Jen becoming more cultured. A lot of...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Jenny rated it 1 of 5 stars

This was possibly the worst book I have ever read. Partially because it is written on a fourth grade level. Partially because the author thinks she is hilarious, but is not. But mostly because the main character in the book is possibly the worst person I have ever read about. She is massively ignorant, and proud of it. Even while the book ostensibly is about her becoming "cultured" she resists at every level. This is a character, after all, who proudly proclaims that Ayn Rand and "Atlas Shrugged...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Since this is the fourth Jen Lancaster memoir I've read (and the third in a fairly short time period), I can't say I don't know what she's all about at this point. Still, I was expecting something more from this book.

I've been aware for awhile that politically speaking, Jen and I don't have much in common. She hints at her Republicanism in earlier books, and I haven't had a problem with it because hey, the whole world doesn't have to agree with me (also, that's not why I read her - I read her b...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jen Lancaster is back with hilarious tales of her life in Chicago with her husband, writer friends, and house full of pets - this time she is convinced that her TV diet of reality television has made her uncomfortable in social situations and makes people look down on her. To solve this problem, she is taking a page from Miss Eliza Doolittle and is getting some culture - Jenassaince style! Nothing is taboo: plays, operas, classic literature, poetry, and Eating the World! As always, she manages t...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Fair Lazy is the type of book one picks up when they just want to laugh by the pool on a hot summer afternoon. I have never read memoirs by a funnier, more irreverent person than Jen Lancaster. The most hysterical parts happen when you cannot believe what you just read.

"New York Times" bestselling author Lancaster is a self-proclaimed reality show addict, hence the subtitle of the book: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover if Not Being a Dumb Ass is the New Black, or a Culture-...more

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Jul 01, 2012 LaurieH118 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jen Lancaster is funny, aggressive and insensitive. Sometimes she's such "a mean girl" that her unlikeability outweighs the funny. (Example: A woman who is so supportive of her gay male friends, and in Bright Lights, Big Ass, she goes on an on about being "all about the gays," should know it's not cool to dismiss Rachel Maddow in this book as "he.") For an author who so proudly writes about keeping her politics out of her work, she certainly manages to do her share of liberal slagging. And just...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Angela Risner rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm a huge Jen Lancaster fan. I read her blog and I have read all of her books. I look forward to her new book each year.

This book is about her addiction to reality TV and her quest to expand her horizons. She takes in plays, concerts, art exhibits and tries food from all over the world.

But don't worry; in the end she's still our wonderful Jen, saying some of the wrong things here and there but in an endearingly hilarious way. I love it when she is at a snooty party and is able to show that a lo...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Annie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs

Jen Lancaster is laugh out loud, hilarious. She is honest and the type of girl I would love to be friends with. Warning to readers-she tends to be a bit profane. It's not every word but when she drops a swear word, it tends to be a doozy. I liked this book so much because I could definitely relate to having a possible addiction to reality-television, many conversations and comparisons centering on the seasons of Bachelor or ANTM, and a surge of joy whenever I discover someone else watches the sa...more Jen Lancaster is laugh out loud, hilarious. She is honest and the type of girl I would love to be friends with. Warning to readers-she tends to be a bit profane. It's not every word but when she drops a swear word, it tends to be a doozy. I liked this book so much because I could definitely relate to having a possible addiction to reality-television, many conversations and comparisons centering on the seasons of Bachelor or ANTM, and a surge of joy whenever I discover someone else watches the same guilty pleasure I do! I also at times feel that urge to become more cultured and elevate myself above the trash that is on most channels. So essentially, this book is about Jen trying to do more than just watch reality TV and become cultured. She attempts to do this by going to see plays with a very patient theater friend, "Eat The World" by trying different cuisines from other countries, read classical literature and listen to operas and classic music. All of these endeavors take place among the background of her normal day to day life with her small zoo of pets, adoring and also incredibly patient husband, while juggling book tours and moving to the suburbs. While some may question the legitimacy, method and results of her experiment, I felt it was a success and inspiring, in it's own way. I had much more fun reading this than watching Top Chef, and that is one of the highest compliments I can give. I also felt cultured by proxy because, the novel did get me away from the television! Her writing is peppered with footnotes at the bottom of the page, which instead of irritating, only further the laughter that will be spilling out of you while reading this book. She is sort of like a Republican Tina Fey, only much more relatable and edgy. I think one of Lancaster's best features as a writer is her ability to convey basic themes and lessons of life in a completely original way.

Favorite Quotes:
Because I no longer report to a boss, I never have to take on hard or boring tasks, thus traveling outside my comfort zone is a rarity, and most likely involuntary.

"Well...when I got it, I didn't notice the company name on the cover. I was just thumbing through it, looking at the furniture and linens and decorating items, and I was all, 'This stuff is so the real me!' Turns out it was a Pottery Barn TEEN catalog." I pause to consider the implications. "Meaning I have the design aesthetic of a twelve-year-old."

I snort. "Pfft, I never sleep on the plane. I have to be awake and using my mind power to keep it in the air."

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Jan 11, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, humor

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE BOOK.

Book Description

Since her debut memoir (and seriously, how many people can say that?) Bitter Is the New Black (which chronicled her journey from dot.com executive to unemployed Prada-wearing temp), Lancaster has mined almost all aspects of her life in her humorous memoirs—ranging from weight loss (Such A Pretty Fat) to city living (Bright Lights, Big Ass). In this one, she’s determined to smarten herself up by getting cultured, which involves tas...more THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE BOOK.

Book Description

Since her debut memoir (and seriously, how many people can say that?) Bitter Is the New Black (which chronicled her journey from dot.com executive to unemployed Prada-wearing temp), Lancaster has mined almost all aspects of her life in her humorous memoirs—ranging from weight loss (Such A Pretty Fat) to city living (Bright Lights, Big Ass). In this one, she’s determined to smarten herself up by getting cultured, which involves tasting wine, attending the theater, trying new cuisines, reading literature and participating in other “hoity toity” activities.

My Thoughts

Well, when you’re on your fourth memoir before the age of 40, you’re going to start running out of material—and that seemed pretty apparent in this book. Although the premise seemed OK (less reality television, more ballet), the problem in this book was Lancaster herself. Rather than being an amusing smart ass, I thought Lancaster just came off as an ass this time around. Perhaps this grasping for topics to memoirize (Is that a word? If not it should be! And I just coined it!) was why her latest book was a novel instead of a memoir.

Although there are some funny sections, most of the book made Lancaster seem self-involved, shrill and shallow. It was the first book of hers that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy, and the first time I didn’t want to hang out with her. Here’s hoping her foray into fiction nets her some fresh ideas.

About the Narration

I was surprised that Jen Lancaster herself didn’t narrate the book. However, I’ve never heard her talk so perhaps her voice wasn’t suited for narration. (But if Sarah Vowell can do it, ANYONE can do it.) Jaime Heinlein had shades of “Valley Girl” in her voice somewhere that didn’t sit well with me. In fact, I found it a bit of a chore to listen to the book. Part of it was the content of the book itself, and part of it was Heinlein’s voice. Now that I’ve listened to several audiobooks, I’m learning that there are some narrators that you don’t mind spending time with and those that wear out their visit. For me, Heinlein wore her visit by hour two.

Recommended For

Die-hard Jen Lancaster fans and reality show junkies.(less)

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Nov 20, 2011 Loyola University Chicago Libraries rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: beth

Frankly, it's a miracle I gave this two stars, because after the first 50 pages, I was ready to give it 0 stars and a kick across the room. This is my first experience reading Jen Lancaster, and she comes off VERY poorly at the beginning of this memoir, which details her attempt to watch less reality TV and become more cultured. I thought this sounded like a fairly interesting project, particularly as American culture has become increasingly anti-intellectual. Sadly, Lancaster's attitude to both...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Ciara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobio-memoir, read-in-2011

this is probably the best of jen lancaster's assorted collection of memoirs. (she pumps out a new one on a yearly basis.) granted, the bar is pretty low. i do think that she is occasionally extremely funny (unlike certain "humorists" i could name), but a lot of her humor is founded in her political beliefs (she's a republican who loves ayn rand). i find it difficult to laugh along with the privileged white lady who thinks the latino gang members in her neighborhood were airdropped in for her own...more this is probably the best of jen lancaster's assorted collection of memoirs. (she pumps out a new one on a yearly basis.) granted, the bar is pretty low. i do think that she is occasionally extremely funny (unlike certain "humorists" i could name), but a lot of her humor is founded in her political beliefs (she's a republican who loves ayn rand). i find it difficult to laugh along with the privileged white lady who thinks the latino gang members in her neighborhood were airdropped in for her own mildly racist amusement. to her credit, she does seem to labor valiantly to craft books that have some appeal to folks of all political persuasions. it's just that she occasionally fails to hide her scorn for the less-privileged & it's a discordant note in an otherwise light-hearted romp.

the last time i reviewed one of her books, i said that i liked it better than a lot of her other stuff & i speculated that it was because i'd taken a long break from reading her stuff. she can be funny, but she can also be very gimmicky (for example, every chapter, in every book, is separated by various letters & e-mails she has supposedly written to her friends, partner, alderman, etc--it gets fucking old). & now that she is pretty much a full-time professional memoirist, she has to keep coming up with shit to write memoirs about, & her books are pretty transparent efforts to stretch the material to meet a publisher's word count. that also gets fucking old. especially when it is written in this tone of, "woe is me, i'm a professional memoirist, listen to me procrastinate on my next manuscript by watching reality TV." which is what about 75% of this book is.

but it gained some esteem in my eyes because i think jen really has changed as a person over the years. her older books really are fucking bitter, & she says that she occasionally gets letters from long-time readers complaining about her newer work & how it doesn't have that same bite to it. she says she doesn't want to come across as that bitter & angry anymore because she has finally realized that maybe the reason she got laid off in the first place (that was the subject of her first book) is because people didn't like her. this book is all about her attempts to become more cultured & interesting.

naturally, this takes a weird yuppie-ish form, because it seems like everything she writes takes a weird yuppie-ish form. she goes to the theatre, she gets into classical music & opera, she explores world cuisine, she reads classic literature. but it was so good to see her displaying some self-awareness--realizing that maybe it's worth trying to better herself & even make other people comfortable in her presence--that i can forgive the very upper-middle-class cultured-equals-stuff-rich-white-people-like road that she took.

i'm not going to out & out recommend any of jen's books, because they all grate a little bit, but you could certainly do worse if you're looking for a mindless, sometimes funny, relaxing read. especially if you are really into reality TV, lacoste polo shirts, sororities, or ayn rand.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Nikole rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think it's pretty safe to say that Jen Lancaster is my new favorite author. Since December I've read three of her books-or rather, laughed through three of her books and loved every single minute of the experience. Pretty awesome considering I actually HATED her for a good half of Bitter is the New Black.

In My Fair Lazy, Lancaster realizes that ever since she lost her job post 9-11, she has succumbed to a pretty serious addiction-reality television. Worse yet, she discovers that her addiction...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Amy Moritz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Confession time: I have a writer crush on Jen Lancaster. Her writing is entertaining and clear and not just funny but witty. She makes me want to read more, write more and do more. And to me, that's one of the signs of an great talent. In this memoir, she writes about her "Jenassaince" -- her desire to step away from reality television and get "culture" and "class" though much of the book is a question of which comes first, culture or class. Her goal is to not be the girl who says the first thin...more Confession time: I have a writer crush on Jen Lancaster. Her writing is entertaining and clear and not just funny but witty. She makes me want to read more, write more and do more. And to me, that's one of the signs of an great talent. In this memoir, she writes about her "Jenassaince" -- her desire to step away from reality television and get "culture" and "class" though much of the book is a question of which comes first, culture or class. Her goal is to not be the girl who says the first thing that comes to mind in important social situations. This is (a) a sign of personal growth and self awareness as she realizes the fact that she is, um not nice, is probably the reason why she lost her job in the dot-com bust years ago and (b) slightly disturbing because her lack of a mental/social filter is part of her charm. Then again, if all we ever read about was the dumb-ass things she said, well, her books would be boring and repetitive and I love her too much to see that happen. So you go ahead and improve yourself, Jen. I want to read all about it. By the end of teh book, she realizes it's not so much about what she's doing but that she is out doing:

"We're obligated to make the most of what we have, and the best way to do that is to expand the depth of our experiences. Do we want to spend the next thirty years on the couch, waiting to see who wins America's Next Top Model Cycle Forty-Five, or do w want to fill our lives with a million new experiences, even if sometimes they're unpredictable or scary or take effort? Essentially, we realized we need to keep diving in. And if we do, our lives won't be richer for being long; our lives will be richer for having lived."

Yes, Ms. Lancaster, along with making me laugh out loud and bringing me all the things I love about reading, you also gave me a fresh reminder of how I try to live my own life -- by pushing myself out of my comfort zone. You make me want to try something a bit harder and unexpected. A sincere thanks for the inspiration. (less)

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Jun 11, 2011 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

In My Fair Lazy, Jen Lancaster returns with the same wit, humor, hilarious self-reflections, and tangential footnotes that made her so popular with her first books Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights Big Ass. Now, I have to admit that, for me, those first couple books were definitely her best and funniest books. While I enjoyed Such a Pretty Fat and Pretty In Plaid, I found them not quite as full of the laugh-out-loud humor I found in the first ones. But in this one, I thought Jen Lancaste...more In My Fair Lazy, Jen Lancaster returns with the same wit, humor, hilarious self-reflections, and tangential footnotes that made her so popular with her first books Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights Big Ass. Now, I have to admit that, for me, those first couple books were definitely her best and funniest books. While I enjoyed Such a Pretty Fat and Pretty In Plaid, I found them not quite as full of the laugh-out-loud humor I found in the first ones. But in this one, I thought Jen Lancaster brought back the same hilarity I was used to.

My Fair Lazy chronicles Jen Lancaster's attempts to sophisticate herself by turning off all the reality television she's addicted to and going to wine and cheese tastings, reading classics, watching opera, etc. This all started for her when, in an attempt to impress and befriend Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City), she pretended to know what/who Baudelaire is.

I was able to relate to all her reality show references -- some because I, too, had watched that show, or because I could relate to being addicted to a similar show. (Jen professes that the only reality show she doesn't watch is Keeping up with the Kardashians which I can't understand because that show is sooo entertaining, lol. I managed to stay away from it for a while but got caught up in some marathons... that's besides the point though). Jen is honest and doesn't pretend to be someone she's not (well, except for when she's being interviewed by Candace Bushnell, lol) so I was able to put myself in her shoes when she had these experiences and laugh along with her.

Jen Lancaster's humor is so funny specifically because she says what she thinks without worrying how others will respond. The things she says are often the things that I know people are thinking and just can't say! But her humor is also intelligent and witty which is why I think she's so well liked by readers. She's also gutsy and will do things or talk to people that I'd be scared to. There were a couple parts in My Fair Lazy that I remember her posting from her blog... other parts she mentioned on her blog but elaborated on in the book. I was disappointed in two specific incidences because she wrote about something she had written in previous books; one of these things I specifically remembered because I thought it was so outright hilarious when I read it the first time. But those are literally the only ones I could remember.

In all, this was another great and hilarious book by Jen Lancaster. If you've never read anything by her, though, I recommend starting with her first two books, Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights Big Ass, because those are the funniest and they will introduce you to who Jen is and how she got to where she is now. These things are all sort of assumed by the time you read this book and those who haven't "gotten to know" her yet may not appreciate the book as much as they otherwise would.

Taken from my blog at www.takemeawayreading.com (less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Tad Hopp rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, I could so identify with this book!! I have a mild obsession with reality TV so found her references to them hilarious. As a connoisseur of both "high" and "low" culture, I appreciated her trying to make herself more sophisticated. I've recently started developing a taste for wine because I know it makes me look classy so I can easily relate to her struggle!! At the end of the day, though, I will always be a reality TV addict who also enjoys Gossip Girl and country music no matte...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Rebekah ODell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jen Lancaster is my best friend, although she may not know it.

In her newest memoir, My Fair Lazy, Jen encounters her idol, Candace Bushnell of Sex and the City fame, at an author event. As Jen begins her characteristic gushing, Bushnell mentions her recent infatuation with the writing of Baudelaire. And Jen feels like ...an idiot because she doesn't even know who Baudelaire is.

Thus begins the great Jenaissance, a quest for culture beyond reality TV. She takes wine classes and cooking classes, at...more

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Jul 25, 2010 Jennifer added it

Shelves: biography, chick-lit, female-writers, humor, nonfiction

This is Jen Lancaster's fifth book (though I must confess, although I consider myself a fan, it's only the second one I've read), and those who have read her before will not be disappointed by her humor and wit, though Lazy has less substance than the one other I've read, Bitter is the New Black.

Having moved from a 9-5 life to a full-time writer's life (thanks to her previous successes), Lancaster has found herself giving much of her free time to the pursuit of reality TV watching, and less time...more This is Jen Lancaster's fifth book (though I must confess, although I consider myself a fan, it's only the second one I've read), and those who have read her before will not be disappointed by her humor and wit, though Lazy has less substance than the one other I've read, Bitter is the New Black.

Having moved from a 9-5 life to a full-time writer's life (thanks to her previous successes), Lancaster has found herself giving much of her free time to the pursuit of reality TV watching, and less time following (or being a part of) the real world. As such, when she does engage in society, cultural references befuddle her and she often falls back on story lines from gems such as "Flavor of Love" and "I Love New York" (and her personal favorite, "Survivor"), only to look and feel foolish and out of the loop.

This prompts her to embark on a "Cultural Jenaissance," to increase her knowledge of and appreciation for things everyone else in her circle already seems to get: theater, literature, dance, wine, etc. Her stories are extremely entertaining, often causing me to chuckle aloud (or burst out laughing), and her footnotes, as usual, can at times be the funniest parts of her writing, but compared to Bitter, she has lost some of her relatability.

Bitter chronicled her crash from moving-up-the-corporate-ladder to jobless, and her subsequent attitude change about herself and the world around her, parts of which the average person can identify with. In Lazy, she chronicles days spent wasted in front of th TV (by choice, not by force of unemployment), and later, time spent taking in plays and dance performances, reading a wealth of classic literature, attending wine and cheese appreciation classes, etc. -- not so easily related to.

Thumbs up for a story well-told and largely entertaining in it's retelling, thumbs 'neutral' for a story that is built on a foundation of "comfortable life wasted on selfish pursuits." Maybe her next book will chronicle a year spent in community service to balance her karma.(less)

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Jul 15, 2010 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

In spite of the fact that the book is full of 80's pop culture references and they don't particularly resonate with this child of the 60's-70's, I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. All of Jen Lancaster's books to date have been memoirs. Just as Such a Pretty Fat reflected her quest to work on a better body and healthier lifestyle (Aren't we all looking for that?), this one is about her effort to "culture up" a bit. She's a reality show addict who desires to round herself out so that she does...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Andrea Guy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jen Lancaster always delivers the funny with her memoirs, and this one is no different, but it is. Inevitably the lady is successful again and sadly that took away some of what made her other books so great. She had problems like you and me. She was snarky like all of my friends. OK, she's still snarky but in this book she's trying to gain cultural enrichment so she doesn't make an ass out of herself at special functions etc.

I don't fault the lady her success, but the subject matter most of the...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Jonny99 rated it 2 of 5 stars

A featherweight blog-to-print conversion. Samuel Pepys is now well-known because he kept a personal diary of his mundane comings and goings during a turbulent time in English history – the late 1600s. Perhaps in a modern day effort to replicate this brand of immortality, there is now an entire subgenre of memoir devoted to converting personal blogs to printed books with minimal editing or concern for artistic flourishes. Jen Lancaster’s 384 pages of Twitter-esque recording of the trivial events...more A featherweight blog-to-print conversion. Samuel Pepys is now well-known because he kept a personal diary of his mundane comings and goings during a turbulent time in English history – the late 1600s. Perhaps in a modern day effort to replicate this brand of immortality, there is now an entire subgenre of memoir devoted to converting personal blogs to printed books with minimal editing or concern for artistic flourishes. Jen Lancaster’s 384 pages of Twitter-esque recording of the trivial events of her only modestly interesting life is highly representative of this new brand of ”book””.

The book’s paragraphs may have been written using a small series of fill in the blank Mad Libs-type templates. ”I (fill in verb) (fill in direct object of the verb). This made me feel (fill in emotion). I learned I should never (fill in lesson learned to be relearned a few paragraphs hence). If he words ”I”, “me”, “Jen” and “ass” were deleted by the either non-existent or at least wildly lenient editor of this book, it would have been maybe 125 pages long. The closest the book gets to creative writing is a line which says: ”since the Nazi at the snack bar wouldn’t let me drink my wine in the theater, I drank in the scenery instead.” The closest the book gets to humor is a line about avoiding eating Cuban food in her SUV which reads: I didn’t want to get a DWI – Driving While Ingesting.” These observations are not meant to be negative but rather to convey that the facts of her life and her constant reality television references are like the Kraft Singles cheese she enjoys so much – not bad just wholly innocuous

However, if you put some of the facts of her life together, an interesting picture might be emerging. Jen has a stinky pitbull as a pet, drives a large SUV, buys clothes for their functional value rather than for emotional reasons, spends hours on the couch watching television, is a huge Fox News fan, was formerly employed in sales, refuses to ask for directions, doesn’t listen when people talk and uses the word ”ass” approximately once for every eight words in the book. In short, Jen might be a guy. This is not to suggest she is secretly physically male but rather she might be psychologically a dude. Again, this is not meant to be a negative observation just a warning to anyone who thought they were getting a Carrie Bradshaw, ”Ab Fab" “grrrls” being fabulous romp. Suffice to say if the book had an index, there would not be an entry on “Manolo Blahniks” but there would be several on ”ass sweat”.

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Nov 20, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Frankly, it's a miracle I gave this two stars, because after the first 50 pages, I was ready to give it 0 stars and a kick across the room. This is my first experience reading Jen Lancaster, and she comes off VERY poorly at the beginning of this memoir, which details her attempt to watch less reality TV and become more cultured. I thought this sounded like a fairly interesting project, particularly as American culture has become increasingly anti-intellectual. Sadly, Lancaster's attitude to both...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Jensownzoo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, biographies, bookstore-physical, humor

The subtitle mostly tells you what this book is about. The author is flailing about, trying to think of a subject to tackle in her next memoir when she realizes that all of her references (in conversation) relate to reality TV programs and starts feeling wholly uncultured. She sets herself a goal to experience museums, theater, ethnic food, etc. in an effort to broaden her horizons and make herself a more interesting conversational partner. Her aim is to not make a fool of herself at an upcoming...more

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Apr 02, 2010 Corey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine, read-in-2010

I'm a huge fan of Jen Lancaster's books, they are hilarious, fun and sarcastic. I've read all the previous novels, kept up on her blog and subscribed to her twitter feed, she's just that much fun to follow. I mean come on, she posts LOLcat pictures. That pretty much secures you a place in awesomeland.

This book follows Jen's journey to get a little bit more culture beyond her current realm of reality shows like The Hills and The Real Housewives and takes place over a little over a year, ending wi...more I'm a huge fan of Jen Lancaster's books, they are hilarious, fun and sarcastic. I've read all the previous novels, kept up on her blog and subscribed to her twitter feed, she's just that much fun to follow. I mean come on, she posts LOLcat pictures. That pretty much secures you a place in awesomeland.

This book follows Jen's journey to get a little bit more culture beyond her current realm of reality shows like The Hills and The Real Housewives and takes place over a little over a year, ending with the big event at The Hamptons. She pushes herself to read beyond her comfort zone of Lauren Conrad, eat beyond her comfort zone of cheeseburgers and try cheese that isn't made by Kraft. As a cheeseburger-loving, chick-lit reading gal, I cheered her on every step of the way and giggled at the interludes with rats along the way. I am glad to be back in the present with Jen (as "Such a Pretty Plaid" was more remembering the past than the present) because her life (at least how she writes it) is pretty darn funny. I still am a bit scared of Ambien but also wanna try it to see if I wind up with a Barbie head or a cake on the counter. It's not easy to write a memoir, it's also not easy to write a memoir if you are someone that claims everyone pretty much hates upon meeting however Jen does write her memoirs well and makes you want to be BFFs with her and meet her for cupcakes. It takes a darn good writer to do that!

I realize that Jen's wit and writing style isn't for everyone. She can be crass and overly sarcastic. However, if that's the kind of person you are, you will love this (and her other) books.

If you are thinking that you don't need to buy the latest novel because you follow her blog and/or twitter (and if you don't you NEED TO), think again because reading both only enhances the novel. I was online the night she took ambien and tweeted about it, laughing along the way, and part of that made it into the book and made me laugh even more remembering it.

PS: Jen if you read these (?) to read your Kindle in the bath, put it in a ziploc bag (the kind with the slider thing). Voila, bath readable kindle. I've used this method for a year and it's worked like a charm!(less)

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Mar 02, 2010 Ali Bottorff rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: 2010

One of the great things about working in a bookstore is the free advanced copies. I loved this book. I was funny and interesting. I first got into Jen Lancaster with the advanced copy of Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie is Not the Answer and fell in love. I admit I have yet to read her first Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag t ...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir

My Fair Lazy, Jen Lancaster’s fifth memoir, is about her attempt to curb her reality TV addiction and learn more about more intellectual cultural pursuits. Her JENaissance includes going to the opera, reading classic literature, trying new foods and learning more about wine.

Reading this book was like catching up with an old friend. I didn’t think this book was as sarcastic and bitingly funny as her first two books but it was still a fun read. Some of the dialogue between Jen and her friends was...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Slayermel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who enjoy's chick lit with a sense of humor

Shelves: 21st-century, american, chick-lit, female-authors, humor, library, biography, non-fiction, 2011, audiobooks, autobiography

This book had me laughing out loud so many times that I lost count. Jen Lancaster is a truly funny woman who does not take herself too seriously and is able to make fun of her own flaws, I love this about her. If only more people wouldn't take themselves so seriously. :o)

Jen is writing a new book and this one is based around cultural enlightenment. Jen makes it her job to experience so many new situations opening her mind to a whole new world from opera, dance, classical literature and poetry to...more

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May 17, 2010 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jen Lancaster is one of my guilty pleasures. I wish the library had more books by her. I want to move to Chicago to become her new best friend. In fact, she practically IS me, except that she's a lot funnier and she tends to have a potty mouth when perturbed. In her latest memoir, she notices that she doesn't have much to talk about anymore at social engagements except reality TV shows. She decides to expand her cultural horizons (an effort she calls the "Jenaissance") by reading classic literat...more

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May 02, 2011 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Not too long ago, my best friend told me we grew up in the "grunge" generation and that it is okay not to worry about hair and makeup... let alone our clothing. (this from a friend who I would tease to tears in 8th grade because she always ran in late... and then promptly applied 4 minutes worth of makeup to her face.) But this book tackles some of this issue head on... we are all really lazy at every day life ... there is literally tons of junk that we don't even have to work to do that we wast...more Not too long ago, my best friend told me we grew up in the "grunge" generation and that it is okay not to worry about hair and makeup... let alone our clothing. (this from a friend who I would tease to tears in 8th grade because she always ran in late... and then promptly applied 4 minutes worth of makeup to her face.) But this book tackles some of this issue head on... we are all really lazy at every day life ... there is literally tons of junk that we don't even have to work to do that we waste our time on things that truly don't matter.
As a memoir, this book explores the different social norms that are constantly plaguing us... how to be cultured, up to date and well mannered. Some which are considered outdated and no longer needed.... but many more people are trying to incorporate now in our lives before they become lost arts.
The author tries her own Jenaissance... exploring classic novels and poetry, tries ethnic foods galore, takes wine tasting classes and tries to discover a long dormant manners -- not spouting whatever comes to mind. I just wish she would have included escapades about trying to clean up her language... I can only imagine what things could happen... with her writing style it probably would have been hilarious! (Maybe future memoir)
I was disappointed in this book though. It seems that more and more the social norm diverts away from having children... focus on pets, career etc. One thing truly stuck with me... she was driven to write so she could stay with her dog Maisy... who she missed every day. It just makes me sad... I read this and can only feel like that there is something HUGE missing from the author's life. I hope one day she answers the question why she and her husband chose not to have children. (Or I might have to read her books... she shares so much, but I can't help but wonder why this specifically is missing from her novels. There may be a perfectly good reasoning to this, but it is a curiosity question that she can choose to answer or not... but I can't help but wonder.)
One other major problem, I also realized today that I have no idea what her husband or best friend Stacy looks like!!! Sorry I am so used to details I may have missed some... but I am floored from some of the pages... and they she adds different friends in like we know who they are.... I don't know It just was one of those things that bothered me.
After sitting and writing this, I realize I enjoyed the book more than I thought... increase the rating to three stars!

PS Although it is implied, I didn't intend to mean that the author wears grungy clothes... on the contrary, from her book she takes important time on her appearance and clothing. I only mentioned this because it is a form of what she was trying to get away from... for some people it may be clothes, for others reality tv!!! or other forms of laziness.(less)

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Aug 14, 2010 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-memoir

Jennifer Lancaster has done it again. In this her latest memoir she recounts her quest to become more "cultured" by tearing herself away from her daily reality TV obsession. She talks about how she learned to love opera, molecular gastronomy, and great works of literature while making her usual snarky comments relating to pop culture. I read this book in 8 hours and was laughing the entire time (except when she describes the health of her many animals...where I shed a few tears).She makes me fee...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think I'll share with you my little secret: Jen Lancaster and I? We're totally BFF! If only she knew it, she would see it too! I am totally in love with her books. She's funny. She's sarcastic. She's bitchy. She is AWESOMENESS in a fluffy, Lacoste-wrapped package! I love her!

In her most recent release, Jen is determined to get 'Cultured up' after meeting "Sex in the City" author (and her idol) Candace Bushnell at an author event and she feels like an idiot because her conversation topics don't...more

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title link	preview: My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto
avg rating	preview: My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Goodreads rating: 3.91 (7506 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7090290-my-fair-lazy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349080673l/7090290.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7090290-my-fair-lazy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto by Jen Lancaster[/url]

My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto

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