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Lost In Spain: A Collection Of Humorous Essays
Scott Oglesby moved to Spain with the thought that it was the perfect chance to start over. Unfortunately, he brought himself with him. The result was dysfunction, delusion, chaos and one hilarious book. Lost in Spain is a collection of humorous essays centered around one very awkward American. With irreverent imagination, larger than life characters posing as humans, and surprising heart, this book will move you. Whether to laughter, tears, anger, or even an adventure in another country is anybody's guess.
212 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 14, 2014
When Scott Oglesby graced me with a review copy of his Lost in Spain: A Collection of Humorous Essays, I was honored and thrilled being a fan of his writing from back when he kept a hilarious blog.
This book of essays are the memoirs of a man able to observe the comedy in his life and surroundings no matter how high or low the situation. We see snapshots of a socially awkward, yet charming man making his way through through strange family members and even stranger strangers.
When we first meet Scott, we are in Ibiza, Spain with his wife and her wealthy, eccentric brother. One begins to feel as though Scott is the narrator of The Great Gatsby: Espana Ediccion. He is the outsider looking into an opulant world, the ultimate non-stop party...until we see the actual home he and his wife are to spend the next three years. The apartment the uncle has given them is in the rural village of Javaron, a place unlike Ibiza or anywhere else he could imagine.
While in Javaron, the Oglesbies live among a unique cast of villagers, Gypsies, and European ex-pats of varying moral fortitude. The fact that Scott has a severe case of OCD, struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and doesn't quite fit in anywhere is explored with great candor and humor.
If you have OCD, and I do, you may find yourself relating to the the book in that you will be saying to yourself, "There's someone else that does that. Wow!" The fear of mimicking someone's accent, to going to insane lengths not to offend someone, to being on the extreme side of socially awkward are all things I have dealt with too. Scott also has the abillity to not sweat the big stuff and fall apart at little things, something I find happens to me too.
In short, this is a rauciously funny book, a different travel memoir, and a portrait of someone struggling to survive mental illness and addiction. It has something that will resound with most readers.
This book of essays are the memoirs of a man able to observe the comedy in his life and surroundings no matter how high or low the situation. We see snapshots of a socially awkward, yet charming man making his way through through strange family members and even stranger strangers.
When we first meet Scott, we are in Ibiza, Spain with his wife and her wealthy, eccentric brother. One begins to feel as though Scott is the narrator of The Great Gatsby: Espana Ediccion. He is the outsider looking into an opulant world, the ultimate non-stop party...until we see the actual home he and his wife are to spend the next three years. The apartment the uncle has given them is in the rural village of Javaron, a place unlike Ibiza or anywhere else he could imagine.
While in Javaron, the Oglesbies live among a unique cast of villagers, Gypsies, and European ex-pats of varying moral fortitude. The fact that Scott has a severe case of OCD, struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and doesn't quite fit in anywhere is explored with great candor and humor.
If you have OCD, and I do, you may find yourself relating to the the book in that you will be saying to yourself, "There's someone else that does that. Wow!" The fear of mimicking someone's accent, to going to insane lengths not to offend someone, to being on the extreme side of socially awkward are all things I have dealt with too. Scott also has the abillity to not sweat the big stuff and fall apart at little things, something I find happens to me too.
In short, this is a rauciously funny book, a different travel memoir, and a portrait of someone struggling to survive mental illness and addiction. It has something that will resound with most readers.
April 20, 2014
Lost In Spain A Collection of Humorous Essays
I could not stop laughing! It has been a long time that a book as made me laugh out loud.
The author has the astute social commentary of David Sedaris and the twisted dark humor of Augusten Burroughs but his voice is all his own.
Some of the topics are just a little risqué, some of the stories are dark, but the book is absolutely hilarious. But be warned, this is not a kids book or for anyone who is easily offended by foul language or adult content.
It took me a few chapters to pick up the subtlety and nuance. Some characters seem to be representative of parts of the author's own personality, or perhaps they were allegory for societies ills and our constant struggle to understand life. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it and it's just a crazy, funny, weird book.
Whatever it was it was the funniest book I've read since "Me Talk Pretty One Day." Loved it!
I could not stop laughing! It has been a long time that a book as made me laugh out loud.
The author has the astute social commentary of David Sedaris and the twisted dark humor of Augusten Burroughs but his voice is all his own.
Some of the topics are just a little risqué, some of the stories are dark, but the book is absolutely hilarious. But be warned, this is not a kids book or for anyone who is easily offended by foul language or adult content.
It took me a few chapters to pick up the subtlety and nuance. Some characters seem to be representative of parts of the author's own personality, or perhaps they were allegory for societies ills and our constant struggle to understand life. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it and it's just a crazy, funny, weird book.
Whatever it was it was the funniest book I've read since "Me Talk Pretty One Day." Loved it!
April 20, 2014
As a fellow foreigner living in Spain, Scott's blog was my first stop when I turned on the laptop. Then when I discovered his book had been published, I had to get it. Funny and sometimes uncomfortably too close to home, this is a book to keep dipping into. I read the Kindle version which is currently not showing up on Goodreads.
Oh, Scott, you crack me up! 5 Stars, and nothing more. :D
Oh, Scott, you crack me up! 5 Stars, and nothing more. :D
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews