The Last Single Woman in America

by Cindy Guidry

The funniest, freshest essayist since David Sedaris, Cindy Guidry examines American culture and present-day gender relations in all their confusing, heartbreaking, and hilarious glory.

After losing both her job and a potential husband, Cindy sets off to figure out why on earth she's so happy and soon must combat an onslaught of unsolicited advice from her mother, her 'have it all' friends, and a Yoda-like waxing lady, and the guy next door. Making pit stops along the way to ponder everything from the satanic origins of the Internet to her disturbing discovery that men are the new women, Cindy ultimately finds inspiration in her CD collection and renewed hope via a love letter from an Indian gas station attendant.

Cindy Guidry is a self-aware woman with a razor-sharp wit, and in The Last Single Woman in America she takes us on an outrageously funny romp through her own unique mind, uncovering universal truths along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Memoir, Humor, Chick Lit, Womens, Biography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2008

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put this collection of essays on my to-read list based upon a favorable review in EW. Never again!

Blurbs on the back cover include "rib-tickling" and "outrageously funny." Not so much. Not funny at all. And definitely not well written. The essays are not focused, not tightly written, and not humorous at all.

And who is this author? Clearly some Hollywood idiot. Why would anyone publish this garbage?

[Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this book. I read about 4 chapters & stopped...the main character is whiny & I felt myself getting more and more annoyed as I read. I just didn't care about her or the other characters.

[heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm halfway through but I'm afraid I won't be finishing this book. I tried. I gave this book a second try (before I konmari the shit out of it). But NOPE NOPE NOPE.

The author is such a boomer. Ugh. I don't find her “witticisms” that witty. Just a lot of outdated nonsense about how women and men ought to be. Not to mention her racist comments on Asian features, Turkish women, and basically any way of life that's not bland-American-pie.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book from a newly published author. Cindy Guidry tells great stories about her life, family and friends. Her stories have been optioned for HBO and I understand that she just finished the script for the pilot. I hope that it will become their new Sex and the City.

These stories, especially the family ones, remind me greatly of David Sedaris. They are funny and irreverant. I am glad that my mother went to hear Cindy speak in Houston and then called to tell me about it.

This book is good for both men and women!

[Debs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guidry writes in the vein of David Sedaris and Laurie Notaro. This book is the same sort of memoir/fiction blend that’s become so popular these days. She’s got a good wit, and this book actually made me feel better about being single.

[Laine · Rating 2 out of 5]

A wannabe female David Sedaris but too stuck in LA-spinster-land to be of widespread interest. The humor barely rises to a rare chuckle and one suspects these parts are made up or dressed up. The last essay on "love" is incoherent and does not unlock its mystery as the author seems to believe. But then her main inspiration came from a package of Celestial Tea.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the essays are tedious in the beginning. The last 3-4 are much better, funny, and insightful. If you only read the second half of the book it’s good.

[Morgan Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cindy Guidry is a single woman in her forties living in Los Angeles. The people in her life insist on reacting to her lack of husband and children as though it were a catastrophe. She begins writing a series of personal essays after losing her job as a Hollywood studio executive. She finds herself questioning her choices, her motives, and her identity. The essays span several years, detailing failed relationships and other fiascos. Her life is populated with bizarre personalities—her bleak Canadian neighbor Tomas, an obsessive compulsive pseudo-boyfriend she refers to as "The Viking," and her parents, who have been separated for twenty years, but who are too close to ever consider an actual divorce. There's plenty of dating-related humiliation, sex talk, and of course, Hollywood-bashing.

Two of the best essays deal with Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Guidry grew up in New Orleans, and her parents are still living there when disaster strikes. The first floor of her mother's house floods, and Guidry invites her mother to stay with her temporarily. Guidry has always suspected that she is not her mother's favorite child, and living in close quarters eventually leads her to ask her mother point blank, "Did you or did you not have sex with a leprechaun in 1967?" There's a delicate balance at work in these personal narratives between realism and absurdity that produces laugh-out-loud hilarity. Guidry seems to be fully aware of her own ridiculousness while writing about her veterinarian ("The Cat Whisperer") or trying to kick Dave Matthews out of her car before he discovers that her CD changer contains nothing but Dave Matthews CDs.

Guidry invites her readers to laugh at her neuroses and her tendencies toward self-sabotage. Unfortunately, her self-criticism lacks bite, and the comedy occasionally gets lost in pages of overwrought abstract analysis. In essays like "Men Are the New Women," and "Future Ex-Husband," she reveals her ambivalence about changing gender roles and claims feminism is at least partially responsible for her inability to find a life partner. These remarks feel tired, and certainly don't add anything new to the discussion of the supposed "gender wars." Ultimately, her book is like her obsessive love for Dave Matthews— there's nothing wrong with it, per se, but it's not exactly unique.

This review originally published by The Feminist Review.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another unconventional book. It's a collection of essays and although some parts repeat itself, because it's all by one author, it doesn't read as a linear story. I liked the majority of the essays and most were pretty funny, but I'm not a huge fan of essay collections although if you didn't know it was set up that way, you might not be sure that that's what it was. I could definitely see this book being made into a chick flick type of movie, it's set up nicely for that. It's a fun beach read kind of book, nothing too memorable, but you won't be upset that you spent time reading it. Being a single woman in America, a lot of the stories spoke to me, but the author is in her 40s, and me being in my 20s, I couldn't relate to some points she was at in her life, like the essay about her biological clock going off, but that's okay, still a good read that I might give another go if I need a good book for vacation someday.

[Marjanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn't end up being what I expected, but it was pretty good. I thought it would be more funny stories and ridiculous opinions, etc. However, it was more about the author trying to figure herself out, especially when it comes to men and relationships. I feel like the author had a lot of good insights, about others and herself. It was especially nice to read her thoughts on being more conservative about sex, love, and what marriage is/means. It was nice that it wasn't so serious all the time either.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays, I've been picking up and putting down for a couple of weeks now. I wasn't all that into it in the beginning, but by about halfway through I started to enjoy. I liked Guidry's writing, but sometimes it felt like she was trying a little too hard to be entertaining - aiming for the Chelsea Handler level of bawdy humour but not quite reaching it. But I have to say, as a single woman who often feels like the last of a dying breed, I could really identify with her journey.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays that I found pretty charming, though sometimes they were a little long and self-serving. If I wrote a book, I would probably start like this with just a collection of my random experiences, so I enjoyed the format. I thought some of the characters couldn't possibly be real people, but I think I know some people that others wouldn't believe actually exist, so there is that.

I'm not sure if it deserved the A- grade, but it was an enjoyable, relaxing read.

[Lori Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This went along entertainingly enough for the first 7/8ths of the book. The voice is what I'm learning to identify with my age group...smart-alecky, and sad to say, not terribly original. However, the last 1/8th was a disaster--she starts writing about what it's like to be in love, and the writing and thinking is so disjointed and actually disoriented that I was embarassed for her. I cringed and skimmed my way through the end.

[Angelique · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I'd enjoy this book more than I did... While there were stories that made me laugh... and a couple which made me cry, the ending was a bit of a let-down. This will sound horrible, but she finds the love of her life and the end leads you to believe that they "live happily ever after." WHAT? I read 200 pages of drek to get here? I guess I would've liked it more had she ended up alone and miserable. Schadenfreude anyone???

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't rock-my-world good, but it's another book of essays by a single woman trying to figure out what's wrong with her that she's single at 40 kind of book. I find that this is a genre that, while I can relate to it, frustrates me. Maybe because I can relate to it. These women come off completely unlikeable. Characters who are supposed to be quirky and charming just aren't, and there seems to be no other development--- no coming to terms with life on your own, which I find frustrating.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of "Sex and the City" crossed with Hollywood, only Guidry is nowhere NEAR as good a writer as Candace Bushnell! I did finish it (still O.K. vacation reading), and I liked one quotation: "Never put yourself down. Someone else is already doing it for you." I also liked the idea of telling everyone you're five years older than you really are, in order to have people praise you for your young looks. I'm not about to do it, but it amused me in the Hollywood context.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read of a sarcastic, witty single women's thoughts on life and single-living in L.A. Her blunt relationships with men (plenty open talk about sex) and hilarious musings about her family relationships abound. Sort of a David Sedaris-type book. The author is from New Orleans which for me is another plus.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

this woman writes exactly how my brain functions...every small detail or thought can become a whole new story line or drama. it's pretty funny actually. probably...i can relate to a lot of things she's dealing with in the book. has made me laugh quite often. i recommend it for women who just want to read something light hearted.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but it was just okay. One or two of the essays I really enjoyed but many of them fell flat. I was like hearing this big wind up for a joke without the punchline. Her observations and musings on Los Angeles are accurate and funny. I also liked her friends Alice and James. The essays that featured them were always much more interesting.

[Shelby Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end. It is revealing, and dazzling, with funny soapy moments, and family drama that will make you laugh out loud. I enjoyed her series of dates. Cindy's voice is crisp and chatty but not overwhelming. She slams down punch lines like a pro. You will relate to her struggle (well at least I know I do) and grow to love her and her family.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. Got it as an advanced copy. Don't normally read memoirs but this is a great book, a really fast read. I would recommend this to the ladies, especially the single ones..

[Melody Hesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it through about half of this book...and that was done by forcing myself to continue to read under the guise that something funny might actually happen. Well I give up. Reading the other reviews on this book I think I've made a wise choice.

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! I cannot remember the last time I was able to relate to a book so easily. There was one point when I stopped...looked at the cover and literally thought to myself "Did I write this?!". Truly it was heartfelt and comical and honest. Overall...I just loved it.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book up until the last chapter when she describes what it's like to be in love. I guess I felt it didn't mesh well with the rest of the book. Overall, I liked this book, laughed more than a few times, and appreciated the author's audacity when it came to discussing sex.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. Each chapter is like a different short story, so I had a hard time really getting into it. She never really left me wanting coming back for more. Some of the anecdotes were amusing, but don't know that I'd recommend it.

[Jean Oram · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one started off sounding like a real life chick lit novel. It was hilarious and unbelievable. It started off strong, but then sort of drifted off a bit. There are some interesting and poignant parts and some parts that will make you laugh, but it lacked a consistency to keep me in the game.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

been there, done that, moving on to the next...

[Kate Test]

Stephanie loaned this book to me and I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it to any woman single or not!

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and at times insightful tales. It made me laugh. It made me reflect on my own life as a single woman. And at times it made me not feel so lonely and oddball.