Let's Pretend This Never Happened

I never read the hot book everyone is talking about. Maybe it is my own personal version of rebellion "Oh, everyone has to read this? Watch me. Watch me not read it!" My book buying budget probably factors in there somewhere, too, but it all ads up to me being about three years behind on popular reading.

Now that you know that, it will make sense to you that I waited to read Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened - even though I love reading her blog, and I left comments saying that I wanted to read the book on every picture of my friends at her books signings. I was excited when BlogHer picked it for a book club read, because it helped me to stop putting off reading it.

The new softcover edition has an extra chapter that all of the people who read it last year missed completely. I'm pretty sure this extra chapter means those of you who have not read it yet are not as behind on your popular reading as you thought. (And I'm actually early. Maybe.)

Let's Pretend This Never Happened was a great read. I laughed my way through it. Actually giggling and laughing out loud. It was interesting to see inside Jenny's childhood, and learn about the early years with her husband Victor. I think this line really sums up both experiences well:

"My eyes widened in horror as my father leaned over and yelled in his booming, cheerful voice, "HELLOOOOOO, VICTOR," while tossing a live bobcat on him." 

That seems pretty normal, right?

This book covers funny marriage moments, living with mental illness, motherhood, loss, wonderfully strange childhood memories, and a giant metal chicken - all told with Lawson's unique voice and humor. There is a lot of strong language. If you are prepared for that, and determine not to be offended, you will love it. I did.

I think the question I have to ask at the end of this review must be this:
Do you have a secret (or not-so-secret) love of taxidermy?

You can join in the conversation, and laughter, about Let's Pretend This Never Happened at BlogHer. And you can find more of Jenny's writing on her blog, The Bloggess.

*Legal Stuff: This was a review for the BlogHer Book Club. I was provided a copy of the book by BlogHer, and compensated for my time. The opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required to say nice things.

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