Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested… (original 2012; edition 2012)

3.5 stars
Incredibly enjoyable and had me busting a gut, but...
I could have done without the constant feeling of déjà vu since I read about half the stories on her blog already. She did expand on the stories in her book, but still, needed more new stories. ( )

Wonderfully funny and wise all at once. Love Jens musings. Her thoughts read just like she is in person which is delightful!! Recommend it! ( )

After having read a few of Ms. Lancaster's memoirs, I have a good feel for her style; which I do like. Her snarky, catty, judgementalness are all traits I can relate to. And while I am constantly fighting those traits to become a better me, Ms. Lancaster seems to embrace them for herself (all the power to her). While I enjoy her tales, I do find the books tend to drag on once you get through the first 200 pages. ( )

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 adulthood. Buying a house, buying life insurance, finally training the dogs that have the manners of very friendly ferals; nothing seems to happen to her without disasters, which, luckily for her, she sees the humor in. And so did I.

It’s odd; she and I have pretty much nothing in common other than being females of the human species. She’s comfortably well off (now; at one point, she lived in poverty), lives in a high class neighborhood, carries designer handbags and can afford a cleaning woman. But she can describe a situation in such a funny way that, even though I’ve certainly never been in that situation, I can feel how she saw it and feel for her- and laugh until I nearly cried.

After reading the book, I found that Lancaster has written several other books and has a blog, and that many readers were upset because much of what is in Jen X is taken from those. Coming at the book as a new reader, I am able to say that the book is hilarious. ( )

Jen Lancaster, how I love thee. I can always count on you for a laugh-out-loud read. I always love a Jen Lancaster memoir and this one is no different. It's the same Jen we know and love but this time she's trying become a real grown up. Despite her best efforts to the contrary, she does. What I like best about Jeneration X is that Jen seems to have more heart. She's always been hysterically funny, but sometimes you wonder if she's really THAT mean/self-centered/politically incorrect in real life or if she just exagerated for the book. In Jen X, Jen is more caring and compasionate - but don't worry - it doesn't take away from her writing style. Our little Jen is all grown up, sniff, sniff. ( )