The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog

Have I read everything Jen Lancaster has written? Almost.

Where does this fall on the scale from her best to worst books? Solidly in the top third. This one is a little less funny than usual, but still plenty amusing. There's more emotion and depth here; she's not so much making fun of her struggles (cf. taking a Prada bag to the unemployment office in Bitter is the New Black) as digging deeply into her emotional reliance on a dying dog, and the aftermath of having spent a year on a failed book project.

It would make this book sound too depressing to say that it's Jen Lancaster's [b:The Year of Magical Thinking|7815|The Year of Magical Thinking|Joan Didion|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878638s/7815.jpg|1659905], but in some way it's a show more bit apt. It's a departure in that it is darker than the other books Lancaster has written, but it must be said that there's an awful lot of lightness in here too. The description of her attempts to host an Easter party, Martha-Stewart-style, are alone worth the price of admission. show less

Very amusing -- it's like reading about life on another planet where consumerism is disguised as aesthetics and crafting. Before I read this book, I couldn't imagine a life where there is absolute zero concern for eating healthy (at least in the suburban North). Yes, she has concerns about organics, humane treatment of animals, and high quality ingredients but all in service to eating very unhealthy food. I'd love to eat the things that Jen makes if only I could do it without dying much sooner than I'd care to. If reading is a window to another world, this book qualifies for me. Strangely enough, I'd like to read some of her other stuff. She writes well.

Jen Lancaster has made a name for herself documenting her story using self-deprecating humor and honesty. Her penchant for self-improvement and the often hilarious mistakes made along the way highlight not only the lessons she learns but also her ability to make fun of herself. The Tao of Martha follows in that same vein, as Jen explores the fundamental tenets of Martha’s personal philosophy surrounding gardening, housekeeping, party planning, etc. and just how much happiness a little organization can bring.

Martha Stewart is one of those polarizing celebrities. Either you love her or hate her, and the feelings on both sides run hot. Those readers who love Martha will view Jen’s insights and experiences as confirmation of Martha’s show more awesomeness. However, those readers who feel Martha is the devil incarnate can also appreciate Jen’s learned lessons. Nothing she sets out to accomplish is totally earth-shattering or difficult to accomplish. One does not have to have weeks of free time to organize or plan. Instead, Jen shows the world how adaptable the queen of housekeeping’s tenets are and, when not taken to the extreme, how helpful they can be. Yes, organization can lead to happiness after all.

As fun as Jen’s lessons from Martha are, it is the tao of Maisy that steals the show. Jen’s love of her dogs is hilarious, especially for fellow dog owners, and all of the dogs have larger-than-life personalities that compliment Jen’s own. However, it is in the pain and sorrow of Maisy’s illness where the story shines and Jen shows her true colors. She may make fun of herself, but when it comes to her dogs – especially her beloved Maisy – she has a heart of gold that knows no bounds. Maisy’s/Jen’s “Be awesome, give awesome, get awesome” philosophy is simple but profoundly wise in its uncomplicatedness, and the entire section surrounding Maisy is as heartfelt as any story can get.

For every moment Jen lets down her sarcastic front and shows a reader her compassionate side, there are at least two moments where a reader can only snort with laughter. Her honesty and openness about certain topics, including her choice of undergarments, is hilarious specifically because the situations are so uniquely told. While she uses humor to deflect, she cannot hide the self-reflective honesty that such scenes highlight, making these vignettes compelling and even addicting.

It is difficult to imagine anyone other than Jen narrating her stories. Not only does she tell her own stories best, her stories are so personal that to put them in the hands of someone else would minimize their impact. Her performance is exactly what one would envision after reading her words – bold, unapologetic, open, and very honest. She is not afraid to make fun of herself in both print and vocally, and her inflections are truly only something she can effectively add. To listen to her is to get to know her beyond what she says on the page and only serves to confirm the girl crush established by her extremely funny and very open glimpse into her life.

The fundamental discoveries Jen makes throughout her year of Martha are worthwhile and adaptable. Jen’s garden stories are particularly fun, and a reader will finish the book unable to view tick bites in the same light ever again. Yet, it is in the not-so-hilarious moments where Martha’s tao becomes truly important, as it helps Jen maneuver through life’s tougher moments without having to worry about the little things. While The Tao of Martha may not have ended up to be exactly what she thought it was when she started the year, Jen draws some profound conclusions that anyone can use. In the end, happiness, or at least the foundation for happiness, really is in a little organization and pre-planning. Go Queen Martha. show less

First published on We Should Make T-Shirts.

Jen Lancaster is right up there with Laurie Notaro on my Favorite Authors list. This woman is constantly cracking me up and making me jealous of her lifestyle. She is unapologetically herself; fortunately, her self is pretty amazing.

In her latest book, Jen becomes a disciple of Martha Stewart, and attempts to apply all of Martha's techniques to her everyday life. I mean, imagine Martha Stewart's everyday life. Her house is so organized that she can start any project she wants immediately, without having to hunt around for supplies or clear off a space. She already has all the baking ingredients in existence, so if she wants to bake a cake, she just has to turn to the correct page in her show more cookbook. In other words, Martha has her life so nailed down, that she can actually LIVE. She can do ALL THE CRAFTS. And bake ALL THE PIES. And redecorate ALL THE ROOMS. Haven't we all wanted to get ourselves in so brilliant an order that we can live the same way? Well, Jen actually DOES this. And not only does she manage to make it seem fun and hilarious, she does it all while caring for a beloved family dog, whose health declines over the course of the year this book takes place.

Basically, I'm trying to say that I don't want to be just like Martha Stewart. I want to be just like Jen Lancaster trying to be like Martha Stewart. I'm pretty sure if Jen met me, she would agree that we should be BFFs. (And I'm not just saying that because she has a completely stocked basement in case of Zombie Apocalypse.)

Awesome Quotes

With all the exertion from slam-dancing in the Easter mosh pit, one of the kids has an asthma attack, and the others, sensing his weakness, throw off their gloves so they can really fight.

I curse each and every cornflower and butterfly bush as I huff and yank and hurl masses of dirty tendrils into the woods. Thanks for being a dick, lavender hyssop! I thought you were cool, bergamot! How about I give YOU a black eye, Susan?

I open the door and shout, "I HAVE FULL-SIZE CANDY BARS, YOU LITTLE ASSHOLES! COME AND GET THEM RIGHT NOW SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR MAGICAL MARTHA FUCKING MEMORIES AS AN ADULT!"

Christmas is not going to sneak up on me like that asshole Thanksgiving did. I plan to be ready. show less

I love Jen Lancaster's books. By the time I finished this, I rearranged my bookshelves, finally got around to listing that stack of stuff on eBay, threw out a bunch of junk from my makeup drawer, and came up with at least three resolutions of how I can improve my quality of living and increase my crafty factor. The idea of following Martha Stewart is a little intimidating, but following Jen Lancaster following Martha is something I can do!

Jen Lancaster's newest memoir, "The Tao of Martha: My Year of LIVING; Or, Why I'm Never Getting All That Glitter Off of the Dog is laugh out loud funny and touching in parts.

Though I loved, "Bitter is the New Black", "Bright Lights" and "Such a Pretty Fat" I was less enamored with "Pretty in Plaid" and "My Fair Lazy" and felt downright hostile after reading, Lancaster's last memoir, "Jeneration X."

I felt as if the person that I loved to read about all these years was just some cool person I made up in my own head. I remember not believing that the Jen Lancaster that wrote, "Bitter is the New Black" was the same person who seemed to half-heartily write "Jeneration X."

So with some trepidation I selected this novel and I devoured this show more novel in hours. The Jen Lancaster that many of us have loved all of these years is definitely back.

Lancaster lets her readers know right away that she has had some set-backs in her life that had left her unhappy which I think may have colored her writing in Jeneration X. Right away she realizes that she needs to stop and re-assess what makes her happy and decides to start following Martha Stewart Living as she tries to get organized and settled into her new home. As someone who also bought a new house I have to say I felt for her on the things that she was dealing with regarding her party planning, gardening, and attempts to be organized.

I think Lancaster definitely hits on the fact that many women today do want to be like Martha Stewart in their day to day lives and would love to be able to take some twigs and turn it into a three story centerpiece. However, most of us do not have that skill, and her describing her attempts to be more like Martha often resulted in laugh out loud moments. My favorite section of this memoir was the Easter portion I actually started to cry I was laughing that hard.

I do want to know readers know that the footnotes are gone now so any Kindle people will not have to deal with the hassle of going back and forth in the book. One welcome addition is that this novel includes pictures of Jen, her husband, the dogs, and her friends in various points in the novel.

Picking up "The Tao of Martha" was like hanging with a long-time friend and catching up with each other over margaritas.

I definitely recommend to long-time fans of Jen Lancaster!

I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program. show less

In Jen's latest memoir she relates her attempts to improve her life by following the advice of Martha Stewart, from organizing the junk drawer to cooking, home decorating and making homemade gifts for her loved ones. Of course, the successes are balanced by disasters, and the joys with grief. And of course, since she IS Jen Lancaster, I laughed myself silly. I, like so many others, continue to think of her as one of my BFFs. I'll get her next book as soon as it's available because she always makes me happy. Her books won't change the course of literature, but for awhile she can change the shape of my days. I recommend her to anyone looking for a laugh, and maybe a dose of inspiration.