The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal

I admit it. I picked this up only and solely because it was available for free on the Kindle from Amazon. And this probably biased me pretty heavily - to say my expectations were lowered (especially after some of the other books I've gotten for free for the Kindle) is really understating things.

And yet. This book had me truly, helplessly laughing out loud on several occasions, and for that, four stars are basically guaranteed.

I'm not saying it's perfect. Notaro's voice has strong echoes of Erma Bombeck, and while Bombeck was great, her voice was never her strong suit. And I could have lived with slightly fewer fat jokes and a lot fewer self-deprecations (oh, I'm so dumb, I'm so fat, I'm so bad at this). And there are essays in here show more that just did not work for me. But then, when are there not? David Sedaris isn't great because he's always funny - he's really, really not - but because when he's on, he's really damn funny indeed. Even Thurber wasn't funny all the time. Notaro isn't Sedaris, let alone Thurber, but when she's on, she's genuinely funny.

I enjoyed this book a lot - enough that I'm going to pay for another of her books, just to see what else she's got. show less

I was introduced to Laurie Notaro’s books back in 2007, when I inadvertently stumbled across a copy of The Idiot Girls’ Action Adventure Club. Since then, I’ve read each of her collections of essays (except the one about Christmas), and I’ve enjoyed them immensely. That’s why I was thrilled to pick up a copy of her latest.

Notaro’s essay collections are laugh-out-loud funny, and Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death joins her sisters' ranks. By far my favorite essay was the one after which this book was named—only the day before, I’d had my very own sort-of Laurie moment behind the wheel of my car (except I didn’t react nearly the same way as she did). I also greatly enjoyed Laurie’s story about taking a cruise. show more I was a little bit put off by the potty humor in this book, but I guess that’s what she’s known for. Other than that, though, this book had me rolling in my seat with laughter. show less

funny, funny, funny. I probably would not have normally picked this out, but I am a sucker for vintage carnival, showgirl, etc pictures and this caught my eye. So glad I brought this read home. I was laughing, giggling and smiling during these stories. Several times I couldn't catch my breath I was laughing so hard.

I really really enjoyed this and bought a copy for my mother and one for a friend.

I had been waiting for this book for so long. I'm a HUGE fan of this author, and have loved all her previous essay books. In fact, they are some of the few books that have earned "keeper" status - I don't swap them. This book did NOT disappoint.

HILARIOUS!! I was laughing out loud throughout, and I think I actually snort-laughed at one point even. The essay on "It's all good" was so so funny - I'm laughing again just thinking about it. The story of her adventures on a cruise ship - priceless! I could really relate to the whitewater rafting trip. I must be an idiot girl, because the author feels like a good friend to me. :)

I stayed up all night (despite the fact that I had to be up at 6am for work, even!) reading this, because I could not show more put it down. Highly recommended! :) Can't wait for her next essay book! show less

As always, Laurie Notaro writes another winner and continues to strike a chord with me in recounting her countless adventures living in the "'hood" in Arizona; trying to sell her house to food-scarfing miscreants; journeying from the desert to the wet, lush wilds of Oregon; and emitting far too many bodily noises while repairmen are in the house.

I've read all of Notaro's books and find myself laughing so hard that I actually have tears streaming down my face -- particularly at inopportune moments, like when I'm riding public transporation. I've never encountered another writer who can get that kind of reaction from me! She has a sarcastic wit that perfectly matches my own sense of humor, and I adore her. I'm happy she's returned with show more another memoir of sorts -- disappointingly, I wasn't sold on There's A (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going To Hell. It laughed the hilarity and natural charm evident when she's just writing about she and her husband. Glad she's back! show less

Either I wasn't in the mood, or this collection of humorous essays just isn't as funny as her "Housebroken" collection.

Many of the encounters Notaro describes this time around feel just a bit mean-spirited as she describes fellow cruise passengers, vacationing bird-watchers, and pooping seagulls.

Highlights of the collection are "Ready or Not" and "A Kung-Fu Person, a Tollbooth, and a Swinging Bridge in Less Than Twenty-Four Hours" which, believe it or not, are about pets -- specifically, losing one, acquiring one, and socializing a puppy.

Notaro's self-deprecating humor is her trademark, but it can grow a bit wearisome when taken in too great a dose.

I love Notaro's first couple of books, but I wasn't able to get some of the essays in her latest. Her remarkable wit and humor is still there, just kinda bogged in long rambling essays. The shortest are the best ones.