An Idiot Girl's Christmas: True Tales from the Top of the Naughty List

All right, I hate to admit it. Laurie Notaro makes me laugh. She can be vulgar and childish, yes. That is the reason for my reticence. However, she can also really make me giggle.

I have had greater enjoyment from other books she has written. Parts of this book were taken from various other books she wrote in the past; this is a compilation with some new material also, I believe. Laurie shares that she is a clear-lights person with regard to Christmas trees and that she is "tired of living a brightly colored lie." She just isn't afraid to "call them as she sees them"; she says exactly what is on her mind. She writes things that some people would be embarrassed to think. And so I laugh.

Here is what happens when she looks to her fiance for show more some encouragement after meeting his family for the first time at their family Christmas celebration: "'This is horrible, they hate me,' I told him as I handed over some of the presents. 'I think I'd rather have my next Pap smear broadcast over satellite TV or have my credit report published in the paper or just about anything than go back in there."

A bit later, whlie explaining how she ruined the entire holiday she writes "I had completely destroyed the family's holiday even further than I had when they thought I was a pregnant, homeless stripper with knotted hair."

I really enjoyed her spiel about hating Kmart stores and then finding that she was forced to shop at one on Christmas Eve one year.

I have rated this title 3.5* out of 5.0. show less

4.5/5 I had the pleasure of sitting next to Laurie Notaro in our AP English class back in 1983. Her satirical voice was on display even way back then. I have followed and read her books ever since, and I reread my favorites. This is one of them. If you're from my era, you will laugh snot out of your nose at her and her family's antics around the holidays. She's the female Dave Barry, IMHO, and she never fails to lift my mood.

Notaro's stories remind me of a real-life (and much less bad-ass) Stephanie Plum - crazy grandma, many mother arguments, and outrageous situations mined for many laughs.

This is a fun read for this time of year!

This one was meh...It wasn't hilarious, it was light-hearted, occassionally funny. I chuckled a couple of times, I smiled a bit, but I didn't fall off my sofa laughing.Pretentious, witty humor doesn't really do it for me. I must say, though, that if the writer's mother is as obnoxious and dogmatic as she is described, then, my God, Laurie Notaro is a true heroine...Hence the two stars.

My least favorite of her books, which doesn't mean you should skip it. She is still a funny lady and it's worth a read. Her others are way better. The following essays made me laugh out loud though.

Have yourself a KMart little Christmas
Deck the Mall
Where do good trees go when they die

A fast, easy, entertaining read......especially: K-Mart-"Kotex fits. Period (a big Red dot)"....and the punch line of the story, which you will have to read for yourselves.... Definitely Chick-humor!

I only wish my family was as funny....LOL! Well, actually I'm so grateful they are not!

Hilarious, snarky, sarcastic - the perfect feminist holiday read.