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A debut collection of witty, biting essays laced with a surprising warmth, from Jen Mann, the writer behind the popular blog People I Want to Punch in the Throat.
People I want to punch in the throat:
● anyone who feels the need to bling her washer and dryer
● humblebraggers
● people who treat their pets like children
Jen Mann doesn't have a filter, which sometimes gets her in trouble with her neighbors, her fellow PTA moms, and that one woman who tried to sell her sex toys at a home shopping party. Known for her hilariously acerbic observations on her blog, People I Want to Punch in the Throat, Mann now brings her sharp wit to bear on suburban life, marriage, and motherhood in this laugh-out-loud collection of essays. From the politics of joining a play group, to the thrill of mothers' night out at the gun range, to the rewards of your most meaningful relationship (the one you have with your cleaning lady), nothing is sacred or off-limits. So the next time you find yourself wearing fuzzy bunny pajamas in the school carpool line or accidentally stuck at a coworker's swingers party, just think, What would Jen Mann do? Or better yet, buy her book.
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People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Competitive Crafters, Drop-Off Despots, and Other Suburban Scourges
Descrizione
A debut collection of witty, biting essays laced with a surprising warmth, from Jen Mann, the writer behind the popular blog People I Want to Punch in the Throat.
People I want to punch in the throat:
● anyone who feels the need to bling her washer and dryer
● humblebraggers
● people who treat their pets like children
Jen Mann doesn't have a filter, which sometimes gets her in trouble with her neighbors, her fellow PTA moms, and that one woman who tried to sell her sex toys at a home shopping party. Known for her hilariously acerbic observations on her blog, People I Want to Punch in the Throat, Mann now brings her sharp wit to bear on suburban life, marriage, and motherhood in this laugh-out-loud collection of essays. From the politics of joining a play group, to the thrill of mothers' night out at the gun range, to the rewards of your most meaningful relationship (the one you have with your cleaning lady), nothing is sacred or off-limits. So the next time you find yourself wearing fuzzy bunny pajamas in the school carpool line or accidentally stuck at a coworker's swingers party, just think, What would Jen Mann do? Or better yet, buy her book.
Informazioni sull'autore
JM![]()
Recensioni
A cross between Irma Bombeck and Lisa Lampanelli, humorist Jen Mann waxes vulgar on life as a suburban mom somewhere in Kansas. Mann tries to live up to the expectations of normalcy as defined by those she regularly encounters, but is a counter-culture child who just can't quite fit in. From meeting her husband via an internet hookup to child play groups to aristocratic room mothers, Mann encounters many people who seem to demand some sort of entitlement but instead get her scorn and derision -- even if only in a passive-aggressive manner. Her style of humor is often vulgar, and rather than refer to her husband, son and daughter by their actual names, they are Ebenezer, Gomer and Adolpha respectively, adding to the irreverent humor. Mann writes a blog where she apparently discusses such things on a regular basis...as a new parent myself, I might check it out once I start having similar encounters. Or maybe start a similar blog myself if catharsis is needed.
Review based on ARC.I really really enjoyed the first few chapters of Jen Mann's snarky take on the world of suburbia. And I should have read the subtitle more closely to really understand that the whole book was going to be about suburbia, but I didn't realize that. And why is that relevant? Well, after about half the book, it started to just feel like a singularly focused rant, with examples of how horrible her co-moms are. Which, yes, is definitely entertaining! But also gets to be a little draggy at times.So yes, this is I think what people call humor essays. You know, sort of like what David Sedaris does. But focused on, as I said, suburbia and the horrible people who live there who are raising their horrible children. At least, to hear Mann talk of it. And not that I doubt her, but she seems almost to have a vendetta against these horribly misdirected moms.But she's funny. Definitely witty and smart and funny... and biting and at times cruel. She's dealing with a segment of the population who seems to just not "get it" when it comes to well-roundedness or alternative approaches to child-rearing or... well, a lot of things.And you can see by this review that I just sort of had a hard time figuring out how to review it because she's funny. But it gets tiring after a while. And as quickly as I read the first half, I slowed down and dragged a bit on the second half.So my recommendation? Read the first half for sure. And if you're not tired at that point, keep reading. She'll make you laugh and probably make you question a few things about how you do things. And she may annoy you just a little (for me, her constant referral to "the Hubs" was distracting and kind of lame, but I accept that that's probably what she actually calls him in real life? er.....), but she'll entertain you while she's doing it. So yeah, I recommend it. For sure. But know that you might not finish it. But it's okay because it's just essays and when you're done, you can be done. :)It's a high three-and-a-half stars, so earning 4 on sites w/o halves.
I received an email earlier this past week from a book site that I honestly cannot remember the name at the moment that I am writing this and saw this book front and center. I was very intrigued by the title, because honestly, who hasn't wanted to punch someone in the throat. I then promptly bought this book and read it in a span of about two days. BEST TWO DAYS OF MY LIFE!!What stories this book has to behold. They will make you laugh, cry, cry while laughing, and just make you want to read her other books. Or at least they did me. Okay, so I have the emotional range of a Q-tip when it comes to books, but if I didn't, I really would have cried while laughing. My favorite story was the one about garage sales. Anyone who has done enough garage sales will nod their heads in understanding when reading that one. I will definitely be checking out this author's other books, because I cannot wait to see what other stories will come up.
This book cracked me up and after reading a few serious books in a row it was just what I needed, I laughed out loud many, many times while reading this book and saw people and situations that I recognized as my own. And how could you pass up this title!One of the chapters that cracked me up was ‘Just some of the reasons the neighbors always hate us’ this one made me laugh because at my house we are a bit anti-social and seem to have major differences politically plus have a hard time not commenting on things like “You paid thirteen grand for a dog to have surgery?” this chapter hit close to home!As a mother and grandmother I also have to wonder about these theme birthday parties and spending hundreds of dollars to throw your kid a party, whatever happened to birthday parties at home with a cake and pin the tail on the donkey now it can’t be at home and it has to have a theme why?? When did this start?? This chapter hit home too.Oh who the hell am I kidding this book is full of snarky goodness and sounded like all the things I say inside my head but don’t always have the courage to say out loud! If you are a fan of Laurie Notaro and/or Celia Rivenbark then this is a must read!4 StarsI received this book from Netgalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review.
Jen Mann has a popular blog which is also named People I Want to Punch in the Throat. She rails against stuck up suburban super moms on her blog and this book is more of the same. Each chapter is an anecdote about something crazy that has happened to Jen, from how she met her husband online to wearing pajamas to drop her kid off ant school and then unexpectedly having to get out of her car and walk into school. She is very snarky as you might expect from the title of the book. Sometimes I felt she was over the top. I don’t have a problem with swear words but I don’t like it when comedians use them excessively. They don’t always make a joke funnier and can be used as a way of getting cheap laughs. I think she used them to liven up a story but now and then she ended up coming across shrill.Most of her stories were amusing but not laugh out loud funny. However, I think most moms will find at least one chapter that they can relate to. I chose this book for review because Jen and I live in the same metro area. I hope she doesn’t read this review and then hunt me down to punch ME in the throat!
I received an ARC of this book through Net Galley!
Thank you Net Galley. It was a pure pleasure to read this!
Hysterical! I couldn't stop reading! I only wish this book could have been longer so I could keep reading it-I didn't want the laughter to end.
I loved the humour and the everday mishaps that happen in life. It was refreshing to read about it happening to someone else for a change. I could relate to many of things that happened in this book. I would definitely read a second book by this author, if there ever is one. It made me want to write a story of my own crazy life...maybe I will!
Thank you Net Galley. It was a pure pleasure to read this!
Hysterical! I couldn't stop reading! I only wish this book could have been longer so I could keep reading it-I didn't want the laughter to end.
I loved the humour and the everday mishaps that happen in life. It was refreshing to read about it happening to someone else for a change. I could relate to many of things that happened in this book. I would definitely read a second book by this author, if there ever is one. It made me want to write a story of my own crazy life...maybe I will!
Very short audiobook that kept my attention at work. The reader does a great job. Well written. Lots of F-bombs so if that offends you don't listen to this. As a mother, I really enjoyed this.
good snarky fun until it gets to be too much -- that's about 1/2 way in.
This book has been sitting on my ereader for at least a year. I have no idea why it sat there, but I do know that was a mistake! This book reminds me of my two favorite female humor writers Jenny Lawson "The Blogess" and Allie Brosh "Hyperbole and a Half ". All are funny, entertaining and brutally honest in their story telling. Many of her stories revolve around her parenting of two young children, but despite the fact that mine are now adults I found myself relating and engaged in every story. Can't wait to read more from her check put her blog!
Punch in the Throat is a collection of stories about the lifecycle in suburban Kansas. Jen Man calls her husband The Hubs. She describes herself as short, fluffy and unkempt. Her eight year old son (Gomer, she claims) calls her Dude (she claims). Her neighbors are largely stuck up, bigoted, swingers or neurotic. And she swears. All the time. At everything. Even when she doesn’t realize it. She thrives on being angry. She would miss it if she took prescription drugs, so she (pretty much alone) doesn’t. If you can relate to this scenario, you will enjoy this book. I found it forced and contrived.The stories are suburban middle class angst – coveting a minivan, dealing with bullies at school, finding a good cleaning lady. The basic premise is that suburban moms are neurotic, self-possessed, arrogant power freaks. The book comes out of a blog by the same title, so she’s had lots of practice with short, punchy essays. But assembled in a short (164 page) book, it is less satisfying than reading just the latest installment online.There’s a lot of italics. Not the most I’ve ever seen, but far too much, as if she doesn’t trust the reader to get it. It makes her sentences into rollercoasters. The best written one is on garage sale characters. There’s nice variety, and it wraps up beautifully. It’s called “Would you take less than a quarter for this Swarovski vase?” (Most of her titles are way too long for the punchy anecdotes that follow.) All American, all real, and totally believable. But overall, I greatly prefer a book I reviewed called Rude Bitches by Celia Rivenbark. The topics are the same, but the difference in writing styles and skills is striking, even the deployment of F-bombs.
First I want to thank the author, Jen Mann, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the longest déjà vu moment of my life.
OMG; I just gobbled up the book! This knee slapping, laugh out-loud funny book looks at the Stepford family life-style through the lens of a devil may-care free spirit mother.
I am a transplanted Yankee living on a dirt road deep in the heart of Dixie. About out of place as a pair of ballet slippers at a barn dance. My neighbors don't know what to do with me so they just assume I am crazy, smile, wave and leave me alone.
Before I moved to my "wilderness", I lived in the carefully crafted sub-division theoretically controlled by the home-own association despots. I worked many long years assisting the Moms and darlings depicted in these stories.
Thank you, Jen, for letting me see your life through your wonderful wit and humor...F-bombs and all. Sometimes only a good F-bomb will do under the circumstances.
Warning! If you can't laugh at yourself and life around you when it gets too crazy, then this book isn't for you. If you see Helicopter Moms and Two Year Divas as the polar opposite refection of your family, dig in and enjoy.
OMG; I just gobbled up the book! This knee slapping, laugh out-loud funny book looks at the Stepford family life-style through the lens of a devil may-care free spirit mother.
I am a transplanted Yankee living on a dirt road deep in the heart of Dixie. About out of place as a pair of ballet slippers at a barn dance. My neighbors don't know what to do with me so they just assume I am crazy, smile, wave and leave me alone.
Before I moved to my "wilderness", I lived in the carefully crafted sub-division theoretically controlled by the home-own association despots. I worked many long years assisting the Moms and darlings depicted in these stories.
Thank you, Jen, for letting me see your life through your wonderful wit and humor...F-bombs and all. Sometimes only a good F-bomb will do under the circumstances.
Warning! If you can't laugh at yourself and life around you when it gets too crazy, then this book isn't for you. If you see Helicopter Moms and Two Year Divas as the polar opposite refection of your family, dig in and enjoy.
ARC supplied by Net Galley
Hilarious, fun read! I love Ms. Mann's blog and this book does not disappoint!
Hilarious, fun read! I love Ms. Mann's blog and this book does not disappoint!
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Humorous take on all things suburban. I wasn't familiar with the blog of the same name, so I had no bias going in. Funny and snarky, the writing was well-done, and the chapters/topics were just the right length. I can definitely see further volumes coming in the future from Jen Mann.
Recommended for those that can laugh at themselves and their neighbors, and the shenanigans that go on in everyone's house.
Humorous take on all things suburban. I wasn't familiar with the blog of the same name, so I had no bias going in. Funny and snarky, the writing was well-done, and the chapters/topics were just the right length. I can definitely see further volumes coming in the future from Jen Mann.
Recommended for those that can laugh at themselves and their neighbors, and the shenanigans that go on in everyone's house.