Jen Lancaster fully admits that at the height of the dot-com boom (heck, in the years leading up to it, too) she was rather a demanding beyotch.
But after the American economy took a nose dive in the early '00s she and her husband Fletch both lost their well-paid jobs and had to downsize their life until they were living almost at the breadline, not knowing how they would pay their rent. Jen decided to blog about their troubles (yes, she's a blooker) and eventually this book was born...
Bitter Is The New Black describes their riches to rags story, and has to have the best subtitle of all time... (Are you ready? Take a breath): Confessions of a condescending, egomaniacal, self-centred smart-ass, or why you should never carry a Prada bag to the unemployment office.
OK, I admit it: I didn't exactly warm to Jen at first - her sense of entitlement coupled with her arrogance wasn't exactly a winning combination. (Plus, y'know, she's a staunch Republican...) But over the course of the book she shows both her human side and her inner strength and I really came to enjoy her story, and to hope her situation would turn around. Most of all, this book is full of cynical humour (is there any better kind?) that often had me in stitches, and I really admire the way Lancaster is so open about her flaws and sometimes skewy motivations.
If you're anything like me, you'll start off hating her, and end up loving her. Roll on her next book: Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why It Often Sucks in The City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They Live Next Door To Me?
Hee.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Like this? Try Queen of the Oddballs by Hillary Carlip
