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August 27, 2007 10:00 AM

BOOK REVIEW: The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro

Trashionista recently reviewed Laurie Notaro's novel, There's a (Slight) Chance I Might be Going to Hell. I now can't wait to get my hands on it, having been a fan of Notaro since I randomly stumbled across her books on Amazon. The first, The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club, was all it took to get me hooked.

Usually I'm not a fan of autobiographies: I'll admit to dashing past that particular section in Waterstones after a single glimpse of Paris Hilton/Chanelle emblazoned across a book jacket (but that's a post for another time!) However this changed when I started reading Laurie's wonderful books, which are mainly collections of short, laugh-out-loud autobiographical articles.

Basically, former newspaper columnist Notaro is the self-confessed 'Idiot Girl' of the title  - leader of her own Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club. Unable to fit in with the 'Smart Girls' in life, Laurie and the other Idiot Girls make do with their own little place in the world. And with exploits like these, who wants to be a Smart Girl?

Laurie's book is packed with brilliantly funny pieces on everyday life, from the one about The Pretty Friend (let's face it, we all have one!) to the brilliantly-titled 'Revenge of the Bra Girl.' However, the funniest piece has to be 'Moral Sex', in which Laurie tries to explain to her nana as politely as possible just WHAT Monica Lewinsky got up to...

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club is something we can all relate to. Despite Laurie's tales being about home and relationships and unlucky shopping trips, her wit and ability to see humour in the most basic of situations is always entertaining! Laurie is someone you just want to go out for a drink with. She's blunt, she's honest, she's funny and even though she puts herself down at some points, she isn't afraid to laugh about her flaws and mistakes. Quite frankly, she's fabulous.

The short articles in this book don't go in order, so you can read a chapter whenever you like. Personally I'd recommend the one about public bathrooms first (thank god - I'm not the only one who hates The Primper!)

As someone who is more of an 'Idiot Girl' myself, I'm well and truly proud. Seriously. Anyone who hasn't got hold of a copy of this should do so now. Since reading this I've purchased other collections: We Thought You Would be Prettier and I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies). Told you she was blunt!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Bright Lights, Big Ass... by Jennifer Lancaster.

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Posted by Danielle Symonds-Yemm on August 27, 2007 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Short Story Collections | Permalink

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