Book Review: My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster's My Fair Lazy, One Reality Television Addicts Attempt to Discover If Not Being a Dumb Ass Is The New Black, or a Culture-Up Manifesto is fifth book and is as funny as her first. One of the things I love most about her work is that she writes like I think she talks over blueberry mojitos next to the pool with her best friend. You are brought into her world and it is one that is absurd and at the same time really very self actualized.

Jen knows that she like all other humans living on the planet is fallible and at most times a mess even with four best-sellers under her belt. She got a taste of humility which she documents in "Bitter is the New Black" and has not forgotten that all of us are just one or two steps of bad luck away from losing so much. In my My Fair Lazy a cultural manifesto Jen takes us on her journey to become more "cultured" and "enlightened" while learning to have a little more patience with those who share her world and surroundings and I must say that the Jen Lancaster portrayed by Jen Lancaster could use a little more culture and patience.

With that statement written the inpatient chick who loves kraft singles, eighties movies and Survivor (which may be her favorite thing on the planet) is very funny and self deprecating. Her stories of rats in her house that falls down around her coupled with her husband who may be a saint are hysterical. There are other chapters that truly are tender and insightful, her response to a play written about a man who dies from friendly fire will give you pause and as the experience stays with her the story will stay with you.

Along with her husband "Fletch" aka "the saint" Ms. Lancaster shares her home with a number of pets (rats not included) and her pets are an active part of her life and her book. The dogs and the cats that make up her family also allow her to see more opportunities for growth and self discovery. My Fair Lazy is not a book that will make you ponder and reassess your entire life and belief system but it is a book that will if you allow it to open yourself up to a few new ideas and hopefully give you a willingness to say yes a little more often. In addition the book will make you laugh out loud which is something all of "the real" self help books recommend. Go buy Jen Lancaster's cultural manifesto and eat a piece of cheese while reading a book instead of watching another rerun of "The Bachelor" which for the record is a show made by and for misogynists.