I am completely into Creative Nonfiction now. Authors who can write about their lives and experiences in an engaging and entertaining way make me tremendously happy. Especially if they can write funny.
Sloane Crosley can be funny and blunt and introspective all at the same time. Her book, I Was Told There'd Be Cake is a collection of essays that range from describing her evil monster of a former boss to a close encounter with the divine intervention of a butterfly.
I read this book slowly. There are themes in it that made me remember my own early twenties: disillusionment, awkward sexual encounters and the sneaking suspicion that I'm not always as nice as I thought I was.
The author is the main focus of this loosely connected narrative as she reveals her actions and thoughts and humiliations. There are many undeniably funny moments. She agrees to be a bridesmaid for a woman she hasn't seen in almost a decade. One terrible ball of something icky is left on her carpet and she must deal with how it got there. She asks for ponies and gets them, over and over and over again.
In the end, I admire how Ms. Crosley brings to life the events in a young person's life. Learning to avoid things like abusive bosses isn't always front page news, but most of us fiercely suffer the through experiences that no one else wants to talk about because it happens to everyone. In this book, those common struggles not only have a voice, but they have humor and intelligence and the stamp of literary success attached.
Watch out for more from Sloane Crosley. She's going to take you by surprise.
By clicking on the Amazon icon at the top right of this article you can browse, find other Creative Nonfiction books and support this weblog all at the same time.
Sloane Crosley can be funny and blunt and introspective all at the same time. Her book, I Was Told There'd Be Cake is a collection of essays that range from describing her evil monster of a former boss to a close encounter with the divine intervention of a butterfly.
I read this book slowly. There are themes in it that made me remember my own early twenties: disillusionment, awkward sexual encounters and the sneaking suspicion that I'm not always as nice as I thought I was.
The author is the main focus of this loosely connected narrative as she reveals her actions and thoughts and humiliations. There are many undeniably funny moments. She agrees to be a bridesmaid for a woman she hasn't seen in almost a decade. One terrible ball of something icky is left on her carpet and she must deal with how it got there. She asks for ponies and gets them, over and over and over again.
In the end, I admire how Ms. Crosley brings to life the events in a young person's life. Learning to avoid things like abusive bosses isn't always front page news, but most of us fiercely suffer the through experiences that no one else wants to talk about because it happens to everyone. In this book, those common struggles not only have a voice, but they have humor and intelligence and the stamp of literary success attached.
Watch out for more from Sloane Crosley. She's going to take you by surprise.
By clicking on the Amazon icon at the top right of this article you can browse, find other Creative Nonfiction books and support this weblog all at the same time.
This book - and her style - sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing this review, Melody. :)
Posted by: Janna Qualman | October 25, 2008 at 06:15 PM
"I read this book slowly." That line says so much to me in a review. I love books that I have/need to read slowly, relishing the message, enjoying the prose. That line alone will have me read the book. Thanks!
Posted by: Joanne | October 25, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Janna and Joanne,
I found this book because I was looking for authors similar to David Sedaris, nonfiction and really funny.
Posted by: Melody Platz | October 28, 2008 at 03:27 PM