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 Made me laugh-and that's good Reading Sloane Crosley's essays titled I Was Told There'd Be Cake disrupted my family on more than one evening. After continually disturbing my husband by laughing out loud and for long periods of time, he asked me to read in my office. When I finished the book, he picked it up and now I've requested that he read it elsewhere as his guffaws are disturbing my peace and quiet. Crosley has a sharp eye, is a wonderful writer with the wit and wisdom to take the absurd, mundane or any other experience for that matter and write about it in such a way that you are carried off and travel (willingly) down the quirky road she builds. It's difficult to choose a favorite essay, but my laugh meter launched into the stratosphere while reading "Christmas in July". Just thinking about a young Jewish girl being sent to a Christian camp (where she plays Mary in the Christmas play) started me off giggling, and then it deteriorated into raucous laughter. It's probably my favorite, if forced to choose. But the "Ursula Cookie" comes close to being my favorite. The visuals of the `boss from hell' and newly hired, Crosley is priceless. "Lay like Broccoli" and "Fever Faker" brought loud snickers, and "Sign Language for Infidels" was the essay where I was sent to my office due to loud laughing. I could see Crosley releasing the butterfly and feel her lack of enthusiasm about volunteering-for anything. You may not regularly read essays, but if you miss I Was Told There'd Be Cake you'll be missing out on a gem of a read. Remember, laughing keeps us younger. Armchair Interviews says: A must read from a new and unique voice.  Mildly entertaining collection While the writing is pretty good, and this collection of essays has its moments of cleverness, overall it's not as funny (by no means would I call it "hilarious") or interesting as hyped. The essays suffer somewhat from a steeping in twentysomething self-absorption/middle-class angst, and don't qualify for inclusion in the same league as David Sedaris and Dorothy Parker, because they lack a certain edginess. The stardard white-girl fare (first job, mean boss; being in a wedding), is, at times, mildly entertaining, but not particularly memorable. Bottom line: it's okay.  Had me laughing! I was looking for some new authors to try and picked up this book and "Misfits Country"(excellent book about Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable). Crosley has outdone herself in this debut effort of essays. She has a razor sharp wit and an eye for the improbable. She had me laughing many times but the story about her trashing an exhibit at the New York Museum of Natural history was especially hilarious! I'll be looking for more from this cracker jack author! Satisfied Reader I thought this book was absolutely hilarious - not at all the typical breezy chick-lit that's usually out there. I actually laughed out loud at several points, and you can just tell how intelligent the author is. She didn't talk down to her reader at all; rather, she makes you feel like she understands you, and that these types of situations happen to everyone. A great, funny read! | |||||||||||||