World Famous Comics: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal
The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal
By: Laurie Notaro Publisher: Villard Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Villard Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 240 Publication Date: June 24, 2008 Release Date: June 24, 2008
Product Description: Laurie Notaro has an uncanny ability to attract insanity–and leave readers doubled over with laughter. Need proof? Check out The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death and try not to bust a gut.
Join Notaro as she experiences the popular phenomenon of laser hair removal (because at least one of her chins should be stubble-free); bemoans the scourge of the Open Mouth Coughers on America’s airplanes and in similarly congested areas; welcomes the newest ex-con (yay, a sex offender!) to her neighborhood; and watches, against her own better judgment, every Discovery Health Channel special on parasites and tapeworms that has ever aired–resulting in an overwhelming fear that a worm the size of a python will soon come a-knocking on her back door.
In Notaro’s world, strangers are stranger than fiction. One must always check the hotel bathroom for hobo hairs and consciously remember not to stare at old men with giant man-boobies. And then there are the lessons she has learned the hard way: Though it may seem like a good idea, it’s best not to hire a tweaked-out homeless guy to clean up your yard.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer says that Laurie Notaro is “a scream, the freak-magnet of a girlfriend you can’t wait to meet for a drink to hear her latest story.” With The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death, Notaro proves she’s not only funny but resigned to the fact that you can’t look bad ass in a Prius. Don’t even try.
I'd read anything wriiten by this author! What else is there to say about Laurie Notaro other than she is in my top ten favorite authors. This is just another hilarious installment/accounting of the less than ordinary life she leads on a daily basis. CLASSIC!
I love this book! I saw this book sitting in a display of new releases at a bookstore and knew I had to have it based on the excellent title alone! I hadn't ever read any of Laurie Notaro's books before (she has several others), but the description on the dust jacket made it sound hilarious and highly appealing, especially for women and people who live in Notaro's former home state of Arizona. I was not disappointed and ended up reading the entire book in a little over a day. The book consists of a series of absolutely hilarious autobiographical essays about the many adventures of the author. Aside from being lough out loud funny (I started reading it in bed and was shaking so hard trying not to laugh to avoid waking my husband up that I almost woke him anyway) it is an incredibly smart book. The author is sassy and most definitely a jerk at times, but the book is amazingly intelligent and well written, so you are inclined to forgive her the occasional excess. There are also several touching moments when she reveals how good of a person she really is underneath the brassy exterior. I couldn't get enough of the book and have since bought and read all of Notaro's other books and I will certainly purchase any future books she releases. I think they are all wonderful, though this one strikes me as being particularly good.
Not everyone is going to love this book. There are a lot of curse words throughout the text and I'm sure many people, especially women, would be horrified by some of her observations. Notaro is somewhat lewd, has a rather shady past, and she says what's on her mind, even when other people definitely wouldn't find it acceptable. If you can overlook these things, you will adore this book as much as Notaro's legions of fans have. If not, this is most decidedly not the book for you.
For those of you who are women, perhaps a bit overweight, and loudmouthed - you are going to particularly love this book as you will see elements of yourself in what Notaro has to say. I know I found this book so funny because I can relate to what she says so easily it's sometimes a little scary. Notaro makes some great observations that will strike you as amazingly true, but she makes them hilarious too.
Overall, this book is so wonderful because everything Notaro says is so true and written in a way that is so easy to read and so incredibly funny that you just have to love it. I highly recommend this book!
Notaro in fine form I always enjoy a good laugh at Notaro's expense. I've read most of her other essay collections and usually find them good for at least an "I can so relate" chuckle, and sometimes even a full-on laugh out loud moment. Flaming Tantrum definitely had some hilarious moments, and a few that fell flat. For the most part, it was a fun read. There was that one chapter about a dying dog - seriously - that made me tear up as I was reading while waiting for the subway. WTF Notaro. Not cool.
The thing I most like about Notaro is that she seems like an average woman living an ordinary life. Her stories are accessible and maybe even familiar (we've all said the wrong thing at the wrong time, or been betrayed by our bodies in the worst of ways) but she relays them honestly and with flair. She's like a friend who comes over for margaritas and tells you about her horrendous doctor appointment or what her mom did this time.
Best Notaro yet! I love Laurie Notaro's books and this is my favorite yet. I was laughing out loud reading it in the car. So much so that my husband was getting annoyed, wanting to know what I kept laughing at!
Great book! This book was great! It made me laugh! If you have any insecurities you will love this book!
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