There is only really one thing funnier than Amy Sedaris in this world, and that's her brother David.

You know how Sandra Dee on the Food Network always has a cocktail as part of her party recipes? (Isn't it great that this review is coming from a straight male?) Well...I always wondered what would happen if she got absolutely schnockered before her shows. What would that perfect party of hers look like?

This book tells you exactly what that would look like. In great detail. And like her brother, sometimes you're uncomfortable but it's not because she's outright terrible...it's because I've attended one or two parties where I think the things she describes have actually happened, and it makes me wonder why I'm not in need of a round of antibiotics.

I've been meaning to read this forever, mainly because of the photo on the cover. That look! It makes me feel like Amy Sedaris really does like me.

And within that fabulous cover? Think one of those cheesy how-to craft books in the yarn aisles of an arts and crafts store. Now picture a witty hipster getting hold of one an revising it. Then a snarky, cheeky Betty Crocker throws in a bunch of her annotated recipes and '60s photos.

I didn't actually read the whole book because I hate crafts and all the recipes look gross. But what I did read reminded me that Amy Sedaris is hilarious and now I follow her on Instagram.

I slept on Amy for too long before finding her tv show and this book. I could do without the recipes, but this book is gold. Love this type of humor. She's insane but in a genuine-good-person type of way, which is precious.

Perfect for : Personal Use, Hostess Gift, General Gift

In a nutshell: When I first opened this book, I laughed because of all the humor (it really IS a fun book), but then I started to read it and found that I was amazed at all the helpful information it contained! Learn to cook with new recipes, learn how to host a kids party (this can be harder than it sounds!), write a letter to a celebrity asking for an autograph, what to wear to the doctor's office, how to bury (or memorialize) a pet. . . you will find these and many other great tips throughout the book! Not only was it fun, but it was helpful too! Plus, many of the recipes include pictures and they look and sound very yummy! I highly recommend that you get a copy for yourself and get a few extras to give as hostess gifts and birthday/Christmas gifts for the woman who enjoys entertaining and has a great sense of humor . . . or needs one!

PS - make sure you set aside your regular menu and add some of these great recipes in - they really are great!

Extended Review:
Content: The book includes a chapter on "The Art of Hospitality," and sections titled: Hospitality in Action, Jackpot Recipes, Pantyhose, Crafts, And Good Ideas.

Amy has shared her best recipes, hints and tips for 23 different entertaining occasions, including: a blind date, an unexpected guest, grieving, ladies night, entertaining the elderly, when you get to play nurse, clubs, gift giving, etc.

Each entertaining chapter is filled with recipes, tips, tricks and a LOT of humor! But on a serious note, when talking about grieving and funerals, I was not previously aware that you should ask a friend or neighbor to house-sit while at the funeral as some robbers will watch the obituaries and try to break-in while everyone is at the funeral. I mentioned this fact to my sister-in-law, who knew about this fact and has done some house-sitting for friends who were at a funeral. I was amazed that I didn't know this common fact and very thankful to have read it in this book!

Format: Filled with pictures, drawings, recipes, notes, tips, explanations, and real ideas for entertaining situations.

Readability: Fun and easy to read!

Overall: This is such a fun and entertaining, not to mention really helpful book! You won't be able to read through this book without cracking a smile! I think it is a must for every kitchen, and a really great hostess gift for a woman with a good sense of humor.

I’m not really sure what compelled me to buy this book, other than I’ve found Ms Sedaris to be funny when I’ve seen her on TV.

I’m not sure that I can count this book towards my 60 books read in 2011 since there really wasn’t a lot of reading to do. I don’t read recipes and if I do, it’s not really reading in my book.

I will say the book was a bit of a disappointment to me. I was really expecting something funny (perhaps I’m expecting her to be too much like her brother, David.) Or perhaps the problem is that I quickly realized that Ms Sedaris wanted to impart actual advice on entertaining, being a good and gracious host as well as guest. Which, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. The problem is that she tries to toss humor into the mix and it often doesn’t work all that well.

I seem to recall an interview where she expressed her dismay that people weren’t taking her book seriously. She expressly pointed out that all the recipes were real recipes. And, to her credit, the recipes I did read over looked good and I’m sure they are excellent. I doubt that someone who doesn’t know much about entertaining will be able to see the line between actually advice and humor. (Like the advice on entertaining the elderly, sick and gypsies.)

I will say, she is right on – if someone is drinking too much at your party, offering them more to drink is one of the worst moves you can make if you don’t want wet sheets in the morning.

This book was not what I expected - but I'm not sure what I expected. You never know what you'll get with the Sedaris'. What I got was a very silly, very Amy Sedaris intro to housekeeping and party throwing. Very little of the book is useful if you don't own a rabbit, or entertain groups of sailors frequently - but it's entertaining nonetheless. It's full of recipes that I would love to try, some easy, some pages long. Craft ideas, and tricks for getting rid of all the weird alcohol in your liquor cabinet. It is illustrated with hand drawn bunnies, and photos of Amy wearing wigs and gingham.
It's a good time. If it doesn't make you want to be a drunk sailor at one of her parties, well, i doubt you'll enjoy this book at all.

P.S. Don't read it on a Kindle - the pictures and illustrations are the best part and they just don't translate.

This book wasn’t bad, but it seemed a little misguided. (I hovered between two and three stars.) I was expecting a humorous take on entertaining--either a parody of other party-planning books, or maybe funny recountings of parties gone awry. Something like that. Instead, most of the book was straightforward advice (some of it even useful) about how to plan and execute gatherings of various sorts, with occasional snide asides about drinking, drugs, or how to make money from your guests. But then it would veer off into something really odd, like a long and mostly serious account of how to care for a pet rabbit, a monologue delivered by Sedaris to an imagined guest who has, inexplicably, come to her apartment to receive a facial, or a vaguely mean-spirited digression stereotyping old people. The book was certainly amusing in places, but hardly “blisteringly funny,” as the publisher claims. Some of her “self-award-winning recipes” actually sounded pretty good, but since I listened to the audiobook while running on the treadmill, I didn’t have good opportunity to write them down.

Genius. Amy Sedaris is one of the most beautiful people on the planet. Get this book, then go make your Fuck It Bucket. It's filled with crafts and recipes for depressed stoners. The book, not the Fuck It Bucket. Different story. Regardless, read this book. Good times.

NC

(My review is based upon the audio book)

I like hospitality and I like sarcasm and witty humor, so you'd think this book would be right up my alley. But she takes the sarcasm just ridiculously too far. Make a makeshift bedpan out of a cardboard box when caring for the sick? Oh, come on. The beginning of the book seems as of she is trying to write a legitimately helpful book on playing hostess. But it wasn't long before I was debating if the entire book was meant to be satire. There are some good guidelines for hosting (include enough information with your invitation so people aren't left asking questions about what to expect for the evening), but really nothing that you wouldn't know had you ever hosted or been invited to a party or dinner before. Rather than make a sarcastic comment here or there, it seemed that entire pages were jokes that were carried on too long and too far. This book got to be so ridiculous that I didn't even finish it.

Someone gave me this audiobook right before I drove the 13 hours from my parents' house to home. Otherwise, I might've never known about it. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started listening, but it certainly wasn't Amy Sedaris's quick wit and humor combined with some pretty good hosting tips. She was hilarious! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a light read (or has a long drive ahead of them).

I would suggest listening to this book rather than reading it. It's only three cds, which is relatively short for audiobooks. Amy Sedaris delivers advice about entertaining guests and hosting dinner parties, and she's absolutely hilarious. A few of my favorite snippets: "[when making conversation on a blind date:] Don't ask hard questions or questions that involve a lot of thinking, such as: Does the sun make noise? Do you tip a cobbler? How do you teach hope? When can we see each other again?" AND "[when hosting a party:] You can never overreach to mask a weakness...If you're a boring person, play exciting music." There are also recipes (like Captain's Mouth-Watering Bite-Sized Blue Ball Cheese Balls) and suggestions for children's party games...and of course, how to remove vomit stains.

Oh, Amy Sedaris, you are quite possibly one of the funniest women to ever grace the television {Strangers With Candy is pure genius}. When this book came out some time ago I kept meaning to pick it up from the library, but the wait was always so long. Finally it was available, and I grabbed it!

It is funny in that Strangers With Candy sort of way. The book actually has some great entertaining advice that makes sense and is practical. The rest of the book is filled with one liners and sentences that make you laugh just hard enough. Sedaris never tries too hard.

I laughed more than I want to admit given a lot of people thought this book fell flat. However, how can you not laugh when you imagine Amy Sedaris writing this book or entertaining in the way she describes?

Definitely read it. I can't wait to read Simpler Times in the next few days.