I first discovered Laurie Notaro a few years ago while browsing a used book store. I stumbled upon her first book. The back cover looked quirky and fun so I decided to give it a whirl. I read it in a day, laughing out loud hysterically the entire time. I told all my friends about it and thought this woman is brilliantly hilarious. However, through the years as I occasionally read her other books, I am disappointed in the fact that she is less and less funny every time. And by the time I got to "An Idiot Girl's Christmas", which I thought surely would be a cackle-filled Christmas read, I was more annoyed by Notaro with each page I turned.

Her "true" tales in this one are filled with everything and everyone you expect with Notaro. Outrageous and humiliating situations, her cute and quirky husband, her wacky nanna, her cheap mother, and redneck neighbours. Luckily this one is all holiday themed. Granted, not all the stories are new (come on Laurie, I can't imagine you couldn't come up with a few new ones instead). We have a tampon KMart story, a ridiculous letter to friends and family, and countless tales of holiday arrests and strange gifts.

What drove me nuts is I feel like Laurie makes half this crap up. I know in comedy a writer or comedian takes true tales and embellishes. But Laurie is over the top in her delivery of the story. The basic situations are funny enough, but the random outrageous details make most of these WAYYYYYYYY unbelievable. She also tries sooo hard to be edgy and hipster and cutting edge. Not only is it fake, but half the stuff (especially the made up stuff) isn't even a little funny. She was hilarious how she was originally, and now she tries much too hard. It's almost uncomfortable to read because it is oh so forced! I literally groaned out loud sometimes and said "UUGHHHH THIS NEVER HAPPENED!!!" If she left some of her white lies out, she'd have a much better book.

I decided I no longer want to read Laurie Notaro. I went from loving her, to liking her, to annoyance, and I really don't want it to get any worse than that. I will no longer suggest her books to people and will just fondly remember the stories back when Laurie Notaro was actually funny.

Not as funny as some of her other books, but still amusing.

Not really very funny, as the title leads you to believe. Her Mother is a hoot, though.

this book has a bunch of short little stories. quick read. some better than others. one had my laughing out loud while reading it.

I like Laurie Notaro, I really do enjoy her writing most of the time. This one, I don't know, it just didn't really grab me. Maybe because some of the essays were repeats.

Not very funny. It was ok.

Quick, entertaining read. I especially enjoyed the essays involving Notaro’s mom. I laughed at some essays, I skimmed others. Overall, worth a read.

This is a book full of short stories centered around Christmas mishaps. Several of the stories are laugh out loud funny.

Enjoyable holiday-themed short stories. The writer is pretty funny and I definitely laughed out loud at certain parts. Especially the story about her annual holiday party where her husband's coworker eats all of her beloved chocolate truffles!

Really quick, hilarious read.

LOVED it. Sending it to friends because they will relate!

My mom gave me this book for Christmas this year. May I never be bored enough to read it...