I think I remember seeing Notaro on someone's LJ last year, but can't remember whose. Anyway, this is a collection of funny tales from the author's life. The one that had me laughing hysterically was "The Candy Apple Freak Show." Seriously like a day in my life at times.

I can’t honestly remember how I found this book. But a few weeks ago I saw it sitting on the bookshelf that I devote to books I intend on reading. So, I picked it up and read a few pages and busted out laughing! I then proceeded to voraciously read this collection of essays by Laurie Notaro about her effed up life and what it means to be a member of the Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club. Laurie Notaro is my new idol, actually idol is probably not the best word because she’s made some pretty stupid decisions. Like when she decided that it was OK wearing just tights to an appointment with a doctor that was treating her for back pain, only to realize afterward there was a huge hole in the crotch–which the doctor got to see up close because he had to run different tests that involved moving Notaro’s legs around and checking her reflexes. She also once drove from Roswell to Phoenix eating nothing but Taco Bell with her friend Jeff, with the expected results.

Notaro is a humor columnist and its amazing how she can make anything sound hilarious. Like when she becomes the new person of interest by two kids from her neighborhood, Casey and Staci, and their need for Notaro’s constant attention. I guess I would really not want to find myself in some of the situations she’s been in. Like when she was the sober friend for once (because she was broke and failed getting guys to buy her a drink) and she had to drive her friend Chris home and inadvertently had Chris’ ex’s head stuck in the car window because she was a psycho drunk. And when she had to wake up at an ungodly hour in the morning for jury duty, so she didn’t put too much effort into looking good and when she arrived at the courthouse a woman gave her some food…because she thought Notaro was homeless. But I would love to be able to have the wit and sense of humor that Notaro has, she even makes clearing out a room that has turned into a black hole of junk funny. Especially when she tries to be Martha Stewart and make it her office by purchasing a huge antique desk…that doesn’t actually fit through the door.

Pick this book up if you want a good laugh!

Absolutely love Laurie Notaro.

If you want a good view of what life is like, in the real world, this is the book for you. I can tell you how many of these things I have thought in my head and even said out loud at times!

I think the only issue I had with this book is the repetitive use of the word retarded. I am will to overlook it because this is an older book but I think this has even been corrected in following books for more gentle terminology.

If you enjoy essay collections, this one is hilarious. Personally, I love reading stories from relatable people--it reminds me that I'm the the only one living in chaos!

excellent book to recommend to someone who doesn't read that often, very easy to get into

Very funny!

I have read this book several times. Its an easy read and extremely funny! I laughed out loud throughout the whole thing.

Laurie Notaro's first book, although my second of hers. (Can I just tell you how much it bothers the little OCD me inside that I read them out of order?)

I knew what to expect, having read Autobiography of a Fat Bride earlier in the year and I was not disappointed. At times, her tales of drunkenness, vomit, and party time antics make me absolutely CERTAIN that she'd have been a friend I felt embarrassed for (and by) more often than not, but in book form, that's not a problem!

Her books are a quick read and definitely laugh-out-loud worthy... I work in the Japanese school system as an English teacher and my fellow teachers (Japanese) will ask me what I'm laughing at... sadly, the stories don't translate well.

Nie da się tego czytać, niestety.

all her books are hilarious and make me laugh out loud

I really enjoyed this book. Her writing is quite vivid, and although I wouldn't qualify myself as an idiot girl, I did know people like that.

I plan on reading her other books as soon as possible.

Laurie Notaro is one of those self printing success stories. After failing to find a publisher for a collection of her humor columns she turned to print on demand. The success of her book caught the eye Random House who offered her a two book deal. She now has seven books.

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club is Laurie Notaro's first book with Random House. It contains a series of short stories from her life. They can be divided up for the most part into tales about drinking, tales about the effects of drinking, and tales about being repressed about sex. Where are the "tales from a magnificent and clumsy life" promised by the subtitle and illustrated by the delightfully fully cover photograph? I don't know because I didn't see any in the book.

My favorite chapter from this mediocre book is "Dead in a Box." It covers Laurie's cleaning binge of the "scary room." A roommate had left the ashes of a departed loved one in a box under a bed. Then the roommate had left and forgotten the box. How she deals with the situation made me grin.