Let's Pretend This Never Happened

A Mostly True Memoir

By: Jenny Lawson

Narrated by: Jenny Lawson

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Humor, 2013

For fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris - Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary debut.

Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives - the ones we'd like to pretend never happened - are in fact the ones that define us. In Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes listeners on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor.

Chapters include: "Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel", "A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband", "My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking", and "And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban Alligator on an Airplane".

©2012 Jenny Lawson (P)2012 Penguin

Comedic genius

I couldn’t put this down. I’m still not sure if parts of this are true or not but I kind of hope they are. Don’t forget to read the entire book for the bonus content.

If you like The Bloggess, check this one out.

Any additional comments?

Everyone has read Jenny’s blog, The Bloggess (and if you haven’t, why the hell not?), and her debut memoir is just like it, full of crazy things she does, awkward conversations she has, crazy texts she shares with Victor or sometimes, dark places she finds herself when her anxiety or depression take hold. The chapters are individual stories, told in chronological order.

Jenny states in the beginning that most of the stories are true, and even though she says only names and dates have been changed, you have to wonder if everything else could really be true. If so, she’s had quite the life! There were a few stories or mentions that I recall from reading her blog, but most everything in the book was new to me.

The way she deals with the setbacks and disappointments in her life are wonderful; she is a great example of how humor can make most anything better. There are some truly sad parts, like her many miscarriages, but she continues on. Though it’s sad at the time, she can look back later and find the funny. She talks a lot about her husband, Victor, and I just adore him. He has (almost) the same sense of humor as Jenny, and he has the patience and understanding of a saint.

My only complaint is the audiobook. I adore Jenny Lawson, but her voice grates on my nerves. A lot of the time, she spoke in a monotone, with hardly any inflection. Several times, she would read a long paragraph or story (in a monotone), and her voice would get this gravelly sound. It got so bad I wanted to say “Clear your throat already!” And for some strange reason, she sang the chapter titles. Not very well. For those reasons alone, I would suggest going for the print version instead of the audio version.

If you like The Bloggess, or awkwardly funny situations, check this one. Beware the salty language.

Awesome!!

Where does Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

If you like the Bloggess, buy the book now!! Funny and irreveren. If you don't like swearing...run away.

READ IT! - - - IT IS WORTH IT - - - DON'T LISTEN

What did you like best about Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)? What did you like least?

I liked most the bitchy notes the author left for her husband.
I liked least the sound of a rifle being racked and other similar audio effects appear throughout the audio book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)?

Her battle against health problems to conceive and deliver her child.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jenny Lawson’s performances?

No Way! This is why: The chief flaw I see in this audiobook is that the author chose to narrate it herself. Her voice does not rest well upon the ear. It has a staccato that can be annoying sharp almost panicky. The audio rendition could have benefited by a less shrill and frantic voice. My ear wanted a more consoling tone to describe events that moves ones heart to tears.

Was Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) worth the listening time?

Yes, only if you are on the beach and are whiling away the time with cool breezes and a stiff drink in your hand and you have previously read the book.

Any additional comments?

Jenny Lawson’s humor is nothing like David Sedaris fanciful yarns or Tina Fey biting liberated got-ya humor. In fact her humor is a closer match to the late Erma Bomback home spun humor in her The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. Ms. Bombeck was a columnist and author from the 1960’s through 1996. Her viewpoint of humor was Midwestern, domestic, and home spun centered. It dealt with the trials and tribulations of everyday life. In fact if Ms. Bombeck had been reared in west Texas and had a taxidermist for a father and a mother with politically correct tendencies she too may have become a well-known blogger as opposed to a columnist. Also Ms. Lawson would have been 22 by the time Ms. Bombeck died. It is difficult to think that Ms. Lawson would not have been familiar with Ms. Bombeck’s work. But the internet did not exist then so Ms. Bombeck became a columnist who had to shape her copy to her editor’s Midwestern values. Not having an editor, Ms. Lawson stream of consciousness flows wildly free of any mainstream pause for reflection or word count of how many F- bombs she drops or redundant use of “like TOTALLY” she uses. If you don’t like you language raw and a bit flighty you will not like this book.

I first received this book as a paperback. I read it along with all the delightful pictures illustrating the authors early years. In a written format ones minds voice provides a tone and pathos appropriate to the written material. While reading one can skip lightly and quickly over the humorous words that provide the grounding stones as her life flows and splashes on. When appropriate and the emotional waters deepen ones pace slows for reflection time to move the soul. This pathos adjustment is not there in the frantic pace of the audio rendition.

The chief flaw I see in this audiobook is that the author chose to narrate it herself. Her voice does not rest well upon the ear. It has a staccato that can be annoying sharp almost panicky. It is going 100 MPH even when she addresses more serious and sober portions of her semi-memoir; for example, the problems she had conceiving and bringing her daughter to full term. This woman displayed pure raw courage and determination during that tragic but ultimately joyful period in her life. The audio rendition could have benefited by a less shrill and frantic voice. My ear wanted a more consoling tone to describe events that moves ones heart to tears.

I believe this book is really worth a good read. Get it in the printed version where you can bring your own voices to the material. Also you get the photographs that the author attempts to describe only partially successfully in the audio version to view and linger over as desired. Blogging is obviously Ms. Lawson’s forte. When it comes to performance of her work, she should leave that in other professional narrator hands. If you must listen to it be prepared for something raw and crude complete with sound effects like an old radio show. Early on in the audio version, when she is enumerating a number of points, there is definitely the sound of a rifle being racked between each point. Other similar audio effects appear throughout the audiobook. I found them more as a distraction then a complement.

A bucket full of awesome-ness!

Where does Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Tied for first. One of my favorite all time!

Which scene was your favorite?

Hearing her stories from her childhood reminded me so much of my childhood. It brought back memories I had long forgotten. She is so witty and hilarious. I have since started following her blog and I am often brought to tears from laughing so hard.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I couldn't stop listening except to hit the pause button to calm my laughing before people in public thought I was crazy.

Any additional comments?

Amazing!!!

One of my favorites

Jenny Lawson has officially moved to one of my favorite writers and now readers of all time. Let’s Pretend This Neve Happened is a side splitting memoir that fully embraces the crazy, unexpected, and altogether unforgettable ways we stumble through life. Lots of laughs, lots of heart, and a little insight into the different life of rural Texas. Jenny you are an absolute delight!

Tina Fey done right

What did you love best about Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)?

The best thing about this audiobook is the performance Jenny Lawson put into it. It's almost more of a play than a reading.

What did you like best about this story?

The story unfolded as one of a crazy woman rambling about her daily doings into one of heartfelt agony about real life problems, making the listener sober up while still holding a certain comedic effect.

Which character – as performed by Jenny Lawson – was your favorite?

Jenny is absolutely bonkers, in a good kind of way, I think. I think so too.

amazing!

this book is absolutely amazing the fact that she laughs about her life even when it has scarred her Jenny is my new favorite author but makes it even better that she narrated it herself!

Hilarious story, hilarious narration

Where does Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a great memoir by Jenny Lawson, strengthened because it is narrated by the author. About halfway through the book, I felt as though Lawson and I were sitting down for coffee and she was telling me her life story. There were points that I wondered where she was going to go with this book (would it be all light and airy?) when she introduced a harsh dose of reality - and how she dealt with it using humour.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jenny Lawson, please make good on your promise to do 'Book 2'

What about Jenny Lawson’s performance did you like?

Lawson is honest, raw and hilarious. Make sure you listen to the outtakes also. I love her blog, and was happy to hear the person behind it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - and I listened to it in a short time period. Funny vignettes make this easily digestible.

Funny and honest but occasionally grating

I'm a fan of the Bloggess and put aside her second book to listen to this one. I enjoy her voice (literal and figurative) but I dread the end of each chapter because she sings the title of each new chapter loudly and deliberately off-key. When I'm listening to the book aloud and a new chapter starts, I cringe and wait for my husband to ask what the heck I'm listening to.