Jeneration X

One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner

By: Jen Lancaster

Narrated by: Jen Lancaster

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

In Such a Pretty Fat, Jen Lancaster learned how to come to terms with her body. In My Fair Lazy, she expanded her mind. Now, the New York Times best-selling author gives herself - and her generation - a kick in the X, by facing her greatest challenge to date: acting her age.

Jen is finally ready to put away childish things (except her Barbie Styling Head, of course) and embrace the investment-making, mortgage-carrying, life insurance-having adult she's become.

From getting a mammogram to volunteering at a halfway house, she tackles the grown-up activities she's resisted for years, and with each rite of passage she completes, she'll uncover a valuable - and probably humiliating - life lesson that will ease her path to full-fledged, if reluctant, adult.

©2012 Jen Lancaster (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“Jen Lancaster is in a master class when it comes to infusing books with wit and charm.” (Sarah Pekkanen)

"Jen Lancaster has the kind of scathing wit that makes you wish she was your best friend but thankful she's not your new neighbor." (New York Times best-selling author Carrie Ryan)

"She's like that friend who always says what you're thinking - just 1,000 times funnier." (People)

AMAZING AS ALWAYS!!

If you could sum up Jeneration X in three words, what would they be?

PEE PANTS FUNNY!

What does Jen Lancaster bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

LISTENING TO THE AUDIO BOOK GIVES THE WHOLE THING A MUCH MORE PERSONAL FEEL. ITS SO EASY TO GET LOST IN THE STORIES AND FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST SITTING BACK LISTENING TO YOUR BEST FRIEND. JEN IS AN EXTRODINARY STORY TELLER!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I LAUGHED, I CRIED, I PEED MY PANTS.....

Any additional comments?

I HAVE BEEN A FAN OF JEN'S FOR A LONG TIME. SHE IS AMAZINGLY FUNNY AND DOWN TO EARTH. I HAVE NEVER MET HER, BUT FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN BESTEST OF FRIENDS SINCE CHILDHOOD. READ ALL OF HER BOOKS, YOU WONT REGRET IT!!

Classic Jen Lancaster!

I have read and loved every one of Jen's memoirs, and this is no exception. Laughed out loud. Shook my head. Loved every minute of this audiobook.

I've been waiting for Jen to read her own work! :)

I love all of Jen's books - so much so that I have seriously contemplated buying all of the e-books and audiobooks, in addition to the hard copies that I already own. This is the first one that I have bought a "double" of, and it's 100% because Jen X is self-narrated. It's true, this book does have many stories that already appeared on her blog, but I am totally ok with that, and here's why:

1) Hearing her stories in her voice adds a whole new layer of hilarious to them.
2) It is much easier for me to share a funny story with a friend when all I have to remember is "Chapter 2" instead of "What on earth was the title of that blog post again? Something about her dogs... but damn it, there's 500 dog stories on here! Oh forget it, it was really funny and that's all you need to know."
3) My all-time favorite blog story is included, which resolves number 2, above. (I believe the blog post was titled "The Evolution of a Bad Idea.")
4) If you have been to one of Jen's readings/signings, this book is a great way to relive them. If not, it will give you a taste of how she sounds and how she "thinks" her stories.

I really hope that Jen continues to narrate her books, even if it means I will have to spend twice as much money on each book from now on.

Happy listening!

PS - If you are a first timer, two of my favorites from Jen are My Fair Lazy and Bright Lights, Big Ass - check them out too!

Great way to Spend the Afternoon!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! I loved this book and laughed out loud many different times!! I was not familiar with jen's work before listening to this book and look forward to listening to more of her work in the near future!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jeneration X?

Oh my gosh... hard to choose! She is so honest and straight forward- that is what love most! But I guess if I had to pick a moment, one of my favorites would have been the little letter she wrote to curry... or when she got her hair done in texas... or when she talked about fletch re-doing her dresser... or...

Any additional comments?

i've noticed that she doesn't always read her own work... bummer!! she was a fantastic narrator and i really enjoyed listening to her tell all of her own stories!

Jen should be X'd

I generally like Jen Lancaster's book when I read them myself, but listening to her read her own book is not fun. I listen to a lot of audio books now and she is only the second one that I haven't liked. What's interesting about that is the other guy also read his own book. I would suggest a professional voice talent. Jodi Picoult has great readers, you might want to invest in someone like them. I am only in chapter 2 but not sure I can listen any more. 😬

If this is the voice of my generation...

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I can't help but feel that I might like this book better if I were reading it rather than listening to it. After 30 minutes, I felt like she was a really annoying friend that was taking up to much air in the car. You know, THAT girl, who feels like she has to have everyone's attention when she tells her story for a little too long and with over-the-top negativity.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jen Lancaster? Why or why not?

Not really.

How could the performance have been better?

I think it would have been better is the tone had been toned down. The words do the work and don't need the additional vocal heavy lifting.

Just ok

Any additional comments?

This is a quasi-humorous book by an author who seems to really have nothing much to say other than to continually remind the reader/listener that while she used to be poor, she is now very successful. So, we are told about how she gets to go all over the country on her book tour, how she lives in an expensive house in the woods with rich neighbors down the street, about her estate planning problems, and on and on. Frankly, it was all very self-congratulatory and off putting. And... not particularly funny.