• It Looked Different on the Model

  • Epic Tales of Impending Shame and Infamy
  • By: Laurie Notaro
  • Narrated by: Hillary Huber
  • Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (74 ratings)

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It Looked Different on the Model  By  cover art

It Looked Different on the Model

By: Laurie Notaro
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
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Publisher's summary

Everyone's favorite Idiot Girl, Laurie Notaro, is just trying to find the right fit, whether it's in the adorable blouse that looks charming on the mannequin but leaves her in a literal bind or in her neighborhood after she's shamefully exposed at a holiday party by delivering a low-quality rendition of "Jingle Bells." Notaro makes misstep after riotous misstep as she tries (and catastrophically fails) to gain some ground---delightfully whipping up butter-laden cupcakes for the local vegan kids, finding herself banned from the post office for wanting too many two-cent stamps ("The post-office lady looked at me like I had just asked her if she wanted to buy my sex tape"), and discovering what appears to be a corpse on her front lawn seconds before her sister is due to visit ("I had approximately three to four minutes to move the carcass from my yard into my neighbors' yard so my sister would think it was their dead person"). She shares tales of marriage and family, including stories about the dog-bark translator that deciphers Notaro's and her husband's own "woofs" a little too accurately, the emails from her mother with "FWD" in the subject line ("which in email code means Forecasting World Destruction"), and the dead-of-night shopping sprees and Devil Dog-devouring monkeyshines of a creature known as "Ambien Laurie." At every turn, Notaro's pluck and irresistible candor sets the New York Times best-selling author on a journey that's laugh-out-loud funny and utterly unforgettable.

©2011 Laurie Notaro (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Notaro's humor is self-deprecating without ever swaying into self-pity, and her situations are both specific and universal." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about It Looked Different on the Model

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very entertaining!

This marks the first audio version of one of Notaro’s essay collections that I have listened to. I have read all of her previous books - both fiction and non - and after listening to this one, I want to go back and get audio versions of all those earlier books! It is super entertaining. The narrator does an excellent job with the voices - particularly Laurie’s mother. It’s an addicting listen, too! Though it is light-hearted enough that it makes a good background noise for doing other tasks, it is also easy to do nothing but listen. I found myself taking the long way home while walking and listening.

But a warning while listening in public - there are many genuinely laugh-out-loud scenes described. I embarrassed myself a few times with some loud snorts of laughter! The “Ambien Laurie” stories are particularly hilarious - though when I relayed the story about the Chocolate Stars to my husband, I thought he was going to pee his pants he laughed so hard. It is a wonderful collection with a range of essays that not only are funny, but touching moments as well. I can’t wait for Laurie’s next book - though I think I may be abandoning the print versions in the future for more of these wonderful Audible versions!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A prescription with your subscription?

I love sarcastic humor. I love dry humor. This is the first time I just couldn't bare to listen to someone drone on and on and ...on in the most depressive way about small monotonous meaningless experiences that make you want to run away to the nearest cave for peace and solitude. Speak with your doctor before buying. Nicely written though.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Funny Stuff!

Another fun book from Laurie Notaro! The chapter where she realizes that size M and an L are very different and her dressing room antics had tears running down my face!

And who hasn’t gotten those FWDFWDFWDFWD from your parents or in-laws with every hoax available to man and no matter how many times you tell them it’s a hoax they still send them along to you!

Ambien Laurie is freaking hilarious and makes me wonder what this drug is supposed to do because it didn’t seem to help her sleep!

I enjoy Laurie’s sense of humor its sardonic and sarcastic and I can relate to her very well. Laurie’s books are fun and will make you laugh if you like sarcastic humor.

As usual Hilary Huber does a great job at the narration!

4 Stars

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

nods and grins

I enjoyed this book. had a bit of this and that. Hillarys voice was at times annoying which affected the 5 star rating.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

hilarious!!

laughed until tears with most chapters!! could soooooo relate!! :-) thanks for the heart warming laughs!!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narration KILLED this book

Laurie Notaro has been one of my absolute FAVORITE writers for many years. The chronicles of her life- ANY woman's life- are hilarious.

HOWEVER, the narrator is absolutely AWFUL. She shredded Notaro's wit and deep seeded humor.

Buy this book either in print or via Kindle, the audiobook is TERRIBLE.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

OK I guess

Author is trying to be funny - more specifically, she is trying to be Jen Lancaster. Anonymous notes to the NSA, mean mothers, a "wild and wacky" hubby. Change the names and you have any of Lancaster's books. OK I guess, but be yourself,

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting Content - Sarcastic Narrator

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator! Her tone was sarcastic and patronizing. It almost ruined the work.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The story was interesting. I wouldn't change it.

Would you be willing to try another one of Hillary Huber’s performances?

Probably not.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good for some laughs.

What made the experience of listening to It Looked Different on the Model the most enjoyable?

I love Laura Notaro's books. I find them very entertaining. This book spoke to me.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Just not that funny

This is the first Audible book that I couldn't finish. It had a couple of very hilarious sections, especially "Ambien Laurie." The narration was not dry or droll; it was positively inexpressive to the point of being unemotional.

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