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)

Super Jen Lancaster Fans Be Warned...

If you are a huge Jen Lancaster fan like me (read all her books (sometimes twice), read ALL of her blog entries (again with the sometimes twice), I have even gone to a book signing, you are going to be a little disappointed to recognize ALOT of the stories that are in this book. I love hearing her read them but because I have already read them myself (sometimes twice...ok alot of times twice) I feel like I am hanging out with a friend who is telling me the same stories over and over and when she starts one I'm like, "Do I stop her and tell her I have heard this or be polite and just let her tell me again?"

That's the ONLY reason for the 3 stars.

If you are new to Jen or are maybe less familiar with her work ....you will love this!

Jen Lancaster does it again!

Would you consider the audio edition of Jeneration X to be better than the print version?

Yes! I love listening to this book. The way it is written, and with it in audio form, it is like hanging out with one of your friends.

What other book might you compare Jeneration X to and why?

It is another Jen Lancaster book but, bitter is the new black is awesome!

What about Jen Lancaster’s performance did you like?

I like how real she is. No Political Correctness here. Just states it the way she sees it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A day in the Life of Jen

Any additional comments?

Once you start reading her books, you want to read them all. They are very addicting!

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.

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!

Loved, loved, loved it!

I was so excited that another Jen Lancaster book was out, I got it as soon as I could, and boy was I not disappointed! And as bonus, the author herself reads it! As with all her other books, I found myself laughing aloud, at times to the point of tears. I love her wit and humor and strong personality. Whether you've read other books or not, you have to read this (although, really, they all deserve to be read!)

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.

As Always Jen Delivers a great read!!!

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

I love this author, she shares the same humor in life as I do. I feel like I am reading a page from my life when listening to her....an easy way to pass my long distance driving to college!!

What did you like best about this story?

It's Hilarious

Have you listened to any of Jen Lancaster’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have only read her other books, which are also great!!!

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

I laugh hysterically with this author.

Another great read, well listen, from Jensylvannia

Would you listen to Jeneration X again? Why?

Absolutely. Jen is hilarious and her view of life is so much fun!

What did you like best about this story?

I love that Jen is talking about learning to grow up. It's the same place I find myself in life at the moment.

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

Her emphasis and sarcasm really drive home her true feelings about the events of the books. You don't get that from reading it on your own.

A laugh out loud collection

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

I always find Lancaster's memoirs laugh out loud funny. As a bonus, she reads this collection of essays herself. While the narrator that read her previous works did a fine job, there is nothing like the tone and inflection that Jen can give her own stories. I hope she continues to read her own works!

Jen should narrate all of her books!

I've loved all of Jen's memoirs to date and "Jeneration X" is no exception. Actually, it may be my new favorite (dethroning "Such a Pretty Fat".) Even though I'm a Gen Y-er, I tend to agree with her assessment of my generation. I wish more of my peers would listen to this and learn some of her Reluctant Adult Lessons.

Jen's narration is the best thing about this audiobook. She's very engaging and I found myself getting completely drawn into her stories. I wish she had narrated her other books as well!