The Tao of Martha, by Jen Lancaster

Let’s get this out of the way now.  Jen Lancaster is one funny lady.  If you’ve ever read one of her previously released ‘memoirs,’ you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.  (And, if you haven’t, why the hell not?!?)  Regardless, I think she went above and beyond with this one.  I laughed…I cried…I laughed some more!  No, seriously.  That’s exactly what I did...in that order.  And, the tears weren’t always from laughing so hard.    

When I first heard of Jen Lancaster, I walked right past the big display with her books.  (I know, I know.  I’m hanging my head in shame, okay?)  I foolishly thought they were some sort of feminine self-help mumbo jumbo, and that’s REALLY not my thing.  After hearing a friend gush about them, though, I finally checked one out of the library…and saw the light.  Hilarity ensued.  Now, if that doesn’t teach you to do your research, boys and girls, I don’t know what will.  But, I digress...

As this book opens, we find out that Jen is on a mission to go all Martha Stewart on us.  She wants to live a year of her life emulating that guru of, well, everything.  Do you know what I say to that?  Better you than me!  It is, in fact, very good for ALL of us that she chose to partake in this little experiment, because you may need to change your undies at least once while reading.  As she embarks on various elements of domesticity, such as dinner parties and gardening (and other miscellaneous ‘stuff’ that I avoid at all costs), her loving husband, Fletch, is right there at her side, showing his support (and an occasional eye roll).      

Aside from her usual zany, raucous, and wacky sense of humor, the aspect of Ms. Lancaster’s persona that shines brightest in this book is her role as an animal lover – verging on an animal hoarder, judging by her many various pets.  (Side note:  please don’t read that as a negative comment, since I mean it most sincerely as a compliment.  In my eyes, animals are FAR superior to all humans.  Well, except for my husband.  And my parents.  And my brother.  Well, whatever, you know what I mean.)  Bottom line?  Ms. Lancaster is a very good egg. 

Whether you’re laughing at the way she (lovingly) refers to her ‘Thundercats’ as assholes, or crying while embracing the journey she shares with her beloved, ill furbaby, Maisy, this book will tap into all sorts of different emotions.  To put it succinctly, I finished it feeling sufficiently full, in every way.  The aforementioned tears were very real, but the mastery of Jen Lancaster lies in the fact that she had me laughing out loud (again) before those tears could even dry.

While her previous books were always riotously funny, I didn’t feel the pull of the heartstrings much.  They were amusing, for sure.  They always made me laugh.  But, then I was moving on to the next book in my stack.  This time, however, the book stayed with me.  She let us get a peek at the REAL Jen behind the funny anecdotes.  And, what makes that even more special to this fan is that my initial opinion of her holds true.  She’s just a funny (compassionate) chick.

4.5 stars