Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: Jeneration X

**Giveaway is now closed**

Jen Lancaster 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, adulthood. (Summary courtesy of Goodreads.)

See what Amy and Gail thought of "Jeneration X" and then enter to win it for yourself. Thanks to Penguin, we have THREE copies for some lucky US readers!

Amy:
So if any of you haven't heard of Jen Lancaster, or read any of her novels, you are definitely missing out. She is one of the most hilarious writers that I've also had the pleasure of meeting a couple of years ago at a New York City book signing. Speaking of meeting Jen, she is going to be doing an event with Jennifer Weiner at Bryant Park in New York City on Wednesday June 6th. Stay tuned for more details as the date gets closer.

"Jeneration X" is Jen's 6th memoir where she "gives herself and her generation - a kick in the X by facing her greatest challenge to date: acting her age."

I loved Jen's description and hilarious times she has when she's in Whole Foods. Just like Jen, I LOVE Whole Foods and man, would I love to visit the Lincoln Park store in Chicago. None of the stores near me have as many do-it-yourself food bars as this Chicago one does. I've never had the pleasure (nor do I want to) to stand behind a spoiled and picky kid ordering sushi, or deal with the crazies who come to shop after work...I'd rather shoot myself in the head.

All I know is if Jen Lancaster can go make an appointment to get a mammogram, and actually go through with it, then so can I. Now do I want to? Um no... I hear your boobs get crushed...several times. However because both my sides of the family have breast cancer, I think it's time.

You have to admit that a lot of grown-up activities, like writing and executing a will or refinancing a mortgage, can be pretty scary. Who wants to think about who should get all of their possessions when they die? And no, Jen, you can't just sign a cocktail napkin saying your dog gets all of your things...I wish life was that easy.

Jen recently appeared on New Day in Seattle to talk about "Jeneration X." You can see the video here.

Gail:
Jen Lancaster is bar-none hilarious, which is why I’m an avid follower of her blog, her twitter feed, and her facebook page. (See my tribute to her from earlier this month.)  That being said, I was a little sad to see that a couple of the stories she relays in “Jeneration X” were lifted straight out of the blog and plunked into this book. Now, don’t take this to mean the book wasn’t enjoyable. It absolutely was, and I spent a few nights waking up my husband with badly-muffled snorts and wheezes as I tried to laugh more quietly while reading about Jen and Fletch’s misadventures. I also really liked that this book had a couple of serious moments. I’m a big believer in the power of snark, but every now and again a girl’s got to be real about things. I’m personally a fan of her memoirs more than her foray into fiction, so I was super excited when I got my copy of "Jeneration X" (thanks for the mega-fast shipping, amazon.ca!). I had been pining for this book for months...ever since I pre-ordered it, in fact. I’ll definitely put this one on my re-read shelf, right there alongside the rest of Jen’s memoirs.

Special thanks to Penguin for the book (for Amy) in exchange for an honest review and for sharing it with our readers.

How to win "Jeneration X":
Tell us about the first time you truly realized you were an adult. (One entry per person.) Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win.

US only. Giveaway ends May 29th at midnight EST.

More by Jen Lancaster:

41 comments:

Sharon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Janice said...

Janice @ Janiceinnj@aol.com

The first time I realized I was an adult was when my father was scheduled for a 2nd heart bypass at the now closed St. Vincents Medical Center in NY. His surgeon talked directly to me, and ignored my father, along with conversations with his nurse. I asked him why he wasn't speaking to my father, and he said because he didn't understand him. I told the surgeon that my father did understand him, but just couldn't speak at the time, from drugs, and then I fired the surgeon, who was scheduled to operate on my father the following morning. The surgeon said I couldn't fire him, and I said that I could, and it took four hours standing at the nurses station to make that happen. I then became a real adult at 36, when I took over my father's medical care. He died with me at his side, 2 months later in the same hospital. Giving me that wonderful gift of being with me as he died. That was 19 years ago, and I am now in charge of my 89 year old mother's care. Life continues, but our roles reverse, and I continue to be my mother's strong advocate and she goes in and out of the hospital 3 times in 5 months, with a stroke, seizure, an infections. My breast cancer doesn't count, my kidney tumor doesn't count, it is all about taking care of our parents and children. This is where we are the real adults.

ConBon88 said...

The first time I realized I was an adult was the day I realized that The Catcher in the Rye wasn't a coming of age story, but rather a book they make you read in high school. This is also the day I realized that anyone who said it is their favorite book, doesn't actually read books.

susieqlaw said...

sendsusanmail@gmail.com

The first time, I realized I was an adult was when I drove my parents on a long car trip. They fell asleep for most of the trip and trusted me to get us to our destination.

Jennifer C. said...

Three words: Student. Loan. Repayment.

Unknown said...

Probably when I made my own doctors appointment for the first time.

Mary said...

I think it was when I had to pay my first bill on my own, not handing my dad money and him paying it for me.

E said...

I LOVE jen lancaster...... love love love! I think the first time I realized I was really an adult is when I was able to buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store without being carded. Either that, or when someone called me ma'am for the first time. It's a hard pill to swallow!
snits76 {at} gmail {dot} com

Krystal Lynn said...

I felt like an adult when I got my first office job on an air force base. I was 17 at the time though so I guess I wasn't technically an adult yet.

miss_kris_11(at)yahoo(dotcom)

Anonymous said...

I'd never lived away from home really, so after we closed on our house and a few months later got married - I had the first of several panic attacks.
jpeterson76@yahoo.com

a real librarian said...

When I moved to a completely different state and left my family and everything I knew for a little adventure. It was just after college, and I really felt like I 'grew up' after moving away!

Thanks for the chance to win!!
areallibrarian@gmail.com

Erica said...

I knew I was an adult the first time I had to move and no one was there to help!! OMG!

wordywon at gmail dot com

Bridget O'Neill said...

The first time I realized I was an adult was when, after I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I decided that I would get a second opinion, since I did not like the surgeon who performed the biopsy. It was the first huge decision (the first of many) that I made in regards to my health.

bjoneill@hotmail.com

bn100 said...

I realized this when I had to live by myself.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

francerants@gmail said...

When my parents informed me they had no money to pay for my college tuition and I had to work 9 summer jobs to come up with the first tuition check. Been on my own ever since.

love you chicks and your blog!

francerants(at)gmail.com

Linda Kish said...

When I got married and had to take care of the bill paying and budgeting myself. At least my mom had taught me well.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

When I got my first job after college. I was amazed to see a plaque withy very own name on it outside of my new cubicle.

Kristen said...

When I cut up my "for emergencies only" credit card my parents got me.

Kly(dot)327@gmail.com

Cyndee said...

I love Jen Lancaster! I realized I was an adult when I had turned 18 and my late brother pulled me aside(being I was the "baby sister") and he said okay, you are now in the Peanut Butter Club. What is that? He explained"You now buy your own peanut butter and bread" It will be much more tasty because you bought it and you pick when you want to eat it!That is a wonderful memory I have of us talking. He was killed in a wreck one month shy of his 50th birthday..2003.This is all true. I know he was a protector of "Lil Sis":) I miss him so much!
Cyndee Thomas
cyndee(dot)thomas0(at)gmail(dot)com

Dolly said...

The first time I realized I was an adult was when someone was being an ass, and I realized I could ask someone to leave my (own) home.

jcsites2002 at hotmail dot com

DD said...

Ummm...you mean that's really going to happen some day??? Say it isn't so! Still waiting...

dawndennis66611(at)yahoo(dot)com

A.C. said...

When my husband and I packed up and moved overseas 6000 miles away from the rest of my family.

audras at gmail dot com

vikki said...

When I first moved in with my husband of 8 years, before we were married. I called my parents and my dad said he understood but he guessed I wasn't his little girl anymore. Talk about a slap into reality!
Vikki - weevil18@aol.com

Caz said...

When, traveling alone to Thailand, I realized that I was in the red light district, and was (at first) scared out of my wits. Soon, thoguh, i realized that I didn't need anyone to"save" me (and in fact I ended up having dinner with an Australian expat and two Thai hookers and had the time of my life!).

Lilian said...

At eighteen, although I am an adult by law, I think I am still in denial. I can't say I feel like an adult, but if I had to pick a moment, I would say when I had to file taxes (it wasn't even complicated, but just imagining how frustrating it would become when I have a family...scares me).

lilianxchengATgmail.com

mep said...

I'm an oldest child, former teacher, rule follower, reformed goody goody so I've always felt kind of grown-up (even at moments when I would have liked to let loose more). I have three kids now so I guess I've been a "real" adult for a whille, but I have to say that a couple of years ago I found myself in a conversation about Oxi-Clean with another preschool mom. She was telling me how she pre-soaked her kids clothes in a bucket with Oxi-Clean and water and etc. and all of a sudden, I thought to myself, "Oh shit, you are here at this moment in your life, having this boring stupid conversation about Oxi-Clean." And then I thought, "Better pick up some Oxi-Clean at Costco."

I've read all of Jen Lancaster's memoirs and love when she posts reading recommendations on her blog! Fingers crossed to win this one: mep AT nottobrag DOT net

Sharon said...

Forgot to add my email address to my original entry so I'm deleting and entering again...

The first time I truly realized I was an adult was when I got a positive HPT. True story. :)

sharon3960 [@] yahoo [.] com

Nina said...

For me, being diagnosed with cancer at 19, and both handling and SURVIVING all that came along with it really showed to me that I not only was an adult, but I could take on anything that came my way! 5 years cancer free and I am still proud of that!
Nina565(at)aol((Dot)com

Sherry said...

The First time I realized I was an adult was when my Dad passed away and told my mother not to worry I could move back in and pay the house payment and house bills. ( I was 26 at the time)

BookHounds said...

What, adult?
Actually when I first held my son I realized that I now had to be an adult to create a life for him. He is now an adult himself and I did my job. He supports himself and does his own laundry!

BookHounds said...

Forgot my email addy --
Thanks so much for the giveway since I love Jen so much!

maryinhb @ gmail

Cherie said...

When I realized that a night on the town includes an Ibuprofin/Tums chaser.

Jamie Leigh Martin said...

I'm not sure I'm an adult yet.. I'm twenty-two, but I don't know if I've had the moment..
Maybe getting major surgery, by my own choice a few months, and fighting for it, after being very ill for a year?
Getting sober?
Getting tattooed against my super closeminded parents' wishes?
Moving all over the country?

Maureen said...

The first time I realized I was an adult was when I bought my first new car and had to sign the loan documents.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Anonymous said...

The first time I realized I was an adult was the night my daughter was born. I realized that I was responsible for another human being - a job at which I had no experience. It was both a wonderful and terrifying moment of realization.

Jeryl M. said...

The first time I realized I was really an adult was when I had to pay my own bills.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Luvdaylilies said...

I realized I was an adult when I had my first baby, kiddos can really put things into perspective=)
Lethea B
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

Anita Yancey said...

The first time I realized I was an adult was when I got married at age eighteen, and knew I coundn't go back to mommy and daddy for everything I wanted or needed. What a wake-up call. But I am still married after 37 years, so I guess I did alright.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

I think it was when I began teaching and had to be an authority when dealing with angry parents who were older than me! I have read all of Jen's books and I am a huge fan...

jefftanyaheather@bresnan.net

Debbie said...

Haha, I'm still not sure I'm a grown-up!

alibraryofourown at gmail dot com

Tamara said...

First time I realized I was an adult was when I began grocery shopping on Friday night (and not just to pick up alcohol for a get together at a friend's house). I quickly put the thought out of my mind and said "no, no, shopping on Fri is just smart- I'm still not adult-like. I just like to have my Saturdays free." But, I now realize grocery shopping on Fri night was my first step to adulthood- b/c I look forward to getting my coupons together, checking the circular for the best deals, and doing my own version of extreme couponing. Now, if only I could conquer my nemesis- the self checkout line. Nothing makes me want to scream like a kid more than that thing. However the fact that I rise above it is just further proof that I'm becoming an adult (who still likes to pick up wine on Fri to enjoy Sat!)

tamarawelch@hotmail.com