[JUY]∎ [PDF] If You Were Here A Novel Jen Lancaster 9780451234384 Books

If You Were Here A Novel Jen Lancaster 9780451234384 Books

Download As PDF : If You Were Here A Novel Jen Lancaster 9780451234384 Books

If You Were Here A Novel Jen Lancaster 9780451234384 Books

I've read just about all of Jen Lancaster's memoirs, and while I don't always find the author charming, and rarely find her very relatable, or even likable (except for her admirable and passionate love of animals), I do just about always find her funny. And, clearly, as her success has gone up, what she has to write about has gone down, especially at the pace Lancaster tends to produce books. Remember: her career, which took off with Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office, started based on snarky blog posts when she and her hubby were both unemployed and broke. So, yeah, when you're a successful author and you've already tackled all the obvious stuff: money, career, weight and growing up, it's only natural that you may turn from autobiographical to fiction. And that's what Lancaster does here. Sort of.

Because while there's no doubt Lancaster can write, she apparently can't write about anything but herself. IF YOU WERE HERE is a (very) thinly veiled fictitious version of the Lancaster anyone whose read her memoirs is already intimately familiar with. As a reader you can even peg exactly when this was written: when she and her husband were moving from Chicago to the suburbs and easily match all the "characters" to the real-life cast of Lancaster's other tales. So, basically, Lancaster continued to write about her own life, and husband, and friends, only making everything, and everyone, just a bit "wackier," and herself thinner and probably richer, too. Voila, fiction. Eh, not so much.

Most of what I enjoyed about IF YOU WERE HERE, other than that it was a super-fast read, is stuff that felt real, like Lancaster's memoirs. (e.g. the scene with the $45 lightbulb). The fantasy elements in this story were so over-the-top and either poorly imagined or so clearly copped from either the John Hughes films she adores and obviously intentionally references (and, trust me, I'm right there with her in that admiration, but the documentary Don't You Forget About Me honors Hughes far more poignantly and in more entertaining fashion, too ... sorry, Jen) or the far less iconic '80s movies The Money Pit and Funny Farm (1988), which I'm guessing Lancaster is hoping are obscure enough, or old enough, that her reader's won't realize she basically cribbed every plot point not stolen from her own life from the films. Or maybe she just saw them on TBS late one night when she had writers' block and it all crept in. Who knows?

What really doesn't work though is that, when writing real-life stories, Lancaster spares no one, most of all herself. She isn't afraid to bring the crazy: be it discussing her negligent neighbors or her own self-inflicted food poisoning or reality TV obsession. The fact that she, clearly, can make fun of herself, as well as others, makes her often abrasive style fun and funny, rather than off-putting. (At least in writing.) But in IF YOU WERE HERE, Lancaster has created a more idyllic version of self and hubby. While the "Mia" character clearly has flaws aplenty, Lancaster has sanded off the rough, real edges of herself and seems far more intent of preserving "Mia" and "Mac" than she is when she writes about herself and husband Fletch. Without the self-awareness, you lose much of the humor and only the unlikable and obnoxious remain.

I get that this is her first novel, and I wouldn't find taking a look at further fiction efforts but, honestly, if I wasn't a Lancaster fan before this, I probably would have put it down. It's silly, vapid and there is zero emotional connection with any of the "characters" and their outlandish escapades. The best bits are the parts where the do-it-yourself house renovations go horribly, predictably, wrong. But even those are wholly rote and have been done far better, many times. Including by Lancaster herself, in real-life blog posts following her own home purchase. (I'd recommend reading those or almost anything on her blog Jennsylvania, rather than this book, actually.)

The stuff regarding "Mia"/Lancaster's ridiculous, trashy Amish zombie fiction series--an homage to her own much-blogged-about Twilight obsession/Stephanie Meyer jealousies--trips to Hollywood and a Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan-like landlord are as a lame as the oddly Sesame Street-style gangsters that drive the couple from their city home and their ludicrous house search where they discard one home after another because it's "too perfect" even though "Mia" makes sure to let the reader know they're totally rich enough to buy them if they wanted. Em-K.

Unlike real-life Jen and Fletch, there are ZERO real problems or consequences for these characters, even being arrested has wild upsides and a wacky judge with his own home renovation tale of woe. There is just no reason to invest yourself in all of the "problems" presented here, so they just come off as dull, boring and whiny. And I find it funny (as in odd, not humorous) that Lancaster is less protective of her real marriage than the faux-perfect one presented in this "fiction."

The friends characters are lamely fleshed out--as if Lancaster assumes we all already know them because everyone has already read her blog and previous memoirs--and the ending far-fetched, farcical (and not in a good way), and clearly slapdash. It's an "I'm-on-deadline-and-almost-at-my-word-count-so-better-wrap-this-puppy-up" cheat that clearly came to Lancaster while watching HGTV.

Again, the best thing about this book are the inside-jokes, like the liberal use of footnotes; a well-known quirk of Lancaster's autobiographical efforts (and where many of her best gags tend to reside). But all the wink-wink, nudge-nudge ("Mia" is "me" ... get it???) all wear very thin, very fast. If you're a Lancaster completist, IF YOU WERE HERE is jut barely alright, and you'll probably find a few minor laughs just from already knowing so much about the author and her life. But if you're new to this author, pick up BITTER or Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer instead, and you'll have yourself a far more entertaining read.

I think this sums it up best: I bought a used "very good" condition hardcover copy of this book via Amazon for one cent and, when it arrived, it was signed by the author. Kind of says it all, doesn't it?


Tags : If You Were Here: A Novel [Jen Lancaster] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <ul> <li>Watch a video</li> </ul> <b>The fiction debut of the New York Times</i> bestselling author of My Fair Lazy</i>. </b> Told in the uproariously entertaining voice readers have come to expect from Jen Lancaster,Jen Lancaster,If You Were Here: A Novel,NAL,0451234383,Humorous - General,Dwellings;Remodeling;Fiction.,Suburbs;Illinois;Chicago;Fiction.,Women authors;Fiction.,Chicago,Dwellings,Family Life,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction Humorous General,Fiction-Humorous,GENERAL,General Adult,Humorous,Illinois,POPULAR AMERICAN FICTION,Remodeling,Suburbs,United States,Women authors

If You Were Here A Novel Jen Lancaster 9780451234384 Books Reviews

I've read several of this author's books and they had me laughing out loud. I expected the same with this one. I was disappointed. While it was mildly interesting, it was slow and tedious. I cannot put my finger on why, and I finished the book, so that is why I gave it two stars. Maybe because the whole premise was unbelievable, to the extent that I was mentally rolling my eyes.
This was my first book by this author. I like her voice and there were a few laugh out loud moments, however, sometimes it was a bit over the top. The beginning was a tad slow but the pacing picked up. I think the characters could have been flushed out a bit more and the plot more original. If you are looking for a lighthearted read, pop this in your beach tote or enjoy with a margarita on your back deck.
First off, am a long time Jen Lancaster fan. Early adopter...and I mean early. One of the favorite things about her books is the literally laugh out loud funnies her books give. Loved the first three, Pretty in Plaid was a definite meh. My Fair Lazy - slightly better but still just ok. But this title....eeek.

Firstly, it was a such thinly veiled attempt at fiction -- fiction only not because of the authors real life housing purchase which was barely disguised in this text. Yes, all good material comes from some where but this was barely fiction. Is that a new genre? Barely fiction.

The characters lacked depth, the story line was weak and the obsession with John Hughes was odd, and really? Enough already. Yes his movies were influential on my teen years but eh. I have no desire to relive those years.

There were some humorous points but not what I hope to read in a Jen Lancaster book.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to read Jen's novels because I love her non fiction so much. I was concerned that I wouldn't like reading something that was fictionalization, but this is written in a way that it feels like you're still reading about Jen and Fletch. Of course the story is far-fetched but suspend your skepticism for a minute and you'll enjoy it too, at least if you like her other work.

The book does have a bunch of things that will make you snicker-the whole "The Money Pit" storyline, Vienna Hyatt (ehem, Paris Hilton), dogs and cats with names similar to those of Jen's real life pets, and of course the main characters deep grudge against the author of Twilight.

I finished this in two nights, just couldn't put it down.
I had enjoyed Jen Lancaster's previous autobiographical books - I could related to the debt issues, dealing with oddball neighbors, and living in Chicago. Being close in age with Lancaster, I also get her cultural references and can empathize with her reactions. I read "If You Were Here" about three years after buying my own home (in my case, condo) and I laughed my way through this book in constant recognition of events a new homeowner has to work their way through. While it was written as fiction, it clearly had a lot of basis in reality with her own experiences in delving into the first-time-homeowner reality. Is it perfect? No. But it's funny and well-paced and I loved reading it.
I've read just about all of Jen Lancaster's memoirs, and while I don't always find the author charming, and rarely find her very relatable, or even likable (except for her admirable and passionate love of animals), I do just about always find her funny. And, clearly, as her success has gone up, what she has to write about has gone down, especially at the pace Lancaster tends to produce books. Remember her career, which took off with Bitter is the New Black Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office, started based on snarky blog posts when she and her hubby were both unemployed and broke. So, yeah, when you're a successful author and you've already tackled all the obvious stuff money, career, weight and growing up, it's only natural that you may turn from autobiographical to fiction. And that's what Lancaster does here. Sort of.

Because while there's no doubt Lancaster can write, she apparently can't write about anything but herself. IF YOU WERE HERE is a (very) thinly veiled fictitious version of the Lancaster anyone whose read her memoirs is already intimately familiar with. As a reader you can even peg exactly when this was written when she and her husband were moving from Chicago to the suburbs and easily match all the "characters" to the real-life cast of Lancaster's other tales. So, basically, Lancaster continued to write about her own life, and husband, and friends, only making everything, and everyone, just a bit "wackier," and herself thinner and probably richer, too. Voila, fiction. Eh, not so much.

Most of what I enjoyed about IF YOU WERE HERE, other than that it was a super-fast read, is stuff that felt real, like Lancaster's memoirs. (e.g. the scene with the $45 lightbulb). The fantasy elements in this story were so over-the-top and either poorly imagined or so clearly copped from either the John Hughes films she adores and obviously intentionally references (and, trust me, I'm right there with her in that admiration, but the documentary Don't You Forget About Me honors Hughes far more poignantly and in more entertaining fashion, too ... sorry, Jen) or the far less iconic '80s movies The Money Pit and Funny Farm (1988), which I'm guessing Lancaster is hoping are obscure enough, or old enough, that her reader's won't realize she basically cribbed every plot point not stolen from her own life from the films. Or maybe she just saw them on TBS late one night when she had writers' block and it all crept in. Who knows?

What really doesn't work though is that, when writing real-life stories, Lancaster spares no one, most of all herself. She isn't afraid to bring the crazy be it discussing her negligent neighbors or her own self-inflicted food poisoning or reality TV obsession. The fact that she, clearly, can make fun of herself, as well as others, makes her often abrasive style fun and funny, rather than off-putting. (At least in writing.) But in IF YOU WERE HERE, Lancaster has created a more idyllic version of self and hubby. While the "Mia" character clearly has flaws aplenty, Lancaster has sanded off the rough, real edges of herself and seems far more intent of preserving "Mia" and "Mac" than she is when she writes about herself and husband Fletch. Without the self-awareness, you lose much of the humor and only the unlikable and obnoxious remain.

I get that this is her first novel, and I wouldn't find taking a look at further fiction efforts but, honestly, if I wasn't a Lancaster fan before this, I probably would have put it down. It's silly, vapid and there is zero emotional connection with any of the "characters" and their outlandish escapades. The best bits are the parts where the do-it-yourself house renovations go horribly, predictably, wrong. But even those are wholly rote and have been done far better, many times. Including by Lancaster herself, in real-life blog posts following her own home purchase. (I'd recommend reading those or almost anything on her blog Jennsylvania, rather than this book, actually.)

The stuff regarding "Mia"/Lancaster's ridiculous, trashy Amish zombie fiction series--an homage to her own much-blogged-about Twilight obsession/Stephanie Meyer jealousies--trips to Hollywood and a Paris Hilton/Lindsay Lohan-like landlord are as a lame as the oddly Sesame Street-style gangsters that drive the couple from their city home and their ludicrous house search where they discard one home after another because it's "too perfect" even though "Mia" makes sure to let the reader know they're totally rich enough to buy them if they wanted. Em-K.

Unlike real-life Jen and Fletch, there are ZERO real problems or consequences for these characters, even being arrested has wild upsides and a wacky judge with his own home renovation tale of woe. There is just no reason to invest yourself in all of the "problems" presented here, so they just come off as dull, boring and whiny. And I find it funny (as in odd, not humorous) that Lancaster is less protective of her real marriage than the faux-perfect one presented in this "fiction."

The friends characters are lamely fleshed out--as if Lancaster assumes we all already know them because everyone has already read her blog and previous memoirs--and the ending far-fetched, farcical (and not in a good way), and clearly slapdash. It's an "I'm-on-deadline-and-almost-at-my-word-count-so-better-wrap-this-puppy-up" cheat that clearly came to Lancaster while watching HGTV.

Again, the best thing about this book are the inside-jokes, like the liberal use of footnotes; a well-known quirk of Lancaster's autobiographical efforts (and where many of her best gags tend to reside). But all the wink-wink, nudge-nudge ("Mia" is "me" ... get it???) all wear very thin, very fast. If you're a Lancaster completist, IF YOU WERE HERE is jut barely alright, and you'll probably find a few minor laughs just from already knowing so much about the author and her life. But if you're new to this author, pick up BITTER or Such a Pretty Fat One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer instead, and you'll have yourself a far more entertaining read.

I think this sums it up best I bought a used "very good" condition hardcover copy of this book via for one cent and, when it arrived, it was signed by the author. Kind of says it all, doesn't it?