I am pretty sure Jenny Lawson is trying to kill me. You guys, I made the mistake of listening to the audiobook of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened while eating some Nutella and toast, and y’all, I started laughing so hard that I almost choked. HOLY SHIT, so funny. So here is a warning from me to you, don’t eat and listen to Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, you might accidentally choke or snort out some wine.
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened
If you are an audiobook virgin and are not offended by swears or drugs you need to lose your ear virginity to Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. I can’t really discuss plot, because there isn’t one. The book is kind of ADD and all over the place, with asides and events, but it totally works. We get a peak at the inside of Lawson’s head and while it’s not pretty, it’s tangent filled and kind of awesome.
We learn about Jenny Lawson grew up poor in West Texas and wore bread sack shoes and had all sorts of animals roaming around her house. We learn that her dad was a taxidermist and she did not have an average childhood by any means. Then the book goes into other bits of her life, including the part I laughed so hard I choked on my food – when she’s talking about buying a taxidermied alligator and brings it through airport security. I can’t even handle thinking about it, it makes me want to laugh like a loon. But, also there are moments of pathos sprinkled throughout, adding a serious humanizing touch to some of the chapters.
The audio is produced by Penguin Audio. It is 8 hours and 41 minutes and legitimately flies by quickly. It is narrated by Jenny Lawson who does a superb job and sounds like she’s conversing with you. My one criticism of the audiobook is the singing of the chapter titles, I thought that was pretty distracting and annoying. If you are looking to read book filled with unique personality, rambling asides and bizarre experiences check out Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. Seriously I am converted. I will buy whatever book Jenny Lawson comes out with next because I had such a great experience listening to this audiobook.
Disclosure: Purchased with my Audible credit.
Other reviews of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson:
The Readventurer – “I am certain that many of Lawson’s stories will stick with me for a long time”
Devourer Of Books – “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened is, in short, hilarious.”
LOL! This book is totally at the top of my wish list. Have you ever read her blog? (She’s The Bloggess) Seriously dude. She is so frakking hilarious. I LOVE her. She bought a giant metal chicken. Like, for realz.
It makes me happy that you liked it! Maybe I’ll have to try this one on audio instead of print…
I have read her blog. I love the story about Beyonce, it is hilarious. Yes, you should do the audio instead of the print.
Yeah, I NEED this book in my life!
I’m going to go see if my library has the audio right now. I love Jenny’s blog. It’s hilarious, so I can only imagine the book is incredibly funny.
Holy crap. YES YOU DO, like I guarantee this is one that makes things that normally suck like working out and housework much more amusing.
I love this woman’s blog, too. She’s a big pile of crazy awesomeness! I really want to read this book (I got to the BBC too late for any of the swag, dagnabbit!).
I agree, she is hilarious.
I went to BBC as well, but I did not pick this one up. Instead I just bought it on audible with one of my credits.
I bought this last week and I desperately want to read it! I might actually give the audiobook a go too – I’ve never listened to one before, but this seems like a good place to start
I don’t think I’ve EVER seen a bad review of this book…
I think this would be a GREAT audio to begin. It’s a lot of fun and very entertaining.
I’ll have to keep my eye out for this one, even if I’m not a big non-fiction fan, I guess it couldn’t be bad to expand my reading horizons.
Well if you have to expand your reading horizons, why not do it with a book that will make you laugh?
I’m on the list at the library for this one in audio and in print, but I think I’m going to have to buy it. Last I checked I was still 16th on 2 copies for audio book and 68th on 7 copies of the print version. Can. Not. Wait. That long.
YES. That is wayyyy too long of a wait. This one is worth purchasing.
I got this one from the library a couple days ago and have listened to disc one so far. I agree with you about the singing of the chapter titles…annoying! Otherwise, though, it’s pretty funny and I’ve laughed out loud at a few parts, especially the random swearing because that’s pretty much how I am too. I hope I like it as much as you did!
Hahaha, the singing gets to be a little much, but yes every cuss word I laughed immaturely.
This sounds really, really fun! And I have yet to lose my audiobook virginity so I may be considering this one.
IT IS SOOOOO MUCH FUN.
Lose it to this one, it may not cuddle you afterwards but it’s a fun ride hahahahaha.
Sounds like fun! Glad u liked it!
Thanks
Ugh!! <–Charlie Brown impression.
I really don't like memoirs. I don't. But between you and Flannery over at The Readadventurer, I'm pretty convinced that I need to listen to this one anyway.
We are slowly wearing you down. Look, this memoir is not at all boring or stupid. It is awesome, thus, you should read it.
I requested my library get the audio of this because I heard it was awesome. Hopefully they listen to me.
Oh, I hope your library does, I think it would be a big hit on audio for patrons.
I got this on audible too and my hubby and I listen to it on long car trips – he actually likes it (and he used to swear that audiobooks were boring)! Great recommendation and review
That’s really cool. See sometimes I play audio with my boyfriend in the car but he doesn’t really care much for it, so I end up switching to the radio.
I love Jennie Lawson and have been looking forward to this book for over a year now. And while I usually enjoyed audio books in this case I think I’m going to go with the written version.
I got this one at BBC and am so excited to read it. I kind of want to listen to it too….hmmm. Choices, choices.
Don’t die!