Thursday, May 24, 2012

My Review of A Walk in the Snark by Rachael Thompson



● I'm over forty. I don't have a blankie. I have vodka.

● I'm no 'ologist.' I don't give advice. If that's what you're looking for, go buy Dr. Somebody's book.

● I write about men, women, sex, & chocolate. My experiences, my truth, my martinis.

● *Note: Thompson employs hashtags (i.e., the # sign) in her work. Google it. These are not typos, people #deargod.



Be forewarned -- the material in this book has been called controversial in nature. It is based on the author's popular blog. There are recurrent themes regarding men and women, love and loss. It's not all funny. But it is all honest. Can you handle the snark?
Sometimes I think I'm too jaded. Then I think no, it's just the lighting.

Get to know Rachael:

I'm a chick who writes stuff that makes you laugh. My book A Walk In The Snark hit #1 on the Kindle Motherhood list this past September (do you think they know I talk about sex? Shhh.). It's since hit about oh, SEVEN more times. #woot! I've been nominated for Funniest Blog, Best Humor Writer & Redhead Who Makes A Killer Dirty Martini (okay, I made the last one up, but it's true. Honest.).

I released The Mancode: Exposed right after Thanksgiving 2011! Two books of snarky goodness, baby.

I've been told I write in the style of that Dickens guy. Kidding.

I'm a mom, a wife, and a recovering pharmaceuticals rep. It's been a long process but I'm doing okay, thanks.

I also used to sell Trojan brand condoms. Yeah, it's hilarious, I know. I did it for three years way back when, and I was their top salesperson in the Western Region, a dubious honor at best. My number-one customer was the Mustang Ranch. No, seriously. The Mustang Ranch. I couldn't make stuff like that up.

The experience definitely gave me insights into the... er... ins and outs of men.

So it should come as no great surprise that I write about how men (The Mancode) and women (Chickspeak) approach most things differently. And since I did, in fact, grow past my Trojan days (in more ways than one or--insert your own joke here), I've thrown in a few tidbits about marriage, kids, being a mom, living in the OC (ya know-being a pale redhead living in a sea of blondes), coffee, and vodka. Not necessarily in that order, depending on the day.

Don't read this book to find advice about how to be sweet or nice. I'm pretty much allergic to both of those words. Actually don't read this book for advice on anything. (My lawyer made me put that in just in case you know, you thought I could save your marriage or something - not).
Or if you are looking for some light, heartfelt humor in everyday life (Erma Bombeck-style), well, I'm really not your girl, either. Nothin' homespun about the Queen of Snark, baby. Mostly I just laugh at stuff and make up words (See "Refrigeratoritis and Manesia.") Yet somehow it all seems to work.

And don't call me cute. (Hint: Babies and puppies are cute. Grown women are soooo not.)
Special note to men: I write frequently about "The Mancode"--like how you guys do goofy stuff and we women try, and often fail, to understand. (Um, change the toilet paper roll much? Yeah, that's what I thought.) If that offends your sensibilities, this may not be the book for you. Yeah, I'm crushed.

Like everyone, I've also had some rough times. I share those with you, too. Life can't always be martinis and beaches. Wait, this is the OC (Orange County, CA, for those of you from Canada, or people on the East Coast who don't know California beyond LA). Naw, not even here.

So, welcome to RachelintheOC.

Now go read an essay or two and find something to laugh at, would ya?

I have to go help my husband find the butter. Again.

You can find Rachael on line :  Blog    Twitter   Facebook


~*~*~

When I saw this book up for review on Goddess Fish I had to grab it. I'm a naturally sarcastic person and I love snark. I was NOT disappointed one bit in this book. I read it slowly over a few weeks and my husband always new when I was because I would just laugh uncontrollably. Rachael really does peg the differences between men and woman, how they act and what they mean.

You have to love a book that has this in the introduction...
Don’t read this book to find advice about how to be sweet or nice. I’m pretty much allergic to both of those words. Actually don’t read this book for advice on anything. (My lawyer made me put that in just in case, you know, you thought I could save your marriage or something – not).

A few of my favorite quotes from this book...

“The Bait & Switch technique is illegal. Hmm. Correct me if I’m wrong… but isn’t that called...marriage?”
 “People are wrong about me. I don’t hate men; I love men. If it weren’t for men I’d have nothing to write about.”
 “Men see a hot, naked woman & think, “I could totally tap that.” Women see a hot, naked man & think, “I wonder if he can cook.”
 (Okay,  I would wonder a lot more myself, but that's just me)

This is priceless...

“Me: I just bought another pair of black shoes. 
Hus: I JUST don’t get it. 
Me: That’s cuz you don’t have a vagina.”

This one is my favorite saying in the book...

Men are from Seinfeld. Women are from Friends.
Amen!!!

I'm a forty year old woman myself, I've been married for twelve long years. Rachael really hits home on many of the differences between men and woman. I'm lucky my hubs is low maintenance and puts up with a lot from me. In my house I'm the cupboard opener and he is the cupboard shutter (I guess shutting all the way is not a big deal to me, but it drives him crazy. Maybe I do it on purpose. Who knows. I learned a lot reading this book)

There are some really serious parts to this book, but she does a wonderful job incorporating them.

I give A Walk in Snark 5 out of 5 stars! It really is a MUST read!


Amazon Best Seller -  click to buy

Rachel will be awarding a chocolate treat to a random commenter at every stop and a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so click the banner and follow the stops for your chance to win!


7 comments:

  1. Now that's an introduction. I am super keen to read more. The snippets are hilarious.


    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  2. It's been a fun tour...I've enjoyed the introduction!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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  3. I can't begin to tell you how much I have been enjoying following your tour. This review was fun too. I think you have written a fabulous book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It was a great tour and I loved reading all the reviews and impression other people had. Are you planing publishing the books as paperbacks?

    anzuazura at yahoo dot de

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  5. What a great review, Tamaria. I'm lucky that my hubs is low maintenance, too! AND, I'm all for snark. It's my second language.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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  6. I don't know about this. It sounds so good, and yet...Does it actually read like a book, or a conversation? I get enough of this kind of stuff with my coworkers. I love a woman with some hilarious antics, but I so rarely get time to read, when I do, I want it to read like a novel. If you tell me it does, I might put it on my to-read list.

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