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 - Fantastic! Please disregard odd 1-star reviews for this 5-star winnerI actually heard about this book from a friend who used to write for Saturday Night Live and since I always take her recommendations, I went out and got it immediately. At first I wasn't sure - what could Crosley have to say about topics that were so familiar to me? - then I realized that's exactly where the genius (yes, I am using that word) lies. Sloane Crosley articulates the details of the mundane, giving voice to thousands of people like me who are exactly as she says - not abused as kids or alcoholics or spoiled or anything. Just normal. And how insane it is to be normal. I laughed so hard throughout this entire book, especially the first half and the last essay. There's one like in the last essay: "what could be less etcetera than death?" New quote of the month. I Was Told There'd Be Cake is dark and funny and smart and poignant when you least expect it to be. BUY THIS BOOK! You absolutely will not regret it. She's less stand-up-y than Sedaris if that's your thing (it's certainly mine normally) so I think maybe that's where the few negative reviews are coming from - readers who feel like they were sold a bill of goods - but LOOK at what you get instead. Her essays are really different. Can't wait for the HBO take on this one.... Rating:  - I was told there'd be cakedo not like the book at all. Not what I thought it was going to be. Sorry, not a good review from me.. Rating: - Vastly DisappointingI'd been wanting to read this book for some time, so when it was chosen for my book club, I was excited. The title was witty and enticing, the author was compared to Sedaris and it was a NY Times bestseller...it was a sure bet for a good read, right? The complete opposite. I don't think there was one funny or remotely humorous part of the entire book. Sloane Crosley just ranted and bitched about everything and her writing style is enough to put you to sleep. She endlessly goes on about the smallest, mundane things...if she wrote more concisely, she would have a shot at least being witty. And, I finished the book (after forcing myself to) not liking her one bit! She complains about everything - from having to be in a high school friend's wedding to how it's impossible for her to find someone to have a one night stand with in NYC. She was portrayed as someone you wouldn't want as a friend or even acquaintance. If she can write a book, let alone a NY Times bestseller, anyone can. Rating: - BORINGIf this was a blog, it wouldn't even be worth reading - for free. Unoriginal and self-obsessed .... don't waste your time. Rating:  - good but not greatThis book was certainly good enough to finish, and at times it was very funny, but all in all it didn't pull me in the way a great book and voice does. One of the issues I had with it was that the essays were rather unfocused, covering so many topics at once that they often became like several essays in one, making the main topic and point of the essay nearly unidentifiable at times without looking at the title. This book was being recommended on Amazon along with David Sedaris and Chelsea Handler, and although generally well written and at times funny and insightful, it just isn't in the same category as those humorists. Perhaps if I had found it, not expecting it to be as funny as the authors it was associated it, I might have enjoyed it more. I also agree with one reviewer that although this book has very funny parts, it is not a "funny" book in general, and that is partly what I was expecting. The writing is good but needs polish. Let's she what she comes up with for her next book.
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