For fans of Laurie Notaro and Jenny Lawson comes an uproarious and oddly endearing essay collection for anyone trying to survive the holidays in one piece.
When it comes to time-honored holiday traditions, Jen Mann pulls no punches
In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mannâs naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who canât take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (âJoyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.â). And on her nice list . . . well, sheâs working on that one. Here, no celebration is off-limits. The essays include:
⢠You Can Keep Your Cookies, Iâm Just Here for the Booze ⢠Nice Halloween Costume. Was Skank Sold Out? ⢠Why You Wonât Be Invited to Our Chinese New Year Party
From hosting an ill-fated Chinese New Year party, to receiving horrible gifts from her husband on Motherâs Day, to reluctantly telling her son the truth about the Easter Bunny, Mann knows the challenge of navigating the holidays while keeping her sanity intact. And even if she canât get out of attending another Christmas cookie exchange, at least she can try again next year.
Praise for Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat
âMannâs writing has transcended from witty anecdotes and complaints to notable satire. Hidden among the many laugh-out-loud zingers are lessons on how we relate to each other, and how ridiculous parenting culture has become.ââAssociated Press
âFollowing the success of her first book, she is now punching throats at holidays, starting from her being age two and continuing to the present, where she is a harried mother bemoaning not just Christmas but all holidays. . . . Harried holiday haters will chuckle and perhaps see themselves somewhere in Mannâs lifetime dislike of and misbehavior during Americaâs increasingly commercialized celebrations.ââBooklist
âThe cure for my cold holiday spirit this year is the sidesplitting new book by Jen Mann. . . . Mann delivers her signature punch lines and sharp critique on the oftentimes ridiculous shenanigans of the modern family. Her ability to make an otherwise boring subject come alive with colorful personalities, biting sarcasm, and impressively astute observations on suburban culture is what makes Mann so much fun to read and so easy to relate to.ââThe Huffington Post
âA lighthearted, laugh-out-loud book . . . with a feel of peeking into a diary.ââMommyâs Memorandum
âIt really does make you laugh out loud.ââShooting Stars Mag
âA quick and delightful read that you can sneak in right before bed or when the kids are finally napping.ââFangirlNation
âGrab a cup of hot cocoa, sit back and enjoy Jenâs latest collection of humorous rants dissecting the âmost wonderful timeâ of the year. She unleashes her biting wit and hilarious opinions on everything from cookie exchanges to annual humblebrag Christmas letters from overachieving moms to horrifying Christmases of her childhood.ââCreating Serenity
â[Mann] has really mastered the short story format. . . . She packs the maximum amount of funny into the fewest words, and many of these essays are downright hilarious. . . . If youâve read and liked her other books, you will definitely want to read this one, too.ââBug Bug Book Reviews
Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat - Jen Mann
For fans of Laurie Notaro and Jenny Lawson comes an uproarious and oddly endearing essay collection for anyone trying to survive the holidays in one piece.
When it comes to time-honored holiday traditions, Jen Mann pulls no punches
In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mannâs naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who canât take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (âJoyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.â). And on her nice list . . . well, sheâs working on that one. Here, no celebration is off-limits. The essays include:
⢠You Can Keep Your Cookies, Iâm Just Here for the Booze ⢠Nice Halloween Costume. Was Skank Sold Out? ⢠Why You Wonât Be Invited to Our Chinese New Year Party
From hosting an ill-fated Chinese New Year party, to receiving horrible gifts from her husband on Motherâs Day, to reluctantly telling her son the truth about the Easter Bunny, Mann knows the challenge of navigating the holidays while keeping her sanity intact. And even if she canât get out of attending another Christmas cookie exchange, at least she can try again next year.
Praise for Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat
âMannâs writing has transcended from witty anecdotes and complaints to notable satire. Hidden among the many laugh-out-loud zingers are lessons on how we relate to each other, and how ridiculous parenting culture has become.ââAssociated Press
âFollowing the success of her first book, she is now punching throats at holidays, starting from her being age two and continuing to the present, where she is a harried mother bemoaning not just Christmas but all holidays. . . . Harried holiday haters will chuckle and perhaps see themselves somewhere in Mannâs lifetime dislike of and misbehavior during Americaâs increasingly commercialized celebrations.ââBooklist
âThe cure for my cold holiday spirit this year is the sidesplitting new book by Jen Mann. . . . Mann delivers her signature punch lines and sharp critique on the oftentimes ridiculous shenanigans of the modern family. Her ability to make an otherwise boring subject come alive with colorful personalities, biting sarcasm, and impressively astute observations on suburban culture is what makes Mann so much fun to read and so easy to relate to.ââThe Huffington Post
âA lighthearted, laugh-out-loud book . . . with a feel of peeking into a diary.ââMommyâs Memorandum
âIt really does make you laugh out loud.ââShooting Stars Mag
âA quick and delightful read that you can sneak in right before bed or when the kids are finally napping.ââFangirlNation
âGrab a cup of hot cocoa, sit back and enjoy Jenâs latest collection of humorous rants dissecting the âmost wonderful timeâ of the year. She unleashes her biting wit and hilarious opinions on everything from cookie exchanges to annual humblebrag Christmas letters from overachieving moms to horrifying Christmases of her childhood.ââCreating Serenity
â[Mann] has really mastered the short story format. . . . She packs the maximum amount of funny into the fewest words, and many of these essays are downright hilarious. . . . If youâve read and liked her other books, you will definitely want to read this one, too.ââBug Bug Book Reviews