First published 2008
Laurie Notaro finds herself trapped in a world where chaos follows her everywhere. She endures laser hair removal treatments because she wants at least one chin free of stubble. Air travel becomes a nightmare when she encounters the dreaded Open Mouth Coughers who plague American flights. Her neighborhood welcomes a new resident who happens to be an ex-convict and registered sex offender. Despite knowing better, she cannot stop watching Discovery Health Channel programs about parasites and tapeworms. These medical shows feed her growing terror that a python-sized worm will eventually emerge from her body. Each situation pushes Laurie deeper into absurd predicaments that test her sanity. The book captures her struggle to navigate daily life when everything around her seems designed to provoke anxiety and bewilderment.
Genres: humor, contemporary, memoir, comedy
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unreliable-narrator
ebook · Random House
Content warnings: anxiety