I Was Told There'd be Cake

Critics

• Clever musings from Manhattan

  I have a tendency to be disappointed by the most well-rewarded female columnists: specifically, Bridget Jones's Diary and Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Recalling Freud's agonised question, I would look at the TV incarnation of the latter and a ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

• Dad's death is greatly exaggerated

  I would like to be friends with Sloane Crosley although, according to her own account, she's not terribly good at being anyone's friend. Even if it was a brief friendship that fizzled quickly, I'd like to pay a visit to her chaotic, geeky, klutzy, se ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

3 Reviews

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  Finish a thought already!!

  I so wanted to like this book. I am an obsessive fan of David Sedaris and when I read in one of the critics’ comments that she is comparable to his writing style I thought for sure I had a winner. Furthermore, one of my dearest friends told me that when she read this book, it was my voice she had ... (continue)

  I so wanted to like this book. I am an obsessive fan of David Sedaris and when I read in one of the critics’ comments that she is comparable to his writing style I thought for sure I had a winner. Furthermore, one of my dearest friends told me that when she read this book, it was my voice she had pictured in her head. Perfect! Let the laughing begin.
  Wrong.
  With the exception of a few snigger-worthy moments, this book is just a compilation of endless brain tangents. She’ll start the telling of one story and just as you think it’s going to amount to something, she completely digresses into some random musing. What you end up with is a series of diluted, and truthfully, very boring self deprecating yarns.
  Very disappointing.
  Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  Suggested With: A Long Island Ice Tea (it’s in line with the constant references to New York and it’ll help you find humor in the mundane)

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  ReadingQueen 12/17 said on Dec 16, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  This is an amazingly narcissistic person, and not terribly funny about it. Not bad book, but...read David Sedaris instead.

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  wilkinsjordan said on Dec 24, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Not so entertaining as an entire book

  I was first introduced to this book when given an excerpt of the 'The Pony Problem' short story. At the time, I was very amused, and spent a while looking for a copy of the entire compilation that I could borrow. When I finally got it, though, that story seemed less funny than I had remembered it to ... (continue)

  I was first introduced to this book when given an excerpt of the 'The Pony Problem' short story. At the time, I was very amused, and spent a while looking for a copy of the entire compilation that I could borrow. When I finally got it, though, that story seemed less funny than I had remembered it to be months beforehand; and I became further disappointed as I went further through the book. I soon became bored of it, because it became apparent to me that all of the stories in the book are written in the same way. Just a couple of stories and maybe a few quotations would be the point of maximum potency for her work so far, honestly.

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  jaml said on Dec 31, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (11)
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• English Books
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• ISBN-10: 1846271851
• ISBN-13: 9781846271854
• Publisher: Portobello Books Ltd
• Also available as: Paperback, Audio CD and eBook

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