The Tao of Martha

by Jen Lancaster

[MurderByDeath]

Excellent read - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I laughed so hard I shook in several places.

I'm not quite sure what I expected this book to be - funny, I knew - but I think I was expecting more of a piss-take; Jen would try some specific Martha project, mayhem would ensue and she'd write about it. While some of that took place (Easter Eggs - which make me laugh so hard I almost fell off the bed), I was delightfully surprised that this was a year-long project that she took seriously and with the sincere hope that seeing the project through would improve her life in some tangible way.

I loved her conversational style of writing and as I am within a year or so of her age-wise and our lifestyles are similar, I could relate to a lot of what she was writing about. I was really angry when I realized what was happening to Maisie, as I don't read books that make me cry. I've been where they were with our cats and have gone to extraordinary lengths to see them well. I'll just leave it at that was truly the only low point of the book and I give her props for being able to write about the whole thing with grace and sincerity without being overly maudlin.

This was the first book I've read by Jen Lancaster, but it certainly won't be the last.