Much to Your Chagrin: A Memoir of Embarrassment

By Suzanne Guillette

Book Overview

Suzanne Guillette was twenty-nine and the proud owner of a freshly inked MFA when she began to work on her first book--a collection of embarrassing moments gathered from family, friends, coworkers,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416585974
• ISBN13: 9781416585978
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 1.2" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

We are all Suzanne Guillette!

Who hasn't been embarrassed to the point of wanting to just crumble and disappear? A stroke of genius for the author to write this book in the second person YOU !! It is impossible not to see ourselves in her shoes, our shoes, everyone's shoes -- just continually "stepping in it." I am twice her age and found so much that made me squirm -- seems we don't forget embarrassments! And who doesn't enjoy a good story of self-discovery? Tremendously entertaining book, well-spun tale. Read it in a jiffy because I didn't want to let go of it for very long...

Great read!

Recommended! Ms. Guillette's first book reveals more than just embarrassing stories, but about the human experience of learning about yourself through others. During the process of asking anyone who would listen for an embarrassing story for her new book, Ms. Guillette soon begins to see that life is writing a pretty sick joke for her as well. She learns that embarrassing doesn't necessarily have to mean funny or laugh out loud, but it could also be humiliation. I really enjoyed that she lived in New York and could include the aura of New York during certain moments. Written in the 2nd person voice, the stories from strangers tied in beautifully with her own life help you flip through the 403 pages. In the end, she learns a lesson that I think all of us will have to in our lifetime.

So funny and so addictive!

This memoir had me laughing from start to finish. The use of the second person makes me think this book deserves a thrown somewhere between the happy-go-lucky tone of chick lit and the braided intellectual romance of Henry Miller because it works on so many levels. It's a memoir, but it's also about you. And you can feel the highs and lows through the author's really visual and personable writing. It's full of incisive commentary on being a woman on the verge of 30 and trying to make love and work happen in a big bad city. The answer as Suzanne discovers is to devote herself to a project. Serendipitously, learning great life lessons by asking strangers for their most embarrassing story. Well not always friends and not always lessons but that's what is so great about the book, it's really honest. Quintessentially New York, full of this fabulous city's famous landmarks and references. The writing is fresh, her great turns of phrase stay with you long after you've seen the back of it. Whether you're on your commute, the beach or your front porch Suzanne's memoir is a great companion and a great read!

I laughed out loud several times!

I bought this book looking for a light story to read on my commute to and from work. I started it on a Sunday to get into it before the train ride the following day and ended up almost finishing it! I found myself laughing out loud at several of the author's stories and as a 30 something female, I also found myself relating in so many ways. From her dating struggles to trying to be true to herself, this is a great book for all of us still trying to figure out how to grow up while realizing that we all have days that make us want to crawl back under the covers and hide. Great book and I am anxiously waiting to see what the author writes next.

I could not put this down!

This book is consistently hilarious and totally fascinating. I've never read anything like it, I couldn't put it down, and I find myself still thinking about it.