TALES FROM A BROAD: AN UNRELIABLE MEMOIR. [Unknown Binding]

By Fran Lebowitz

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1863254242
• ISBN13: 9781863254243
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent, Laugh-out-loud funny!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for its unrelenting humour. It is, as its title says, "An unreliable memoir". It is unpretentious in tone and provides a fantastically funny caricature of expat life with all it's glorious decadence. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is about to be posted abroad. It is no fault of the author that she shares the name of a celebrity.

The Wrong Fran Lebowitz?????

I,too, thought this was the other Fran Lebowitz when I made my purchase. However, I quickly overcame any possible prejudice or resentment once I began to read the book. I found it extremely funny and, in fact, ended up enjoying it more than the more famous Fran Lebowitz. This one can poke fun at herself (indeed, she knows she's the ugly American). In fact, the whole joke is on her. Anyone who doesn't laugh, probably can't. I can only say that it's not her fault that she was apparently born with the name "Fran Lebowitz". Why can't she use her real name? She wrote the book, after all.

Proud to be from Singapore

This book punches well above its weight class. I bought it before boarding a flight at Changi Airport and finished it before landing in India. I was laughing within five minutes but crying (a little) by the end. The author must be difficult to live with, but the back cover says as much and she is under no illusions about it. As a Singaporean, I found Lebowitz' self-deprecation -- which there is a lot of throughout! -- to be an effective muse for her wit and observations, most of which are quite accurate. I don't think these expats are as scary as some people think and anyone with a sense of humor should find this very enjoyable.

This expat laughed out loud!

Hey - Tales From a Broad is Funny! There are some turns of phrases that made me laugh out loud and I've actually quoted this book to others. First -time authors have unmistakeable voices and this author "shares" more than most - I think you'll be kind of shocked at how intimate and self-depracating and divulgent this lady is about her own issues and how relocating abroad is not the cake-walk that you might think it is. (For those of you feeling duped that it's not the Fran Lebowitz you're familiar with, get over it. You can't fault someone for having the name of a more famous person. If I wrote a book, you bet it would carry my given name whatever it was - my family would deserve the kudos for putting up with me during the process. Nothing on this book's cover even hints that it's the other Fran Lebowitz. Wake up people. And don't harsh on some one for what's obviously a coincidence.) If you've ever lived anywhere other than the country you were raised in, you know that life takes some serious figuring out. Navigating everyday tasks can become a monumental challenge, let alone trying to catch the vibe of a place or immerse yourself in a new culture. This lady tells it like she sees it and that's refreshing. Her perspective is not typical - yup she's an exercise addicted spoiled American prone to pessimism but she admits it and it's pretty damn funny to hear her take on her new life in Singapore. When she's "suffering" you can't help but laugh because the problems aren't big or important but they can ruin her day or anyone who gets in her path. Along the way you get some great insights into all things Singaporean and how bizarre this country is to people who are trying to puzzle it out. I would not have wanted to witness first-hand some of the problems this lady encountered because I might have slapped her, but like passing a car accident, I simply could not help myself from looking on and reading on! I wish more authors would be as candid with their foibles and not censor themselves so they won't be judged as weak or whining. This author is brave (and ballsy) and has a real knack for prose writing and pacing. Buy a copy and have fun with it - I'm sure that's how it was intended. - Diane Curry

Expat Life? Who wants it?

Having lived as an expat in Singapore, I found this a great read. And actually, a reasonably accurate account of the expat scene there. Often found myself chuckling at experiences I'd had. If you've lived there, you might like it, and it could be a humorous resource for those about to go.....