Summary: Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

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Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, is a hilarious and candid memoir that navigates through Lawson's quirky life experiences. From her unconventional childhood in rural Texas to the awkward high school years and her relationship with her ever-patient husband, Victor, Lawson captures life’s absurdities with wit and self-deprecating humor.

The Weird and Wonderful Childhood of Jenny Lawson

Imagine growing up in a household where taxidermy was a hobby and wild animals were commonplace. This was Jenny Lawson's reality. In the opening chapters, she describes her upbringing with a mix of disbelief and affection. Lawson's father, a taxidermist with a penchant for bringing home peculiar animals, is a central figure in her childhood stories.

For example, one chapter recounts how a talking squirrel, lovingly named Stanley, played a significant role in her childhood, sparking both terror and fascination. These bizarre moments make Let’s Pretend This Never Happened a journey into a world that feels both outlandish and deeply personal.

Awkward High School Tales

As Lawson grows up, the peculiarities of her childhood follow her into adolescence, a time she describes as a series of social missteps and cringe-worthy moments. Whether it's navigating the horrors of puberty or trying to fit in with her classmates, Lawson’s high school years are filled with the kinds of embarrassing experiences that most people would prefer to forget.

In true Lawson style, she turns these mortifying moments into comedic gold. She writes about them with such honesty that readers can’t help but laugh and, at the same time, empathize. Her stories about feeling like the odd one out resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place.

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Victor and the Post-It Notes

One of the most charming elements of the memoir is the dynamic between Jenny and her husband, Victor. Their relationship is punctuated by a series of hilarious exchanges, many of which involve passive-aggressive Post-It notes left around the house. In one memorable chapter, she compiles a list of angry, yet funny, notes sent to Victor, such as, “Why do I always have to be the one to find the dead animals?”

Their banter and Victor’s tolerance of Jenny's eccentricities provide some of the memoir’s most endearing moments. Their relationship offers a glimpse of how humor can play a vital role in navigating the ups and downs of marriage.

Embracing the Absurd

Lawson's storytelling reaches new heights of absurdity in chapters like "My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking." With titles like this, readers know they are in for some outrageous stories, and Lawson does not disappoint. From bizarre encounters with strangers to unexpected medical dilemmas, she tackles topics that many would shy away from, all while making them relatable and incredibly funny.

The absurdity doesn’t stop with everyday experiences. In one particularly surreal moment, Lawson recounts how she smuggled a dead Cuban alligator onto an airplane. This incident exemplifies the type of bizarre adventures that make her memoir so unique.

Life’s Mortifying Moments

While Let’s Pretend This Never Happened is packed with laugh-out-loud stories, Lawson also touches on deeper themes. She reflects on the notion that the most embarrassing, cringe-inducing moments are often the ones that define us. They shape our personalities, teach us resilience, and, in retrospect, become some of our most cherished memories.

Lawson's ability to laugh at herself is what makes her memoir so endearing. She turns moments that others might find humiliating into badges of honor, encouraging readers to embrace their imperfections and find humor in the chaos of life.

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Conclusion: A Relatable and Hilarious Memoir

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened is a refreshing and hilarious take on the memoir genre. Jenny Lawson’s unique voice, filled with humor and honesty, makes her life story feel both extraordinary and relatable. Whether you’ve experienced similar awkward moments or are just looking for a good laugh, Lawson’s memoir is sure to entertain and inspire.

This book is perfect for fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris, as it shares the same sharp wit and ability to find humor in the strangest of places. Readers are left with a sense of comfort in knowing that life’s most mortifying moments are also the ones that make us who we are.