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Book Review of The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal

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Either I wasn't in the mood, or this collection of humorous essays just isn't as funny as her "Housebroken" collection.

Many of the encounters Notaro describes this time around feel just a bit mean-spirited as she describes fellow cruise passengers, vacationing bird-watchers, and pooping seagulls.

Highlights of the collection are "Ready or Not" and "A Kung-Fu Person, a Tollbooth, and a Swinging Bridge in Less Than Twenty-Four Hours" which, believe it or not, are about pets -- specifically, losing one, acquiring one, and socializing a puppy.

Notaro's self-deprecating humor is her trademark, but it can grow a bit wearisome when taken in too great a dose.