A total *non* rec.

I received a free copy of Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? by Jen Lancaster in the mail today (courtesy of Bzz Agent), and it seemed decent enough, so I started to read it.

The beginning was...mildly entertaining. I write "mildly" because I found the author (it's a memoir) to be a tad immature, self-centered, spoiled, etc. etc. But also amusing at times.

Her constant bashing of Carrie Bradshaw (of Sex and the City) annoyed me, though, especially since the basis seemed to be she's a liar, life in the city's not like that, blah blah blah, but I took her opinions with a grain of salt because, hello, she didn't seem to have a problem with watching the so-not-realistic Desperate Housewives.

But a greater annoyance was still to come.

Brace yourself.

She's a Republican.

I felt a bit twitchy at the mention of the Drudge Report, but I felt I could handle a book about a Republican, as long as she didn't mention her politics too much.

But no. The utter inanities kept coming.

From page 99: "If I could endure the fraternity party otherwise known as the Clinton administration, you can deal with President Churchy McJesus."

The fraternity party...? Okay, I don't agree with everything Clinton did during his presidency, but, please, let's compare his accomplishments to Bush's. And also, let's compare their failures. Who drove our country into the ground and is responsible for thousands of deaths? I'm thinking, not Clinton.

It gets better. She's a fan of Ann Coulter, watches Fox News regularly, and believes Sean Hannity deserves a raise.

Also?

From page 122: "I quickly revise my I Dig Any Famous Pit Bull Advocate stance, which previously gave passes to Rosie Perez, Vin Diesel, Michael J. Fox, and Jon Stewart..."

Uh. What's Michael J. Fox done that he needs a pass for, other than being pro-stem cell research, which, you know, could save his life? I'm sorry if him having a disease offends you so much...

But wait.

There are some real fighting words.

From page 212: "I pushed through a pack of tourists from Cleveland while rushing to the register to purchase my prize. Out of the way, you slack-jawed yokels..."

Well, fuck you.

Frankly, though, even though she proclaims to be a Republican, I find that she has little understanding of politics. I think she's quite naive/ignorant about the world outside of her self-absorbed bubble.

Anyway, we don't have to worry too much about her inflicting her ignorance on the rest of us:

From page 222: "The worst part was I realized I was far more likely to vote for an American Idol contestant than a government official, as evidenced by my not walking next door to vote in the last local election because it was raining."

Super.

I'm so not finishing this book.