Today I am reviewing My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag…And Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha by Jolie Kerr for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
About the book (from the publisher): Got a cleaning disaster on your hands? From the Deadspin and Jezebel author of the popular “Ask a Clean Person” column comes a hilarious and practical guide to cleaning all of life’s little, and sometimes rare, household emergencies. Just in time for Spring Cleaning, Jolie Kerr’s book tackles the most common (and uncommon) spills, odors, and – let’s face it – those oh-so-embarrassing stains you just can’t ask your parents about.
With her signature charm and humor, Jolie Kerr takes on everything from Cleaning 101 questions such as “How do I use a mop?” to the more obscure “How to I clean up this ginger beer that exploded all over my kitchen?” My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag is NOT your Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook!
My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag showcases Jolie’s infinite cleaning knowledge and terrific sense of humor, including remedies for heirloom wedding dress restoration, confetti stains on wood floors, dusty ceiling fans and endless laundry, as well as general tips for leading a tidier and happier existence.
Whether you’re moving into a college dorm, purchasing your first home, of finally getting around to cleaning your old one, no stain, spill or surprise windowsill mushroom growth is too odd or embarrassing for Jolie. This book is the perfect guide for college students or housewarming gift for someone new to living on their own.
My review: Hey, it’s obvious that this delightful book is geared to the younger generation. Jolie Kerr is hip and very funny. A few of the ‘situations’ that are covered are definitely more relevant to a younger reader – though I have to say they made me chuckle or, in some cases, ask “What the….??”
But here’s the thing. Jolie Kerr knows what she’s talking about. And she covers a multitude of cleaning questions with humor and down-to-earth practicality. She gets right to the nitty-gritty, as it were. There is a lot of valuable information in these pages – and it’s not only valuable to a college student or someone just getting their first apartment. I learned a lot while reading this book and I’ve been cleaning for more years than I care to mention.
Some people like cleaning. I am not one of them. But I do it. I am the first to admit that I don’t always know the best method for treating a stain or for cleaning a ceiling fan (Kerr has an amazingly easy way to do that particular cleaning task) or for cleaning tile and grout (an endless task here at the cottage and one I often avoid because I hate it.) Kerr’s book provides clear and smart advice for all those situations and more.
Here is a section just made for me: Wedding Dress Restoration Projects: Before and After. Why, you ask? Because on our wedding day, my husband accidentally wiped his spare-rib-eating hands on his ‘napkin,’ which turned out to be my wedding dress. Maybe I should finally tackle that stain?
I love reading housekeeping books for several reasons; the advice is always helpful, I can pick it up and read a section or two at a time, and I learn a lot. But a cleaning book that tackles the subject with humor? Even better.
So, yes, this book is meant for twenty and thirty-somethings. But I (definitely not a member of either of those age groups) really liked it a lot. And I’ll use it. It would be a great gift for someone younger in your life. (And they will think you are oh-so-cool to have discovered it.) It would also be a great gift for you. You can skip over any subject matter that doesn’t pertain to your Older Adult life. Believe me, there is more than enough great advice here for anyone who has to clean their home or their clothes or their car. She covers it all.
About the Author: Jolie Kerr is the author of the popular column “Ask a Clean Person,” which is featured weekly on Deadspin and Jezebel. Her work has appeared in Fortune, BlackBook, the Urban Outfitters blog, Gothamist, The Hairpin and The Awl. She has been featured as a cleaning expert in the New York Observer, O Magazine, InStyle, New York Magazine, Time Out New York, Health Magazine, and Parents Magazine. Jolie is a Boston native and graduate of Barnard College, now residing in a teeny, tiny, spotless apartment in New York City.
I am giving away one copy of this book to a lucky reader. Just leave a comment on this post and I’ll pick a winner on Thursday evening.
On another note: Several of you who subscribe to this blog via email have mentioned that you have not been receiving recent posts. This is a Feedburner problem and it seems to be happening across the blogging world. The short answer: there’s nothing I can do about it but trust it will be sorted out eventually. Feedburner often has mysterious glitches. May I offer some easy, practical advice? Most readers subscribe to a blog via email because the blogger doesn’t post every day and they want to know when a new post is up. You know I post every day. Every Day. So, barring unforeseen circumstances, there will be a new post on this blog every morning. Why not simply bookmark the blog on your browser and click on it at some point during the day? Quite frankly, that’s how I read blogs. (The only blog I subscribe to is my own and that’s just to keep tabs on whether the email is working – and it has been working for me.) Bookmark it. You can rest assured that a new post will be up by 10 am every morning. Like clockwork.
Happy Monday.
Sounds like a cute book. – Glad you let me know about feedburner. I thought it was just my blog!
What a hilarious, but helpful book this must be…I thoroughly enjoyed your review Claudia and really would like to read the book myself. I do love a clean house but it gets harder as I get older! I already have huge cleaning projects ahead once the pollen dissipates – especially the ceiling fans and that hideous job, tile and grout (I too despise that part). This does sound like a great book for the youngsters starting their own cleaning – so many of them today don’t appear to get much training at home. I’ll never forget the remark made by one of my son’s girlfriends after she knew me for a while……went something like this ~ “……and it seems to me the most important thing to your mother is putting her arm in the toilet bowl and scrubbing”. No he didn’t end up with her, actually someone even worse, but I won’t even go there!
Hope your week will be a fabulous one with Don and Scout. (Bet she doesn’t bark mean things in your ear!).
Hugs, Mary
I love the title of this book! Sounds like a fun read even tho it is about cleaning.
I have been slowly packing up some of the things around here because I just don’t want to clean them anymore. With animals in the house there is always fuzz on everything.
I don’t subscribe to any blogs. I like to actually come to the blog to read. I guess if I was crunched for time it would be a different story.
Love ya! Pam
I am obsessed with cleaning books. I think Im hoping some day something will stick!
While I am not a FAN of cleaning…it is a necessity!! lol I also love reading cleaning hint type books and would love to win this one! Never know when you can pick up a time saving hint. Thanks!
As I get older I am becoming a fan of cleaning. I can relax so much more if I know that the house isn’t a total chaotic mess. This book sounds like it is a good one. My next stop is the library webpage to see if my library has a copy I can borrow.
Sounds like a good book.
This book sounds like a fun way to learn some new cleaning info. I am not a cleaning freak but do clean…you know what I mean! Anyway, would love to read this book! Thanks for the chance.
Hugs, Linda
Sounds like it’s a hoot! Right up my alley! And let’s face it…cleaning advice at any age is always appreciated! ;)
Claudia, your review made me laugh out loud. I love that wedding dress/table napkin story. Yes, try to get that stain out, but document it for posterity first. Also, the look on Scout’s face, with her bunny ears, is priceless. You know what Scout’s thinking…..”the %&*?@# I gotta put up with around here!”
I most definitely need this book! My granddaughter spilled milk on my couch and I have been battling the smell for months! Not quite as bad as a boyfriend barfing in your purse, but it is pretty bad!
Morning, Claudia. Well I guess I’m one of those who actually like cleaning. I chalk it up to being a Cancer and we are ALL ABOUT our homes. Anyway I have more than my share of household advice books – I like them too – but you have definitely made me curious about today’s book. I will be checking it on at Barnes & Noble later today. Hope you had a wonderful Easter – what a pleasure it was that New York State – for the first time in years – actually had Easter weather – on Easter! :>)
I enjoyed your review of this book. I have a granddaughter that is about to graduate from Georgia Tech this December and I would love to be able to give this book to her.
I love funny books! And since cleaning is not my thing either this sounds perfect. But since I am in my sixties I pretty much have my cleaning regiment down pat! But I have never had mushrooms on my windowsill, I would love to hear what others have had to deal with. And barbeque sauce on your wedding dress? Ouch.
Tana
Nobody is too old to learn an easier way of cleaning something..I have not been receiving your blog in my email every day either..I just go looking for you as I know you are out there somewhere..
Oh my I have two daughters that could use this book. I like to clean but it wasn’t passed on to either of them.
I’m definitely not a twenty or thirty something (a grandmother of 6), but I learn new cleaning tips every week from the internet. Sometimes they make life easier, sometimes not. I don’t dislike cleaning as much as cooking, but it’s still not my favorite thing.
I am not young, but I do have to clean and love a how-to book of most any kind. This one sounds funny and helpful. Thank you for the opportunity to win it!
Susan
Cleaning is one of my least favorite things … but a funny book on cleaning? I could go with that :)
Put my name in the hat..sounds like a fun read! thanks, Jen
I started reading Jolie Kerr”s cleaning column when she was at the website, The Hairpin. She is full of real world solutions for the ickiest problems. I would love to have her bool!
I enjoy reading your blog every day. I dislike cleaning but would love to read any tips to make it easier, not necessarily fun.
Oh Claudia, I really ,really need this book. You have no idea! Blessings
I listened to her informative (and funny!) interview with Teri Gross on “Fresh Air.” While I also dislike cleaning, I’d love to have a copy of this book to inspire me! Thanks, Claudia.
The title made me smile because long ago when I was 24 my brother was driving me home from having oral surgery to remove my wisdom teeth. All of a sudden I knew I was going to hurl, so being a tidy person even then, I dumped the contents of my hand bag on the floor and threw up in it. And being a frugal person also, gave it a good wash later (it was cloth) and kept using it.
I love learning how other people do things.
Oh your poor wedding dress! My mom had a meatball roll down her train. Too funny!
Thanks for being on the tour. I’m glad you enjoyed this book and found some useful tips in there!