Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split (Paperback)

by Laurie Perry (Author)
Key Phrases: wine selection, repeat between asterisks two times, work seed stitch, Joining Pieces Together, Knitting Recipes, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Perry, a 33-year-old, Southern-born transplant to L.A., was shocked when her husband announced he was leaving her. Granted, he was more a safe sedan than a sports car, but she wasn't ready to be single. Perry started avoiding people for fear of crying in front of them and put on pounds with her divorce diet, 60% wine and 40% jalapeño potato chips and French fries. Fortunately, a friend insisted she try knitting, and Perry got hooked. Knitting not only kept her hands busy but it was reassuring: No matter what the mistake, you could always go back and make it better. She discovered a weekly get-together of smart and funny knitters, women who weren't just focused on finding male companionship. Slowly, Perry learned how to live without the marital safety net, enjoy her girlfriends and start dating in the brave new text-messaging, e-mailing world. Women suffering from bumpy divorces will find comfort in the self-deprecating humor and easy knitting patterns that have made Perry's Crazy Aunt Purl blog so popular. (Oct.)
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Review

"Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair is – surprise – not just for women. A heart-wrenching mix of sadness and humor, any man who has experienced a broken heart will relate to the story of Laurie's divorce, the death of a marriage, and the re-entry into single life. As men, we will not fully understand the humor of hair removal, perhaps, but her themes are resonant for all people, men and women, who've had love and loss and laughed in between."

– Drew Emborsky, author of Men Who Knit & The Dogs Who Love Them

(Drew Emborsky )

“Poignant, funny and something every woman will relate to, whether or not she’s been divorced, whether or not she knits, whether or not she finds herself covered in cat hair ‘from the knees down.’ My only criticism – I didn’t want it to end!”

– Annie Modesitt, author of Twist And Loop and Romantic Hand Knits

(Annie Modesitt )

"Watch out, Bridget Jones: There's a new singleton in town, and she's got needles! This hilarious book chronicles the life of a newly divorced woman, as she struggles, dates, and knits her way back to sanity."

-- Knit.1 magazine (Knit.1 magazine )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: HCI (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757305911
• ISBN-13: 978-0757305917
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,083 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've recommended this to everyone I know, September 20, 2007

By	almitchell "alex_says" (Roswell, GA USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this book on the title alone. The only knitting blog I had read with any regularity had been the Yarn Harlot, and so I'd never heard of Perry or her Crazy Aunt Purl blog.

I'm so glad I got this book. Recently divorced myself, owner of three cats, and an avid knitter, every single page of this book resonated with me. I laughed, I cried, I soberly reflected on the thoughts raised by her description of trying to survive the utter fear and depression, and I felt like I was having a conversation with a best friend.

Perry walks us through her separation, divorce, knitting classes, disastrous diet, seven hours straight of George Jones, the Depressed Office Woman Outfit saga, and slowly but surely, the healing that sneaks up on her so slowly that she doesn't really realize it until she gets brave enough to ask out the guy with nice arms in the lumber department of the home improvement store - only to discover that she has no idea how to respond to a text message.

Please, please read this book. Perry even includes some wonderful patterns for us knitters at the end, but you don't have to be a knitter, or divorced, or drunk, or even covered in cat hair to appreciate the fine honesty and wit that shines through Perry's writing. I hope she writes more!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A heroic story and a hilarious read!!, September 18, 2007

By	Elizabeth M. Ramirez "Liz R" (Richmond, Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Laurie's book is a joy to read!! She shares her story of divorce, confusion, wine and eventual rebirth with hilarity and fortitude. She shows readers so much of her life during this terrible time in for her and I just know that others will gain a lot of insight and courage from her stories of the ups and downs of discovering one's self after a life-changing break-up. The knitting patterns are wonderful as well!!

She's a wonderful writer and has a voice that is usually not seen in contemporary self-help titles. It's both funny and sad and helpful all at the same time. It's so much more than just a knitting book; I recommend this book to anyone who likes their life-lessons to come with jocularity and wine!!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You are so not alone!, October 27, 2007

By	Syndy "Syndy" - See all my reviews

This book is great. It is side-splittingly funny in parts and tear-jerkingly sad in others. It's one woman's story of coming to grips with the end of a marriage and the beginning of a new life. If you've ever gone through the loss of a relationship, if you love cats, if you love knitting, or if you just think you're the only awkward feeling person on the planet, you'll love this book. The chapters are short and bite-sized, but they're addictive like potato chips. You just keep reading because it's so good and then you want more when it's done. You find you are not alone if you've ever thought you had no clue how to get back into dating again because everything's changed and now you have to text message. You'll find your faith in humanity is renewed a bit. You'll find that change can be good and life after a relationship can actually be really good even if it's nothing like you thought your life would turn out. In this day of negativity in so much of our news and entertainment, this is a positive spin on reality. It will make you feel really good. Hopefully, we'll see more by this author in the future.