Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining (A Parody) [Paperback]

Tom Connor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 1996

"Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining" does to Martha Stewart's books what" Is Martha Stuart Living?" did to her magazine. Hopelessly irreverent, this hilarious new spoof of the uncontested queen of homemaking presents recipes, dinner party plans and home projects that only a crazed Stepford Wife on steroids could hope to accomplish.

From garden parties to circumcisions, "Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining" provides an unceasing barrage of clever and ludicrous tips to make any occasion unforgettable. Be constructive on your wedding morning and impress the guests with a freshly baked 10-tier cake (from scratch, of course). For Mother's Day, Martha has the perfect recipes and tips to show Mom how inadequate as a homemaker she really is. Revive the pioneer spirit and have a genuine Thanksgiving -- Martha shows you how to breed, feed, kill and prepare your own turkey. As a special treat, see Martha in action for Easter, as she welcomes the Pope to her home. (She even tries to teach His Holiness how to turn water into an '89 Petrus or a '93 White Bordeaux.)

Only slightly more impossible than the Hospitality Guru's own projects, these instructions are guaranteed to have the legions of Martha fans (and their critics) roaring with delight.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As you can see from the cover art of this book, it is possible that the indomitable mommymatrix Martha Stewart is so perfect that she walks on water. And it is possible that this is one of the most perfect parodies of any pop culture icon ever. The Dear Faux Martha gives advice on such issues as how to deal with the death of a dinner guest ("Dying is one of the rudest things a guest can do during a dinner party..." she begins), hints for hosting a luncheon for the Pope ("receiving the Pontiff in your home is really no different than entertaining royalty or anyone else in high office..."), and choosing appropriate foods for a circumcision day party (cocktail wieners each impaled with 2 Swedish meatballs, tender Calamari tips in red sauce). Lavishly illustrated, sometimes tasteless, and hilarious throughout.

Review

An enormous success, a funny and sometimes cruel parody of Our Lady of Perpetual Perfection -- Morley Safer, 60 Minutes

Hilarious. -- Publisher's Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1 edition (April 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060951710
• ISBN-13: 978-0060951719
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hours of Enjoyment, August 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining (A Parody) (Paperback)

Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining is a fabulous gift for virtualy anyone in your life. It holds hours of enjoyment & makes for a wonderful surprise for your house guests if you leave a copy of it on your coffee table next to a few real Marths Magazines. The woman from comedy central who is in the book is great & does a really dead ringer impersonation of Martha. I have tried to find this book in the past at other book stores but have been unable to find it. But it sure is a steal at the current list price!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughed until I cried, April 6, 2001

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining (A Parody) (Paperback)

Have you ever been annoyed by the unshakeable, in-your-face PERFECTION of Martha Stewart, queen of the perfect households? After listing the names by which she is often called ("Martha de Sade") she gets down to business: how to be like her in every respect.

The "Papal Visit" I wasn't crazy 'bout, but that definitely had some hilarious moments, including a sidebar that describes her pilfering other people's figurines and knicknacks. "Garden Party" includes the mind-numbing recipes for "Hand Picked Field Salad" which will make you cry; and the flambe-related Smoked Woodchuck.

In the matter of taste and refinement, nothing can beat the "circumcision day" chapter, with recipes that will make you shriek. And for Valentine's Day, Martha shows us how to souse and seduce... or just souse. Then she flits back to her childhood for "Mother's Day," going over various "regular" meals by her mama. The next chapter describes how to have a beach cookout, with one of the worst fish visuals I've ever seen!

"Christmas/Holiday Decorating" describes how you can horrify your friends and neighbors with perfect holiday decorating; the piece de resistance, however, is the chapter on Death and what to do if one of your guests dies ("Quickly, while you still can, shape and level the deceased's hand to hold a serving tray and begin setting out hors d'oeuvres..."

This book is written in a bitingly satirical style, and is graced by various straight-faced photos of "Martha" taking the necessary actions, such as preparing a tasteful lined coffin or cheerfully roping a date. And the cover is just a delight! As is this book!

(If you are a die-hard fan of Martha, however, do not read this book. Ever. You will explode)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hahahahah, March 7, 2002

By 

M. Byer (Mountain View, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining (A Parody) (Paperback)

Dude, she entertains the pope! The wedding night feast is hilarious, and the photos of the food will make you laugh out loud in a crowded public place! Martha fans, wake up, for this parody is more Martha than the real thing. Great find!