Suburgatory: Twisted Tales from Darkest Suburbia [Hardcover]

Linda Erin Keenan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2011

The title behind the new ABC TV Show, Suburgatory excoriates—through satirical local news “stories”—the mostly upper middle class American pieties and parenting obsessions that surround raising the perfect child amid the anxiety of an America in decline. The book uses laugh out loud humor to target racism, classism, sexism, submerged suburban sexuality, class warfare, willful ignorance, and the all-around bad behavior raging underneath the surface of those obsessively-tended suburban lawns and bikini lines.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Linda Keenan is the smartest, sassiest girl you know times ten, after two shots of tequila.  Her brazen, ballsy look at  life in the suburbs is more than laugh out loud—Subugatory will make you shoot milk out of your nose, then immediately re-up the lease on your townhouse in the city.” —Karen Karbo, author of The Gospel According to Coco Chanel and How Georgia Became O’Keeffe

 

“What life might be like if Sarah Silverman moved to the burbs. A sexy, saucy, hilarious romp.” —Bill Diehl, ABC Entertainment Correspondent

 

“‘Hilarious.’ ‘Insightful.’ ‘Genius.’ People are always saying these words to me. Now, finally, I can say them about someone else: specifically whoever wrote this book. Linda somebody." —Robert Carlock, Executive Producer of NBC's 30 Rock

 

“Linda Keenan is the only person I know who can write about hard-core public policy and salacious suburbanites with the same wit and insight.” —Janine Wedel, author of Shadow Elite: How the World's New Power Brokers Undermine Democracy, Government, and the Free Market

 

“Wow this book's hilarious but it's so edgy, blurbing it might get me in trouble.” —Anonymous Top Network News Producer

 

 

From the Inside Flap

Suburgatory is a book that lampoons the absurdities and contradictions that Linda Keenan has witnessed since leaving New York City, where she was a thoroughly urban CNN news producer for seven years before settling down as a hapless stay-at-home suburban mother. The original proposal for this book was picked up by Warner Brothers in 2010, and their imagining of Suburgatory can be seen on the ABC show of the same title.

Tessa, the teenage character created by ABC’s Suburgatory, was forced by the man in her life—her dad—to leave her beloved city life for this supposed suburban utopia. Keenan followed the same trajectory, as a new mom, with no job, no friends, and not much more than a prescription for Zoloft to keep herself afloat. She found herself trapped in a place where conformity is king and where she often felt like she had been taken hostage by an adult Girl Scout troop. So Keenan decided to train her twisted reporter’s eye on the strange inhabitants of this new foreign land. 

Thought of as a local town newspaper or website, Suburgatory excoriates—through satirical local “news stories” (Mom Plans School Auction During Dreary Sex; Woman Shops at Walmart to Feel “Pretty,Thin”; Dog Fed Better than Scholarship Child, Says School Nurse)—the mostly upper middle class American pieties and parenting obsessions that surround raising the perfect child amid the anxiety of an America in decline. The book uses laugh-out-loud humor to target racism, homophobia, submerged suburban sexuality, class warfare, willful ignorance, and the all-around bad behavior raging underneath the surface of those obsessively tended suburban lawns and bikini lines. Suburgatory parodies the tiger moms, breastfeeding nazis, frustrated swingers, foreskin-loving “intactivists,” barely there dads, “anti-vaxxers,” and power-mad principals.

In addition to the irreverent news stories, Suburgatory features faux op-ed “Shout Outs” (Let’s Do that Key Party Right the Next Time), witty advertisements (Briarcliff Academy—Educating the Stupid Rich Since 1903), and an over-the-top totally toxic advice columnist: Dr. Drama (“When life hands you a problem, let’s make it more interesting!”).

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: skirt! (October 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762780193
• ISBN-13: 978-0762780198
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wickedly Funny! October 10, 2011

By suburgamom

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is meant to be read bit by bit- it's way too intense for a single sit down read. As outrageous as the stories may appear, my personal experiences in suburgatory tell me there is a bit of truth in each tale. And, I do enjoy getting a good laugh at characters who seem like they could be people I know (including myself).

The language is not for the faint- lots of four letter words used. But in my opinion, the colorful language makes the stories even more funny, considering the book is poking fun at affluent, refined, suburbanites.

I like the author's fresh style and her wickedly funny satire.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Twisted, But Hysterical Tales October 11, 2011

By Frenchriver

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book points out the many hypocrisies I would like to not-so-subtly scream out to my neighbors but can't. Living in the South, it is especially important to be polite and Suburgatory is anything but polite. The author's sharp, quick wit will shock you at times, but deep down inside, you'll realize you've thought some of the same, nasty things, too.

It's a good idea to read it like a daily newspaper. I slowed down and found it gave me a laugh fix when I needed it. Though definitely not a coffee table book, nor one that I would share with those offended by curse words and sex (like my mother), if you are like me, you'll want to post sections of it on Facebook because you know your like-minded friends will think it's hysterical.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This Smack Talk Had me Rolling! October 13, 2011

By The Valster

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I live in suburbia, and I feel like every single day something happens that makes me want to scream, point, or laugh. I get sick of hearing how "blessed" people say they are, and I have very little patience for standing around talking about diaper bags or summer camp plans. For those who reluctantly moved out to the 'burbs so your kids would have room to run around and you'd have a 2 car garage, this book will have you in stitches. It reminds me a bit of The Onion with chapter titles like, 'Mom "Never Yells" at Kids, Uses Scorn Instead' and 'Dad Pretends IKEA is Child Cultural Enrichment'.

It's not just for moms, either. My husband took a peek at Keenan's book and I heard quite a few snickers from him as well.

Hot Pocket Serving Moms of the world unite- this book is for you!