Owning a home is a constant adventure filled with infinite challenges. To succeed, it's important to think creatively and maintain a sense of humor. In these pages, learn new ways to make use of your mortgage agreement (i.e. as a stepping stool), how to pick through other people's garbage for furnishings, and exactly what you should do if a tree falls on your house. The advice in this book ranges from the outlandish to the bizarre: whether you've been in your house 20 minutes or 20 years, you are sure to relate to it and get a good chuckle. You might even learn something along the way.
The Homeowner's Guide to Greatness
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews
This debut collection of short, comical reflections on homeownership covers everything from decorating to gardening to choosing a contractor.
The book offers informal, good-natured takes on maintaining a home, all aimed at "an activity not usually associated with home ownership: laughter." Cox applies a light touch to wide-ranging topics that are likely to be of especial concern to new homeowners. It's this grounding in reality that makes her writing funny--she understands that "buying a house is likely one of the most exciting and terrifying experiences most of us will voluntarily undertake." The author's approach is chronological, beginning with managing the anxiety of closing and ending with pointers on preserving a home's resale value. "The Art of the Memo," for example, includes "templates" to use when writing to "resident spiders, freeloading geckos, and interloping insects of all kinds." Or, in the chapter entitled "Coping with Emergencies," she discusses the possibility of a tree falling on one's home and advises "retroactively calling out 'Timber!' as if this were the work of an invisible lumberjack, and you're just trying to help out."
An amusing response to the woes of homeownership sure to be enjoyed by anyone who's ever taken out a mortgage.
The book offers informal, good-natured takes on maintaining a home, all aimed at "an activity not usually associated with home ownership: laughter." Cox applies a light touch to wide-ranging topics that are likely to be of especial concern to new homeowners. It's this grounding in reality that makes her writing funny--she understands that "buying a house is likely one of the most exciting and terrifying experiences most of us will voluntarily undertake." The author's approach is chronological, beginning with managing the anxiety of closing and ending with pointers on preserving a home's resale value. "The Art of the Memo," for example, includes "templates" to use when writing to "resident spiders, freeloading geckos, and interloping insects of all kinds." Or, in the chapter entitled "Coping with Emergencies," she discusses the possibility of a tree falling on one's home and advises "retroactively calling out 'Timber!' as if this were the work of an invisible lumberjack, and you're just trying to help out."
An amusing response to the woes of homeownership sure to be enjoyed by anyone who's ever taken out a mortgage.
About the Author
Jocelyn Jane Cox owns a home with her husband near Nyack, New York, about 30 minutes north of New York City. She is a freelance writer with a graduate degree in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and writes about her own home-owning adventures on her website, The Home Tome.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is very charming and witty and will make you think back on and laugh at all of the crazy homeowner experiences you've had. Helpful to get a laugh out of the things that usually cause us so much stress! This would be a funny housewarming gift or a gift to a friend of yours who is currently undergoing house trama. Note: the book is short which means you go through it quickly (thus 4 stars instead of 5, although some might think that's actually more of a positive than a negative).
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Finally! An hilarious, clever, smart person's manual for the insane adventure called homeownership. As a recovering HGTV addict, and a new home owner, reading this book helped me feel like I am not alone in my attempt to creatively deal with the REAL reality that is setting up house. HGTV 1-2-3 house hunting and one hour reno before and afters numb us with their lack of humor and pathos. Cox writes as though her life depends on it-there's no turning back after signing on that dotted line-her way with words, timing and subject matter force you to feel the funny and the oh too real in everything from major emergencies to minor but just as anxiety provoking tasks as dealing with endless amounts of daily chores. Wry yet determinedly cheerful, Cox leads us into her wacky world and helps us out of our post-purchase shock or mid-reno haze. The cherry on top is artist Rob Strati's clean and perfectly fitting cover graphic. Just signed up for Cox's HomeTome Blog. Keep those posts coming my way! Can't get enough.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Chuckled through every page, and related to every page! Perfect insight to home ownership, whether you just bought your first home, or your tenth. It's the first book you'll pick up right after a household debacle, just to laugh first (and then call the plumber). A "must have" for new neighbors, new-home newlyweds, military families, and just about anyone who has ever owned a home. Thumbs up,
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By MOM of 3
Format:Paperback
This is a funny, easy read! It takes the seriousness out of household dilemmas and allows you to laugh at them (and yourself at times!). It is a great coffee table book and I've bought a few to have as housewarming and hostess gifts as well!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By S-dog
Format:Paperback
Love this book. The tone is hilarious in a self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek sort of way. At the same time, as a new homeowner, I found the book really informative. It gave me an idea of what to expect if, say, I find an egg in my yard, if a tree falls on my house or if I have the urge to buy a white couch. I laughed a lot while reading this. I would definitely recommend this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By robert john
Format:Paperback
This is the funniest quick read I have had in a long time. The mix of helpful quasi-tips and just straight up funny tales of owning a home literally made me laugh out loud. Every homeowner can relate...I have started a list of my own stories. I was telling a friend about the book and they started to tell me about a hopped up squirrel who pounced on a second floor screen window spider man style...it was trying to get back into the attic my friend had sealed up about an hour before. This book makes you think of all the bizarre things that have happened or can happen in your home. Very quirky and creative.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I recently started reading Ms. Cox's blog and enjoyed it so much that I purchased her book. It did not disappoint! Although I am not a homeowner myself, I could glean much of the humor she pokes at the various aspects of home ownership and maintenance. I loved the parts that include memos to the animals and creepy-crawlies have also made her house their home. It was a quick, enjoyable read.
Format:Paperback
Although I am a homeowner of a tiny co-op in NYC, I loved this smart, funny, and quick read that I agree would make a great housewarming gift! What I love about this book is that it is full of tiny gems that ring true and are very funny. For example, in the section entitled "How to Know When Your TV is Too Large" Cox explains "The nearby movie theater calls you in a panic when their electricity goes out to see if they can send their customers over to your house." Love it! Other gems includes her memos to the fruitflies, ants, and bunny and "What Your Design Choices Say About You." I could go on but don't want to give too much away. Great concept and great read!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
People will wonder what you're chuckling at
For those that own a home, The Homeowner's Guide is full of things that will either remind you why you love your house, or remind you why you were crazy to buy a house. Read more
Published 11 months ago by D Vibbert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read and Smile
A great read that will have homeowners laughing out loud. Do you want to smile? Read page 50, Memo to the Fruit Flies and page 69, Before Tackling Any Do It Yourself Projects. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Nancy Flanagan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Such a great idea!!
I don't think there is anything else out there like this! Anyone buying or renovating a house needs to keep their sense of humor intact and this book is the answer!! Read more
Published 11 months ago by S. Hawkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some Good Fun
What a fun book--I chuckled all the way through. It will be my official housewarming present from here on out! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ari L
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and Helpful
What a funny and yet very helpful guide for the new homeowner (or the old homeowner)! Wish I would have had this book when my house was invaded by fruit flies so that I, too,... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Margaret J. Evans
