I Was Told There'd Be Cake: Essays [Paperback]

Sloane Crosley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. This debut essay collection is full of sardonic wit and charm, and Crosley effortlessly transforms what could have been stereotypical tales of mid-20s life into a breezy series of vignettes with uproariously unpredictable outcomes. From the opening The Pony Problem to the hilarious Bring-Your-Machete-to-Work Day (which will ring true for any child of the early 1990s who played the first Oregon Trail computer game), Crosley is equal parts self-deprecating and endearing as she recounts her secret obsession with plastic ponies and the joys of exacting revenge via a pixilated wagon ride. In less capable hands, the subjects tackled—from unpleasant weddings of long-forgotten friends to horrendous first jobs—could have been a litany of complaints from yet another rich girl from the suburbs. But Crosley, who grew up in Westchester and currently lives in Manhattan, makes the experiences her own with a plethora of amusing twists: a volunteer job at the American Museum of Natural History leads to a moral quandary, and a simple Upper West Side move becomes anything but. Fans of Sarah Vowell's razor-sharp tongue will love this original new voice. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

For those for whom the publication of new work by David Rakoff or Sarah Vowell would be a literary event equivalent with the announcement of an eighth Harry Potter novel, the release of Crosley’s debut collection of keenly insightful personal essays should have similar impact. The New York Times, NPR, and Village Voice contributor’s take on everything from volunteering to vegetarianism, bridesmaid’s duties to baking disasters escorts readers on a raucous ride through the fluctuating minefield that is contemporary culture. Crosley’s sardonic observations have a sassy edge; her nimble humor, a naughty zing. Yet beneath her smug persona of “young woman about town” (that town being Manhattan) lurks another, more vulnerable image: that of sensitive “mall rat from suburbia” (the suburbs being Westchester.) Real and recognizable, Crosley’s is the voice of everyone’s favorite quick-with-the-quips sister, daughter, roommate, coworker. With an unabashed appreciation for the trenchant irony inherent in life’s more quotidian activities, Crosley exposes society’s—and her own—most endearing qualities. --Carol Haggas

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159448306X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594483066
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (172 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sloane Crosley is the author of "I Was Told There'd be Cake," which was a finalist for The Thurber Prize, and "How Did You Get This Number," both New York Times bestsellers. She is the editor of "The Best American Travel Writing 2011," a frequent contributor to a variety of publications such as The New York Times and GQ and is included in "The Library of America's 50 Funniest American Writers According to Andy Borowitz." She lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A writer worth watching, May 7, 2008

By 

M. Hood "Avid Reader" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Was Told There'd Be Cake: Essays (Paperback)

I was drawn to this book because the pull quote on the cover said it was in the tradition of Sederis and Vowell. While I am glad I read it, it is not a must read. Crosley is talented but can be predictable and cliché. She lacks self-awareness. At the same time, she's terribly funny (she even pulls off mean funny), gutsy and admirably self-confident. She's best when she is honest and generous. I look forward to reading more of her work and watching her grow as a writer. As for this book, it would have benefitted from a tougher editor.

151 of 173 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mildly entertaining collection, April 11, 2008

By 

exiledcal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Told There'd Be Cake: Essays (Paperback)

While the writing is pretty good, and this collection of essays has its moments of cleverness, overall it's not as funny (by no means would I call it "hilarious") or interesting as hyped. The essays suffer somewhat from a steeping in twentysomething self-absorption/middle-class angst, and don't qualify for inclusion in the same league as David Sedaris and Dorothy Parker, because they lack a certain edginess. The stardard white-girl fare (first job, mean boss; being in a wedding), is, at times, mildly entertaining, but not particularly memorable. Bottom line: it's okay.

167 of 193 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Um...not really that funny., May 1, 2008

By 

Lisa Topal "Liza" (NY NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Told There'd Be Cake: Essays (Paperback)

I feel mean sayin' it, but it's true. I was all excited about curling up with this read after reading great reviews. I jumped ship after about 30 pages. It's not David Sedaris. It's not anything remotely as funny or interesting or insightful. It reminds me of a girl who goes out with you and your work friends and tells embarrassing stories about herself, and you laugh/wince, cause you're a bit drunk, and then, the next day, you feel kinda bad for her, like she exposed too much, and that she kinda needed the attention, and you're kinda embarrassed for her, even though she isn't. I lived in NY for a long time and these people are all over the place. This is her book.