In the smart and witty The Potty Mouth at the Table, Laurie Notaro (The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club) takes a sarcastic stab at a variety of targets: airport security, Yelp reviewers, Antiques Roadshow and her municipal court clerk, among others. No one is safe--she strikes out at friends, family and fellow writers--but the funniest blows are those directed at herself.
The title may lead readers to believe Notaro's essays are steeped in cuss words. It's not a G-rated book, but when Notaro uses profanity, it's with a flourish that makes every word count. In one essay--which has a title that does live up to the "potty mouth" description--Notaro discovers someone is using her "bath puff" and must put a stop to this violation of the "Cootie Code." The conversation that ensues crackles with pun and innuendo, concluding with new house rules regarding bath puffs, including "Just because we sit on the same potty does not mean it's okay to put my puff on your butt."
Several essays feature Notaro's husband, who must be a great sport for tolerating her neurotic behavior and taking all the insanity in stride. (Be sure not to skip the story of how she brings yet another chair into their living room....) Essay to essay, her unpredictability will keep readers enthralled and entertained. She even saves the best surprise for last. If you're reading in public, be prepared to answer the question: "What's so funny?" --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts