The Cursing Mommy's Book of Days

by Ian Frazier

Based on his widely read columns for The New Yorker, Ian Frazier's uproarious first novel, The Cursing Mommy's Book of Days, centers on a profoundly memorable character, sprung from an impressively fertile imagination. Structured as a daybook of sorts, with the Cursing Mommy—beleaguered wife of Larry and mother of two boys, twelve and nine—trying (more or less) valiantly to offer tips on how to do various tasks around the home, only to end up on the ground, cursing, surrounded by broken glass. Her voice is somewhere between Phyllis Diller's and Sylvia Plath's: a hilariously desperate housewife with a taste for swearing and large glasses of red wine, who speaks to the frustrations of everyday life.

From On the Rez, an investigation into the lives of modern-day Oglala Sioux written with an impressive mix of humor, compassion, and imagination, to Dating Your Mom, a side-splitting collection of humorous essays that imagines, among other things, how you might begin a romance with your mother, Frazier has demonstrated an astonishing ability to operate with ease in a variety of registers. Here he tackles yet another genre with his usual grace and aplomb, and an extra helping of his trademark wicked wit. The Cursing Mommy's failures and weaknesses are our own—and Frazier, at the height of his powers as a writer and observer, gives them a loving, satirical spin that is uniquely his own.

Genres: Humor, Fiction, Comedy, Chick Lit, Satire, Adult, Parenting

6 pages, Audio CD

First published October 2, 2012

About the author

Ian Frazier (b.1951) is an American writer and humorist. He is the author of Travels in Siberia, Great Plains, On the Rez, Lamentations of the Father and Coyote V. Acme, among other works, all published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He graduated from Harvard University. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, he lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianfra...

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is...weird. Very, very weird. But I got a big kick out of it. It's NOT NOT NOT NOT for anyone who doesn't care for swearing in a book. It's pretty much half swearing, which I tended to just skip over after a while. The story, if there is a story, is about a married mother of two boys keeping a diary or blog of her year. The year is marked by her husband's boss getting a big crush on her, her husband having to go on business to Nigeria a lot, her caring for her father in a nursing home, various troubles at her boys' schools, odd weather all the time, grocery store changes, her book club that reads only books about Republican administrations they don't like, her sons' psychiatric problems----lots of odd and weird happenings. It just hit me right on the day I read it. I was feeling discouraged with my life, and I loved the narrator's (I don't think she's ever named) take on life---trying to stay positive but usually ending the day drinking and swearing, which, if you had her life, might be a fairly reasonable response. I also liked the surreal aspects, which made it just a funny read and not a depressing one. This book is far from for everyone, but I liked it.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book was awful. Reviews said how funny it is, but I didn't laugh at all. The main character is an alcoholic, insane, ignorant woman. The male author has quite a skewed view if he thinks this is the way women think and behave. The environment, ranging from the schools, grocery stores, companies, and every person she is in contact with, is horrific. I can't imagine anywhere as awful as this place. I'm not sure how or why I continued to read it, but it was justified in the end of how terrible this book is. It ends so abruptly and leaves holes in the story. I've never been happier to be done with a book.

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading a lot of books these days, because I pulled a hamstring right before Christmas and pretty much can't do anything except sit around reading books and resting my leg.
This book was funny. Although most of us don't curse or drink as much as Cursing Mommy, I think almost all middle-class mothers can identify with the desire to have the domestic talents of Martha Stewart and the Zen calm of the Dalai Lama - and to fall miserably short on both and become seriously annoyed - and need a drink.
The book is written in the form of a dailyblog post, as we follow Cursing Mommy through her older son's mental health problems, her husband's obsession with 70s-era capacitors, and her hilariously failed attempts at flower-arranging, gift-wrapping, refrigerator cleaning, etc. - usually ending with her lying on the floor cursing and wanting another drink.
There are several sub-plots involving her husband obtaining capacitors in Nigeria, her husband's boss having a crush on her, and one of her book-club friends running off with an inspirational book author/endive farmer, all of which come together in the end.
There is some very sly social commentary as well. Her health insurance costs $30K per year and she can get a discount for raking the ins co owner's zen garden. School taxes have been abolished in her community, so all parents and students have to spend their Saturdays doing maintenance on the school buildings. Then the grade school is taken over by a mysterious religious sect, and the middle school is outsourced to a private company which has such restrictive intellectual property policies that parents aren't even allowed to know what their kids are learning in school.
No wonder she drinks.

[Michael Lipsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very dangerous book!!! I laughed so hard that I thought I was going to hurt myself. The last book I read that was this funny was "Lucky Jim" by Kingsley Amis and that was about 50 years ago. I love the cursing mommy because she just has a #@#@ bad attitude and an amazingly ##@## way with words. By the time I was halfway through the book I was finding myself cussing more frequently and comfortably. I mean, what is the point of language if you don't use all of it? It is an actual novel, not just a compilation of Ian Frazier's cursing mommy pieces in the New Yorker. It is not exactly a reality story, but it has enough psychological reality to give it adequate plausibility. The cursing mommy does not shrink from terrible, but frank truths. She wants her "fucking father" who has dementia and has been a blight on her life to just ##@# die already. She goes nuts if she has to spend an entire day with her kids, one of whom, she admits, is just an awful, nasty, destructive sociopath and arsonist kept heavily medicated (even the names of all his drugs are hilarious) by his therapist.

[Janet Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a review, I bought this as a holiday gift for my favorite cursing mommy. Then I figured I’d better read a few pages to make sure it was right for her. And I ended up reading the whole thing before wrapping it up for her. (She’ll never know. Unless I tell her. Which I will.) It’s a quick, lightweight, frivolous read, but I’m warped enough to have enjoyed it. It goes day by day through a chaotic year in the life of the unnamed Cursing Mommy. Her kids--one a thug, the other a hypochondriac--drive her nuts; her husband spends (invests?) their life savings on a scheme to import rare, collectible capacitors from Nigeria; her husband’s amorous, creepy boss pesters her; her garage burns down; her book club obsessively read books about the evils of the Bush and Reagan administrations; and she gleefully curses and guzzles cocktails as her life generally spirals deeper and deeper into weirdness. Language warning: The Cursing Mommy really does curse. A lot!

[Tamra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library because it looked like a quick, funny read.

I had never read any other books by this author, but I hope they are better than this one. Some parts were funny, but some were just plain ridiculous. In one year there is a sand storm, a typhoon, and hailing locusts?? And the school stuff was ridiculous and so dumb, how can a school pick up and move over seas? The whole Boss/Client story was stupid and I don't know why it was in the book to begin with. I got annoyed at her constant outburst about the Bush and Reagan administration's, how are they the cause of you not being able to open a can of tuna? And random ninja attacks? Come on.

Overall just a ridiculous read and just plain silly and dumb.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a light hearted, easy read after finishing a long project which kept me from reading. I wanted to giggle, to nod with understanding and to shake my head with some fictional craziness. I did giggle, I did nod with some understanding, and I did shake my head from the craziness. But I have to say the cussing got old, real fast. It actually made things less funny, less likely to be like my life and the crazy stuff just shitty.
I would not recommend this book. Especially to those who are offended by curse words. Even those (like me) who might have been a trucker in another life, where cussing is second nature, this book is tiring.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amusing in the abstract. Repulsive in the particular.

[Kelly R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed this audiobook when I saw that Cynthia Nixon was narrating. I mean, who doesn't want to hear Miranda Hobbs as a Cursing Mommy?! Here's the thing: when you have a funny, talented, experienced actress narrating a book that's supposed to be funny, and it just isn't, you know it's the writing. Yes it's satire. But it was repetitive and bordering on obnoxious. 5 stars to Cynthia. 1 for the book.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, hmm.... I liked this book and didn't like it. I liked the idea of it but found the execution lacking. It just seemed repetitive to me. After the first few times of the "Cursing Mommy" going from calm to frantic and potty mouthed...it lost is' attraction. I could relate to many of the "'mommy's" complaints but just grew weary of her constant bitching, frankly!


Cynthia Nixon did a great job with what she had, but after the intial amusement of her screaming obscenities into my ears, it grew old. Maybe, this is one of book that should be "read" and not listened to on DVd.

For a much more demure and refind,dry, British, old fashioned version of this book... you might enjoy EM. Delafield's series of "A Provincial Lady..."

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, finish this book, but I was bored to tears. This is the story of a dysfunctional alcoholic with a potty mouth, who is disgusted with her husband, kids, and life in general. She wakes up hungover and unable to deal with her life. When her attempts to handle situations fail, she cusses in a paragraph long tirade (in all caps) and then gets drunk. The process starts again the next day. I found all the repetition to be tiring. Did not get past 'March'. May have picked up after that, but I'll never know.

[Pia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily the funniest book I've read all year. Laugh out loud on the subway funny. Make people think I need to be checked into a facility funny. Just seriously damn funny.

[Kerry J. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Too much cursing … 🤬. It was hard to listen to this book, a blog really, first thing in the morning. However, I did enjoy the narration by Cynthia Nixon.

2. That NPR recommended this be a book to run out and purchase 12 years ago is baffling. How have I owned it that long? Book and Audio both needed to just get this gone from TBR pile.

3. This book was published at a time when USA was firmly ensconced in Obama years. What’s funny is that when things go wrong for the cursing mommy she swears up a streak and blames the Bush Administration, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and all manor of players from 2000-2008. The irony is that I would do backflips and eat tomatoes for life to return to that time of competency in our government. I believe the cursing mommy would join me in this pursuit, if she hasn’t already moved to Switzerland. 😉

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this and giggled. I wouldn't call it omg stop what you are doing type reading, but it sure filled my needs. I found the novelty of the format a joy. I did it on audiobook. I think that enhanced my enjoyment of it. It added to the presentation that i think a straight reading would have been lacking. I was surprised by whom the narrator was. i found after a while the cursing outbursts felt like Sam Kinison. I soon found the actually body of the story was what i was enjoying the most rather than the comedic insertion of the cursing. I think it is fun and it served me well. It might not be the same for you, but that is why some book reviews are so scattered in star ratings. Take what you can from each reading and savor the good stuff.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this audio book on the library shelf and took it home and it had me laughing out loud. I had never read any of Ian Frazier's columns but I think I might try to find some. He is a great humorist.
I think many people will dislike this book, partly because of the swearing (you are warned in the title) and partly because some of her swear words are the names of prominent Republican politicians which may offend half of US voters. The story line is written as though it is a blog, disseminated on line to other Mommies. Her advice on home issues such as making decorations for Thanksgiving is hilarious, and always seems to end in crisis. At such times she swears and drinks which sometimes tempts us all.

[Leslie Langtry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As reviewed on Bookendbabes.com:


The Cursing Mommy’s Book of Days, by Ian Frazier, reviewed by a real Cursing Mommy – without actually using any cursewords.

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Leslie Langtry


My name is Leslie Langtry…and I’m a Cursing Mommy…

True story – two years ago, my boss walks into my office and hands me this column in The New Yorker, called ‘The Cursing Mommy.’

“I read this and it reminded me of you…” she said cryptically before leaving – making me wonder if there was a file on me and my swearing somewhere. And if there was a file, wasn’t it really too late by now? Would my boss institute a swear jar (No way I could afford to continue working there if they did)? And if so, could I start drinking on the job?

I read the column and laughed hysterically. I became a huge fan of The Cursing Mommy.

So imagine my blissed-out ecstasy (go ahead, imagine it…I’ll wait) when I discovered that a book was coming out!

The Cursing Mommy is someone I know all women can relate to (and according to my family – literally am). She strives for inner peace while dealing with her loserish husband – Larry, her arson loving (and as a result, ridiculously over-medicated) son - Trevor, her other son who has a gift for swooning at school every day - Kyle, and her idiot father in assisted living. The Cursing Mommy uses, um, other words to describe them, but we run a clean, G-rated ship here at Book End Babes (and I promised Dani I’d stop swearing).

Our heroine has her issues, like everyone else – from freak sandstorms, to Trevor’s interest in burning down buildings and making giant snow penises, to Larry’s wealthy lecherous boss, to an elementary school that requires the fourth graders to do all maintenance – including the electrical rewiring, and finally, her tormentors at her worthless father’s assisted living. She finds her zen moment (repeatedly) by lying on the floor with a bottle of scotch/vodka/wine, swearing about the George W. Bush administration – who are to blame for all her problems.

The only curious thing is that the book is written by a man – something I won’t hold against him (CLEARLY he was a woman in another life). In fact, I’m going to start a fraternal order of Cursing Mommys and launch a campaign to make Ian Frazier an honorary one of us. I think it would be more popular than the Masons (and we wouldn’t wear some stupid fez either).

Your first assignment before forming a local chapter – read The Cursing Mommy’s Book of Days. I’ll get started on the secret handshake.

[Emily Dannenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had pretty high hopes for this book, seeing that it is about a lady who curses profusely and loves herself a good cocktail, things I can certainly relate to. However, since I am not near the childbearing phase of my life, it was hard for me to relate, except that she made children seem even less appealing than I already find them to be. There were 'laugh out loud' moments, but not as many has I had expected there to be. In fact, this book brought me as much sadness as it did laughs. This poor woman's life sucks.

I recommend the Cursing Mommy to the good humored housewife who will probably read this book and count their lucky stars that their children are only half rotten, their husband only mildly retarded, and their drinking problem only somewhat out of control.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I review Ian Frazier’s first novel, The Cursing Mommy’s Book of Days in the October 10, 2012 edition of the Boston Globe.

Like her columns, Mommy’s yearlong daybook chronicles her hopes, dreams, and frustrations with some aspect of daily life usually causing her to flip out, curse, break things, or give people the finger.

Go to my blog:
Have Words Will Write ‘Em

and then to the Boston Globe

On my Blog, you’ll also find an embedded YouTube video of Cynthia Nixon reading from “The Cursing Mommy.”

--Joe

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read Ian Frazier's Cursing Mommy pieces in the New Yorker, and thought they were hysterical. I viewed a book with trepidation, because every Cursing Mommy piece follows the same trajectory, and how do you keep that going? But, library book, why not?

It is funny, as a collection of bits. As a book, it doesn't quite hold together. The humor flags. It never goes above being a collection of bits. As much as I laughed, I can't justify rating it higher as a book, because as a whole, it doesn't work.

2.5 stars and can't round it up. If you enjoyed the Cursing Mommy pieces, give it a whirl. If you didn't think they were funny, you won't like this.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should start by saying that I read this book - I did not listen to the audio CD. I cannot imagine how I could possible listen to it with two kids in the car. You should be prepared that pretty much every other word in this book is the F-bomb. and it usually appears IN ALL CAPS. If that doesn't bother you than go ahead and read it. It's a quick read and at time was laugh out loud funny. Of course my 13 year old kept wanted to know what I was laughing at but I couldn't share without bleeping out every other word. The book got a bit tiring after awhile but it was a nice distraction.

[Darcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I admit that I only gave this one a try because it kept showing up in my library's home page of downloadable audio books. The title caught my attention and I thought it would be a fun one to listen too. I didn't make it very far before I had to give it up. I hated the mommy character, she drove me nuts with her potty mouth, disdain in her whole life, and patronizing tone that addressed her daily activities. In the end this one just wasn't for me.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself cursing right along with Cynthia Nixon in my car. although it has been a while since my two boys were in school, since I've been in a book group, etc. etc. I see things have changed little. The mind-numbing brightness of all the stay-at-home mommy blogs that link to Pinterest make this one f-ing funny satire/parody. What is the distinction between those two anyhow? If you can't find the humor and insight in this, you have no sense of humor.

[Kathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't read more than a few pages of this before returning it to the to-be-returned shelf. It's supposedly a fictional account of a year in the life of a harassed mother (what other kinds are there?) but the diary entries were silly, meaningless, not at all funny, and replete with lots of UPPERCASE words of 4 letters. I laugh about everything connected to being a parent, even when one of my children had cancer, but this book is just inane. It doesn't deserve even 1 star.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy gratuitous profanity as well as gratuitous George Bush bashing. I especially enjoy these in a book that makes me laugh out loud and is narrated by a character who bears an uncanny (and potentially worrisome) resemblance to the voice in my head. It's comedy, people. Take it as such and if profanity offends you I might recommend a book that doesn't include cursing in the title.

[Harriet · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 30 pages or so of this book were hilarious, laugh-out-loud funny, smart, and entertaining. But then the shtick got old. Very old. Very fast. How many times can you read about the main character lying face down (or face up) under a hammock, on the kitchen floor, etc. etc. and find it amusing? My limit was two or three times. Which is why I couldn't even finish the book.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gratuitous profanity. Gratuitous George Bush bashing. Gratuitous profanity. Gratuitous George Bush bashing. Repeat. Repeat. REPEAT. Now you know what the book is about and you don't have to waste your time reading it. Very weak.

[adeservingporcupine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my word, this was HORRIBLE. I picked it up from the library because I enjoy Ian Frazier books, cursing and mommy blogs. I got through maybe 10 pages before I started skimming. I suggest reading an actual mom blog, about something actually funny, and not wasting your time with this.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were a stay-at-home mom, this book would be my inner monologue. Surprised at the negative Goodreads reviews, as this book is hysterical! Dry, acerbic, inappropriate, and completely off-the-wall. If you cannot comprehend un-obvious humor, this book is probably not for you.

[Pamela Huxtable · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why didn't I listen to Sharon and forgo reading this piece of crap?

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Not as funny as I'd hope it would be. Some interesting indirect concepts about the state of our school systems and where they could end up.