Dearly Befuddled

by Katherine Finstuen

For those who find life mysterious and lovely, filled with both gut-wrenching despair and gut-shaking humor, Dearly Befuddled offers a collection of essays delving into the vastness of human experience and imagination. Written by Katherine Finstuen and illustrated by Jessica Lyman Finstuen, this follow-up to their first collaborative effort, Those Who Can’t Do, will once again elicit laughter, poignancy, thought, and a sense of wonder.

Genres: Essays

102 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Emily Migliazzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection rekindled envy of my former teacher’s (and later colleague’s) quiet life.

“…ill kempt and bepotholed…” (4).

“What is it that compels so many male hands to etch a representation of the dick on all available surfaces?” (9).

“I depart the office, corduroys singing their walking song and, as I pass a small pond, the frog chorus silences at the nearest whisper of my approach” (12).

“Symbolic arm floaties could also help one’s spiritual buoyancy when otter thoughts go dark” (81).

[David Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her first book "Those Who Can't Do" Katherine Finstuen shared with us her reflections on a wide swath of Life and Living, skillfully utilizing a wry sense of humor and wit while remaining focused on everyday aspects of Life that we can all pretty much relate to in one way or another.

So how could she possibly surpass that?

Easy- with another book.

And she does just exactly that in her second tome- "Dearly Befuddled." In this follow-up volume Katherine takes us another step forward while sparing no part of her experiences from examination. Once again, it's an opportunity for us to enjoy her perspectives on the things in Life that are so often simply taken for granted. In the process, Katherine provides another way to look at, and appreciate, those things.

And once again, Katherine demonstrates a knack for helping us to better understand what we thought we already understood.

Unabashed. At times provocative. Always entertaining.

Highly recommended.

[David L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine Finstuen has once again proven her mastery and agility with the written word. “Dearly Befuddled” is a deeper book than her first, tapping into a different set of emotions yet with the same brand of humility, wit, and charm as the first. When the two books are paired together it almost feels like going on a series of dates with the author, but strangely enough the conversation doesn’t feel one-sided. The date conversations begin light and funny, with occasional hints at what lies beneath her surface, progressing to stories that bare her soul in profound, yet still laugh out loud funny ways, all of which are so elegantly worded that you love the dance as much as the dancer. Her stories are told in such an honest way, most will find some degree of simpatico with many of them, leaving the reader feeling very connected to the material.

[Kappy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, thoughtful, quirky, full of humanity. Katherine creates word portraits of her observations of the commonplace, the daily routine and the humorous. There are words of sorrow as well, from essay #V, "Solace in small but heavily important things continues. In a country replete with missing posters for such qualities as morality, intelligence, sanity, selflessness, hope, and optimism, where so many belong to the demographic of The Stupid and The Angry, I shall risk morphing into a reincarnation of Julie Andrews during a thunderstorm with abundant offerings of favorite things..."
A true pleasure.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine Finstuen's second book manages to feel comforting and fresh at the same time, like having coffee with a friend you haven't seen for a long time. The trademark humor is there, sometimes brazen, sometimes subtle, as is Katherine's ability to be somehow poignant, sad and silly simultaneously. These essays beautifully express the delight, sadness and bewilderment found in the quotidian, while also illuminating how our inner worlds can bring a sense of possibility to seemingly mundane circumstances. The prose is masterful, bringing a certain intimacy to this delightful and at times disconsolate book.

[Diane W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dearly Befuddled moved me to tears and laughter--sometimes at the same time. Katherine's wit and humanity shine through the pages. She understands loss, anxiety, and the annoyance caused by well-meaning people. And her sense of humor crackles! These essays provide insight into life itself, and I happily recommend it. It's a great companion to her first collection, Those Who Can't Do.

[Sara Slusser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainingly fun stories that are told using a great combination of wit and humor. It’s a great read!

[Robert Inchausti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dearly Befuddled--the sequel to Katherine Finstuen’s first book Those Who Can’t Do--proves her first book was no fluke and that we have an original talent on our hands. Wise and funny, there is a seamless unity of intelligence with humor in this sequel that demonstrates a new confidence, a stronger voice and even more unfettered attitude. But this time Finstuen takes on more challenging topics —body part artists—Covid—rejection letters—each one challenging her ethos to rise to the occasion—which it does again and again. There is hardly a single line in this book that does not land with a surprising insight, revelation, pun or joke. It’s sometimes like listening to a very brave and very literate stand-up comedian who, nevertheless, is always looking for the truth. A wonderful book by a writer’s writer and a reader's best friend. I am a big fan.