It Takes a Village Idiot: A Memoir of Life After the City

by Jim Mullen and Scholastic

Book Overview

Finalist for the 2001 Thurber Prize for American Humor a Rocky Mountain News (Denver) Best Book of the Year
Millions of people dream of abandoning the city routine for a simple country life. Jim Mullen was not one of them. He loved his Manhattan existence: parties, openings, movie screenings. He could walk to hundreds of restaurants, waste entire afternoons at the Film Forum, people-watch from his window. Then, one day, calamity...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743218795
• ISBN13: 9780743218795
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Laugh Out Loud

Very few books make me laugh out loud, but this one does. I bought it years ago, only to get to the end and someone had torn out the last 3 pages. I just found it again on this site and bought it. I am so glad I did. After 35 years in the country, it's even funnier. You may have to be a city person who moved to the country to completely "get it", but it's well worth the read.

Country Life as Rehab

After the brief period of time it took to read this tale, I'm not surprised it found its way into my hands. This is not only a story I "get," (couple flees city for a life in the country) it's full of a self-deprecating and sarcastic wit I welcome when reading memoirs. Jim Mullen, a humor columnist best known for his "Hot Sheet" in Entertainment Weekly, portrays Manhattan life as addiction. Addiction, for example, to non-stop action, Broadway plays, gallery openings, ethnic restaurants and The New York Times. The symptoms include immunity to noise and smells, and they lead to chain-smoking and excessive spending at The Sharper Image. He's hooked. It's his wife, Sue, who takes the lead and buys a farm three hours northwest of the city in the Catskills, and drags him along for what turn out to be rehabilitative weekends. As the weekends grow from two days to five and then finally full time, he gives up smoking, takes up bicycling and then learns about everything from growing giant pumpkins to the inner workings of a septic system. One realizes he has come full circle when he describes a dewy spider web as the prettiest thing he's ever seen and recognizes a "flatlander" in the garden store. While observing this newer version of the village idiot, he rolls his eyes and wonders if that's how he was when he first entered (the fictional town of) Walleye. The writing is original and funny, informal without being glib, irreverent without being vulgar. For anyone who enjoys well-written memoirs--particularly those of the city-mouse, country mouse variety--put this on your list. Also recommend: "Fifty Acres and a Poodle." Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

It Takes a Sense of Humor

I grabbed this book because the title made me think it would be witty and fun. What do you know - for once I was right! "It Takes A Village Idiot" hilariously describes the changes in the author's life after his wife decides to buy an old farmhouse in the Catskills so she'll be busy enough to quit smoking. And so begins the author's introduction to rural life, as this NYC couple embarks on the first of many weekend drives upstate. Mr. Mullen describes his gradual transformation from city mouse to country mouse with laughs on every page, with subjects ranging from shopping at Home Depot to Flatlander "guest insensitivity". What makes it delightful is that he's able to do so without snobbery or ridicule. His approach remains good-natured throughout, and his descriptions are easy to visualize. Wherever one lives, "Village Idiot" is likely to make the reader take a renewed look at the surroundings. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone.

Very enjoyable!

I picked this book up after having read a few stinkers, and I felt so grateful because it's truly enjoyable. Jim Mullen is very funny, his observations and comments are so comical, and he often had me laughing out loud. He also handles some more serious, or sad, issues with a touching sensitivity that doesn't stray from the wry humor, but makes his heartfelt point (without beating us over the head, thank you). Despite the premise, this story is an original. Love his wife. Love his neighbors. Hope he is working on a follow-up as we speak.

I know EXACTLY what he means!!!

I bought the book because there are two places I absolutely love... the south of France and Upstate New York. I have read all of Peter Mayle's books on Provence, so it only made sense for me to read Jim Mullen's book. Honestly, I wasn't expecting alot, but boy... this book is an absolute riot!!! My wife kept hearing me laugh out loud from the other room and thought I was losing my mind!!! If you laughed reading Mayle's books, you're going to experience severe stomach cramps from laughing so hard while reading Mullen's book. The best part for me was the point in the book when I figured out what town he was really in!!! I won't state the name of the town, but it ryhmes with Walleye. My parents have a vacation farm in the very same town and I spend MANY weekends there!!! I couldn't believe it and it made the book all the more hilarious. If you've moved to upstate New York, planning to or just want to spend a weekend to try it out, this book will split your sides... practically guaranteed.

A super fun book

I read this book in one afternoon. Like many others we too have had dreams of a fantasy "country house". Like the authors wife, we have made forays in Northern California to look for such a dreamplace. But luckily, everything here is either five hours away or costs three quarters of million dollars. So instead I read books like Jim Mullen's and feel smug about not having actually gonr and done the "fool" thing. This book actually has a great story, progresses beautifully, is very funny and is an all-around pleasure to read. If you like humourous books about suburban/urban life then you will love this book.