Someone Will Be with You Shortly: Notes from a Perfectly Imperfect Life

by Lisa Kogan

Book Overview

" Kogan's] wry observations of everyday life will hearten you on your worst days, validate you on your best, and make you laugh any day at all." -- Martha Beck, author of Expecting Adam and Finding Your Own North Star

"Someone Will Be with You Shortly is a delectable blend of wit, whimsy, pith, and poignancy. If David Sedaris were a girl... this is the book he'd write." -- Evan Handler, author of It's Only Temporary

Someone Will Be...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061735027
• ISBN13: 9780061735028
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Lisa Kogan hears the voices in my head

Lisa Kogan has a wry, witty and acerbic sense of humor. She puts on paper the thoughts that go through my head at work, in the check out line, and in traffic every day, and make them better. She sees the world for what it is and encourages all of us to deal with it and make it better.I downloaded her book into my Kindle on a much needed solo getaway, and read it straight through, laughing and crying with each chapter. She is your best friend, your confidant, and your conscience all rolled into one, and you will finish the book only to start from the beginning and read it again. Kudos and bless you, Lisa Kolb.

jodiBHMI

I really enjoyed the book. I would read and actually laugh out loud at certain parts. I found myself thinking of people that I know who remind me of characters in the book. I would highly recommend the book at everyone!!

Great fun

I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend. A quick read. Very funny and charming. I found myself nodding in agreement and snickering out loud. Highly recommend for a quick, uplifting read.

Your kind, witty, wise, self-deprecating older sister in a book

This is one of those books you smile your way through. There's the "that was really funny!" smile and the "man, I've been there" smile and the "there's always a saving grace, isn't there?" smile and... well you get it. Lisa Kogan is spot on in her perceptions of life's little moments - from the gratingly annoying to the elevatingly graceful - and always with her unique humor and humility. She has an amazing ability to be cuttingly direct about human foibles without ever being mean-spirited. That's because just when you think you're looking at "the annoying other" with her, you realize you are also looking in the mirror with her - but it's OK, because she is not judging and finds fodder for soulful humor in her own short-comings as much as in those of others. We're all waiting for that someone who will be with us shortly; and at the same time worrying that we are leaving others waiting. Lisa Kogan gets that and celebrates the humanity of that dichotomy. She is amused and edified (and we with her) as much by our own flawed responses to life's challenges as by the challenges themselves This is a book that has you feeling good each time you pick it up - and most importantly - it'll make you smile!

brilliant, wry, hard to stop reading

I'd read Lisa Kogan before in Oprah Magazine - only a few times, though, whenever i was near a magazine (which isn't that often) and I recently heard her on NPR and she's the BEST thing about the magazine in my opinion. but i didn't know she had a monthly column, and i didn't know how popular she was, or how many fans and i didn't know just how hilarious she could be. which is to say VERY hilarious - like EXTREMELY hilarious. not in a vodka and sex chelsea handler way, more in a funny, poignant, completely fresh way that reminded me of david sedaris if he were a woman living in a horrible apartment building with a small child. I don't think she's like anyone i've read before. she's never nasty but she has a side, a way of looking at things that i can't really remember coming across before - sharp without being snide, and completely charming. The book basically chronicles the life and times of lisa, her boyfriend (who might as well live on the moon for as often as she sees the guy) and her totally irresistible daughter. sure, she lives in new york, but the themes here - being single, being in love, having a child, fighting health problems, getting older - are totally universal. men, if you want to understand women, read this book. women, if you want to see yourself, read this book. I'd heard people tell me how funny and original Lisa Kogan was but until i read this collection (which is kind of a greatest hits thing) i didn't put it all together. anyhow, once you start it you won't be able to put it down. It's THAT good!