The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir Review
Received this as an Amazon Vine selection, and almost passed on it, wondering if it would be worth the time to read it. But the description was intriguing, so I went for it... and haven't regretted it. Elna Baker's book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance turned out to be a true delight, in the eyes of this reviewer.
As a single, 27-year-old Mormon living in New York City, Ms. Baker does seem to know a bit about bad dates, and she shares them in such a way that is witty yet at times a bit touching. Being a Mormon in Manhattan probably isn't easy, as there seem to be some very strict rules that come with being one of that faith. She attended the New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance each year to search for the "perfect Mormon man," but had no luck. Her description of being a virgin in a room full of virgins doing the Macarena was a scene to visualize, as was the description of her Queen Bee costume disaster.
Elna Baker is a stand-up comedian as well, and she has a very funny way of relating her misadventures, such as selling weird, overpriced dolls to petulant children at FAO Schwarz, and dressing a head wound with a maxi pad while on a date. She experiences her first kiss at age 22, and is still a virgin by choice at age 26. All of this is nothing compared to what happens when she loses eighty pounds, then falls in love with an atheist. But her discovery of life and of love makes her quite likeable.
So, can Mormon abstinence and chastity be explained with passion and wit?
Yes, and the author does it quite well. This is a delightful read. It does contain some language that might be objectionable to some Mormon readers, as she does use the f-word at times. But it's an upbeat and funny book that also offers some insights into the Mormon religion and some of its misconceptions.
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir Overview
Writer, actress, and gorgeous stand up comedian: Introducing the Mormon Tina Fey
It's lonely being a Mormon in New York City. So once again, Elna Baker attends the New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance-a virgin in a room full of virgins doing the Macarena. Her Queen Bee costume, which involves a black funnel stuck to her butt for a stinger, isn't attracting the attention she'd anticipated. So once again, Elna is alone at the punch bowl, stocking up on generic Oreos, exactly where you'd expect to find a single Mormon who's also a Big Girl. But loneliness is nothing compared to what happens when she loses eighty pounds. . . . and falls in love with an atheist.
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance is the memoir of a girl who distresses her family when she chooses NYU over BYU. A girl who's cultivating an oxymoronic identity as a bold, educated, modern, funny, proper, abstinent, religious stand-up comic, equal parts wholesome and hot. As Elna test-drives her identity, she finds herself in the strangest scenarios including selling creepy, overpriced dolls to petulant children at FAO Schwarz and dressing a head wound with a maxi pad while on a date.
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Customer Reviews
Funny and honest - Lisa -
This book is laugh out loud funny. I gave it to my friend who told me she couldn't read it in public because people thought she was crazy (because she kept laughing). It is also brave and honest. The author is so likable, and her narration done so well I felt like she was a friend telling me her story. I wish she would write a sequel. I would buy it immediately.
Good Times - K. Kelly - Missouri
This book was a selection for a book club that I'm in. I thought the book was funny and heartwarming. I actually learned a bit about the Mormon culture along the way. :-)
Perfectly honest! - Annadaboo -
Elna is a hilarious writer and this book made me laugh aloud many times. It is witty and funny. As a Mormon who has grappled with the major questions and paradoxes raised by my faith, and yet chosen to continue to be Mormon, I loved this book for its almost painful honesty and candor. Yes, being Mormon in the modern world is difficult, but it is not impossible. What I loved the most was Elna's excellent descriptions of the times in her life when she felt "the spirit," or God speaking to her soul and touching her heart. Most people find this sensation difficult to describe, but what Elna experienced matches my own personal experiences to a T. For those of us who seek a personal relationship with God, or "personal revelation," this book speaks true. It is these small moments that give us the insight and clarity to soldier on. Thank you, Elna, for sharing your story.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 30, 2010 16:01:04
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