Excuse Me While I Disappear: Tales of Midlife Mayhem

Notaro (Crossing the Horizon; Housebroken) has reached middle life. Just past 50, rocking gray hair and a body that snaps, crackles and pops, Notaro has written a frank but hilarious book on the dangers of aging. From stories about menopause (or not), to near-death experiences and a midlife-crisis car purchase, she knows how to look at life’s frustrating moments and laugh. Narrator Hillary Huber’s winsome performance grounds the author’s raucous humor and candid takes on the life of a 50-something woman. Huber intimately conveys Notaro’s observation that women somehow become invisible once they reach midlife. While this experience can be a little fun (it’s now possible to accidentally shoplift potatoes!), it’s also disheartening. Listeners should take heart, however, as Notaro proves that being older and (maybe) wiser is not all bad. These irreverent, sometimes profane, narratives strike a universal chord that will have listeners rolling with laughter at Notaro’s escapades, while also nodding their heads in agreement.