cover image Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair

Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair

Laurie Perry, . . Health Communications, $15.95 (261pp) ISBN 978-0-7573-0591-7

Perry, a 33-year-old, Southern-born transplant to L.A., was shocked when her husband announced he was leaving her. Granted, he was more a “safe sedan” than a sports car, but she wasn't ready to be single. Perry started avoiding people for fear of crying in front of them and put on pounds with her divorce diet, 60% wine and 40% jalapeño potato chips and French fries. Fortunately, a friend insisted she try knitting, and Perry got hooked. Knitting not only kept her hands busy but it was reassuring: “No matter what the mistake, you could always go back and make it better.” She discovered a weekly get-together of smart and funny knitters, women who weren't just focused on finding male companionship. Slowly, Perry learned how to live without the marital safety net, enjoy her girlfriends and start dating in the brave new text-messaging, e-mailing world. Women suffering from bumpy divorces will find comfort in the self-deprecating humor and easy knitting patterns that have made Perry's “Crazy Aunt Purl” blog so popular. (Oct.)