Dearly Befuddled

Katherine Finstuen

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Details

Title	Dearly Befuddled
Author	Katherine Finstuen
Illustrator	Jessica Lyman Finstuen
Genre	Essays
Size	6.5 ” X 6.5 “
Pages	102
Format and Price	Paperback $17.00, E-Book $6.00
Important	Basic shipping through the US Postal Service – without tracking – is free. Ground ($15) and 2-day ($40) shipping is via UPS with tracking. All delivery windows are estimates only. No UPS delivery to PO boxes. If you order an e-book, the PDF and EPUB files will be sent to your email address (advise if you need a MOBI file for Kindle). Return policy: we only accept return of items damaged in shipment – if this is the case please contact us at support@watertonpublishing.com.

Blurb

For those who find life mysterious and lovely, filled with both gut-wrenching despair and gut-shaking humor, Dearly Befuddled offers a collection of essays delving into the vastness of human experience and imagination. Written by Katherine Finstuen and illustrated by Jessica Lyman Finstuen, this follow-up to their first collaborative effort, Those Who Can’t Do, will once again elicit laughter, poignancy, thought, and a sense of wonder.

Author

Katherine Finstuen grew up in Washington state before relocating to California in 2002 where she earned her M.A. in English Literature and Composition at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Though two short stories were published there during her time as a student, she has since devoted her life to reading copiously, walking vigorously, and creating offbeat cross-stitch slowly — all while teaching high school English. Recently, however, she devoted more time to writing, producing “Those Who Can’t Do” along with her beloved sister-in-law.

Illustrator

Jessica Lyman Finstuen grew up in rural Montana until moving to less rural Montana and then onto Wales, Oregon, California and finally settling in Washington State. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Art from Montana State University in 1999 and has enjoyed creating her whole life. Teaching special education has been her focus for the last 14 years while raising two kids with the author’s brother, hiking, gardening, and enjoying the Pacific Northwest. The opportunity to collaborate with her creative and wonderful sister-in-law sparked her artistic side and this book has been a fulfilling collaboration.

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Reviews

Richard
Stacy
David	In her first book “Those Who Can’t Do”, Katherine Finstuen shared with us her reflections on a wide swath of Life and Living, skillfully utilizing a wry sense of humor and wit while remaining focused on everyday aspects of Life that we can all pretty much relate to in one way or another.So how could she possibly surpass that? Easy- with another book. And she does just exactly that in her second tome- “Dearly Befuddled.” In this follow-up volume Katherine takes us another step forward while sparing no part of her experiences from examination. Once again, it’s an opportunity for us to enjoy her perspectives on the things in Life that are so often simply taken for granted. In the process, Katherine provides another way to look at, and appreciate, those things. And once again, Katherine demonstrates a knack for helping us to better understand what we thought we already understood. Unabashed. At times provocative. Always entertaining. Highly recommended.
Robert	Dearly Befuddled–the sequel to Katherine Finstuen’s first book Those Who Can’t Do–proves her first book was no fluke and that we have an original talent on our hands. Wise and funny, there is a seamless unity of intelligence with humor in this sequel that demonstrates a new confidence, a stronger voice and even more unfettered attitude. But this time Finstuen takes on more challenging topics —body part artists—Covid—rejection letters—each one challenging her ethos to rise to the occasion—which it does again and again. There is hardly a single line in this book that does not land with a surprising insight, revelation, pun or joke. It’s sometimes like listening to a very brave and very literate stand-up comedian who, nevertheless, is always looking for the truth. A wonderful book by a writer’s writer and a reader’s best friend. I am a big fan.
Diane	Dearly Befuddled moved me to tears and laughter–sometimes at the same time. Katherine’s wit and humanity shine through the pages. She understands loss, anxiety, and the annoyance caused by well-meaning people. And her sense of humor crackles! These essays provide insight into life itself, and I happily recommend it. It’s a great companion to her first collection, Those Who Can’t Do.
Larry	Katherine Finstuen has once again proven her mastery and agility with the written word. Dearly Befuddled is a deeper book than her first, tapping into a different set of emotions yet with the same brand of humility, wit, and charm as the first. When the two books are paired together it almost feels like going on a series of dates with the author, but strangely enough the conversation doesn’t feel one-sided. The date conversations begin light and funny, with occasional hints at what lies beneath her surface, progressing to stories that bare her soul in profound, yet still laugh out loud funny ways, all of which are so elegantly worded that you love the dance as much as the dancer. Her stories are told in such an honest way, most will find some degree of simpatico with many of them, leaving the reader feeling very connected to the material.
Goodreads	April 5, 2023 Katherine Finstuen’s second book manages to feel comforting and fresh at the same time, like having coffee with a friend you haven’t seen for a long time. The trademark humor is there, sometimes brazen, sometimes subtle, as is Katherine’s ability to be somehow poignant, sad and silly simultaneously. These essays beautifully express the delight, sadness and bewilderment found in the quotidian, while also illuminating how our inner worlds can bring a sense of possibility to seemingly mundane circumstances. The prose is masterful, bringing a certain intimacy to this delightful and at times disconsolate book.