Books like Sellevision by Augusten Burroughs

In the over‑the‑top, light‑hearted comedy *Sellevision*, Augusten Burroughs takes readers behind the curtain of a popular television shopping network. Peggy Jean Smythe, a brightly adventurous Christian mother of three, finds her day‑to‑day presentation rattled when a viewer’s suspicious e‑mail accuses her of presenting jewelry with a "hairy earlobe" – a grievance that escalates into a bizarre rant over the air while Peggy’s self‑image shifts into a mustachioed lumberjack. Meanwhile, her co‑host Max Andrews is dismissed after an accidental exposure during a children’s special, forcing him to confront the harsh reality of being a former teleshopping personality. Burroughs delivers the story with a sharp, humorous edge, making the absurdity of fame and scandal feel both relatable and deeply wry. *Themes: television culture, absurdity of celebrity, scandal, gendered stereotypes, personal identity, male vs. female media portrayal, humor.*

First publish date: 2000