Meaty Yogurt by Megan Rose Gedris
Admission: Megan Gedris is from my hometown, and I unequivocally love anything that comes out of those parts. Ergo, I was destined to love Meaty Yogurt. Although to be honest, I would have loved it without knowing Gedris is from Grand Rapids, MI.
Meaty Yogurt is a feminist working class comedy that includes a diverse batch of characters. It humorously and unselfconsciously tells the story of 20-something Jackie, a story editor at a local newspaper who works for $8/hour without benefits, and her roommate Saffron, who is a lesbian and waitress with a degree in fashion design. The female anti-hero, Jackie, is so awesome, and loveable. Most likely a naming coincidence, but she reminds me of Jackie, Roseanne’s sister on the sitcom Roseanne. She’s ambitious, but eratic. She writes a screenplay while crapping on the toilet, and then creates an impromptu punk band with her Slovenian co-worker Sasa, after seeing an add for a “Battle of the Bands” at a local bar. They call themselves “Sex Mime” and they come in 7th out of 27 bands. Not good enough, Jackie thinks. Too mediocre. Meaty Yogurt.
She’s always putting her foot in her mouth, like when she tells her roommate’s girlfriend about the Indian curse that fated her to stay in Middleville, and then casually asks where she’s from.
Roommate’s Girlfriend: “The Rojo Valley Indian Reservation.”
Jackie: “Oh.”