Couponing guide, memoir lacks focus

It's a classic line: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Mary Potter Kenyon, author of “Coupon Crazy” (Familius, 224 pages, $16.95) and a 30-year veteran of the coupon world, found this out when she joined Facebook and discovered she was now eligible for scores of valuable coupons - which turned out to be fraudulent.

However, this was just one small setback in her long, career as a coupon expert.

In “Coupon Crazy,” Kenyon recounts her history with coupons, from scouring alleys and recycling centers for coupons and rebates, to running workshops and teaching others how to score deals.

It's difficult to determine what type of book “Coupon Crazy” actually is.

It moves from a how-to guide, an academic text, a personal memoir and an analysis of “extreme couponers” often all in the same chapter.

When Kenyon does venture into topics of depth (such as where coupons go after they are redeemed, or how amassing enormous stockpiles of goods can actually be detrimental), these points are quickly pushed aside for more statistics and repetitious stories about rebates.

Perhaps most frustrating are the opening chapters where Kenyon plops together large amounts of outside research without transitioning back to her own argument. As a result, the research comes off as thin and disjointed.

Where Kenyon is at her best, however, is when she discusses her personal experiences with couponing. As the book continues, Kenyon lets more and more of her own voice - and her own story - shine through. Here she is in her element: her voice is chatty and comforting, and she tells a wonderful story. After reading the two columns she included in the 12th chapter, I wished the book had simply been a collection of her previous work.

While academic writing may not be a fit for Kenyon, we can hope she is at work on a memoir.

Laura Farmer is writing studio director at Cornell College. Find an archive of her reviews at laurafarmerreviews.com.