Ephron touches on several topics in this collection of essays: physical and mental aging, housing in New York, death, gourmet cooking, and JFK are a few. Her brand of humor is of the depressive sort, and some of the topics probably don’t garner much empathy from less-privleged[sp?] For example, she has to have her roots and highlights dome every 4 weeks? Oy, cry me a river, says I, who hasn’t had scissors nor hair color touch my locks for over 2 years now. These essays show a descriptive slice of life of the moderately rich-and-famous, so it’s perfect for those who like their celebrities intellectual.
As this was an audio “read,” I wasn’t able to jot down any worthy or especially funny quotes. Maybe when I’m old enough to better appreciate her angst, I’ll find a hard copy and give it a re-read. I suppose this book would also be good for those who can read it and feel grateful for not being in Ephron’s stage of life.
[finished 12/11/07]
Showing posts with label memoirs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memoirs. Show all posts
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Friday, January 12, 2007
Lucky Man
It is rare to find autobiographies that consistently make readers not only laugh out loud but also marvel at the grace the author has achieved regarding the mishaps and tragedies s/he has suffered through. Technically, Fox's book is a memoir (I suppose that means "to be continued"), and with Michael Pollan's help, he manages to tell enough of his story without violating too much of his privacy. Fox truly gave the public a gift when he published this book.
Fox's advocacy for more research and funding for the disease he's fighting made me think about today's society and its attitude toward illness and debilitation in general. For some reason, people who are fighting disease or managing pain or other physical limitations due to injury or neurological condition, become relegated to a whole other class and are subject to prejudicial attitudes and to unspoken requests to hide any outward manifestations of their ailment. It's as if humans haven't yet evolved to a point where we aren't punished for our weaknesses; we still "remember" what it's like to live in fear of physical attack from predators. What's up with that?
I'm heartened to know that someone who has been so skilled at his craft (acting) has been successful in branching out into logical directions (producing and writing) and is also devoting his energy to finding a cure for Parkinson's.
"Try to remember that working's no crime, just don't let them take and waste your time." James Taylor
[originally posted to BookCrossing, 3/4/04]
Fox's advocacy for more research and funding for the disease he's fighting made me think about today's society and its attitude toward illness and debilitation in general. For some reason, people who are fighting disease or managing pain or other physical limitations due to injury or neurological condition, become relegated to a whole other class and are subject to prejudicial attitudes and to unspoken requests to hide any outward manifestations of their ailment. It's as if humans haven't yet evolved to a point where we aren't punished for our weaknesses; we still "remember" what it's like to live in fear of physical attack from predators. What's up with that?
I'm heartened to know that someone who has been so skilled at his craft (acting) has been successful in branching out into logical directions (producing and writing) and is also devoting his energy to finding a cure for Parkinson's.
"Try to remember that working's no crime, just don't let them take and waste your time." James Taylor
[originally posted to BookCrossing, 3/4/04]
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