If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet?

I'm always a bit hesitant to give a chance to those collections of essays by feminist urban singles. Heimel certainly falls into this category, but I suppose she's a fairer example of it than most.

I'm inclined to say she's better than Candace Bushnell but worse than Dorothy Parker, but I can't in good conscience, seeing as I haven't actually read either of these authors (Parker's on the shelf, though). However, that kind of comparison seems to fit Heimel.

I did find a couple of the essays (which originally appeared in such periodicals as Playboy and the Village Voice) humorous. I loved the article blaming It's a Wonderful Life for the high suicide rate during the holiday season. I also thought her two companion pieces documenting the show more differing reactions of a group of men vs. a group of women to an all day porn marathon were enlightening. But overall I couldn't really relate to Heimel or find her that funny.

I was surprised to find so many pieces about being a single mother with a teenage son.

Basically I find it hard to respect an author who writes a heavy handed article blaming Marilyn Monroe for male chauvinism (seems to me like the "she was asking for it" argument I've heard too many times) and then follows it up with an in depth look at how PMS causes bad wardrobe decisions.

The rest of the pieces are standard relationship fare or are along the lines of "why are all the uncool people wearing black nowadays?" type of thinking. It's an easy read in that it doesn't require a large attention span, but I think it could have been smarter.

Pick up Fran Lebowitz instead. show less

I read this collection of her columns back when it was published in 1991, and loved it then. I just re-read it, and while parts of it are dated*, her humor and insight still shine.

*pun intended.

I LOVE the title of this book - it makes me laugh every time I read it. The essays are not exceptionally memorible, but the title makes the book memorible.

American wit and humor