Social Studies

I wanted to read one of Fran’s books after enjoying her appearances on the Bill Maher HBO show. She seemed informed, quick-witted, and funny. It was no surprise then to find her book, Social Studies, informed, clever, and on occasion, very funny.

As with most books containing the random thoughts of the author, including diet plans, auction information, and tips for phone directory personnel, some articles hit their mark, and some fall flat. Thankfully, in Social Studies, there are more hits and misses, and I found this a mostly enjoyable read.

she captures a time (though these strike me as timeless too .. like parker) and a perspective and an unrepentant sensibility (yes, she smokes damn it, and loves it!) and humor coupled with judgment she directs at herself as harshly as she does the world around her.

i laugh just thinking about this collection. perhaps i'm recalling the time when i read it, when they were first published. ah, ..

I read this when I was in Virginia Beach for the first part of the summer of 1983. I remember almost nothing about it but that it was the smae snarky humor that had endeared Metropolitan Life to ...well other would be snarks. From my 1983 book journal, "Not bad. Liked M.L better. There were a few hee-haws, but it dragged." The I start rambling about how a boy named Michael and I had discussed marriage. He had been my neighbor in Italy and had been newly-found. I think that I read these collections of essays the wrong way. I should read one essay then set the book aside for a few days...read...respite...read......... When I read them straight through they lose their punch. At that point all the worse aspects come through. Took me a while show more to figure that one out. show less

I read this when I was in Virginia Beach for the first part of the summer of 1983. I remember almost nothing about it but that it was the smae snarky humor that had endeared Metropolitan Life to ...well other would be snarks. From my 1983 book journal, "Not bad. Liked M.L better. There were a few hee-haws, but it dragged." The I start rambling about how a boy named Michael and I had discussed marriage. He had been my neighbor in Italy and had been newly-found. I think that I read these collections of essays the wrong way. I should read one essay then set the book aside for a few days...read...respite...read......... When I read them straight through they lose their punch. At that point all the worse aspects come through. Took me a while show more to figure that one out. show less

I read this when I was in Virginia Beach for the first part of the summer of 1983. I remember almost nothing about it but that it was the smae snarky humor that had endeared Metropolitan Life to ...well other would be snarks. From my 1983 book journal, "Not bad. Liked M.L better. There were a few hee-haws, but it dragged." The I start rambling about how a boy named Michael and I had discussed marriage. He had been my neighbor in Italy and had been newly-found. I think that I read these collections of essays the wrong way. I should read one essay then set the book aside for a few days...read...respite...read......... When I read them straight through they lose their punch. At that point all the worse aspects come through. Took me a while show more to figure that one out. show less