Spicy advice from 1936! There is liquor! There are morals! There are bed jackets! (Apparently three or four different bed jackets are needed for diffeSpicy advice from 1936! There is liquor! There are morals! There are bed jackets! (Apparently three or four different bed jackets are needed for different circumstances. I had no idea. This was decades before the Snuggie.)
I don't live alone right now, but I certainly loved it when I did.
The author assumes that the reader will be able to hire a maid or other servant full-time or part-time for just a few dollars a week. No word on whether that person lives alone and likes it.
Marjorie Hillis was a Vogue employee of many years when she wrote this witty and highly opinionated guide. The book was a huge success in pop culture and financially, and Miss Hillis went on to marry (and stop living alone) three years after its initial publication....more
I read a lot of mysteries, and this is the best one I've read in a few years. Atmospheric, compelling, excellent character development. The fractured I read a lot of mysteries, and this is the best one I've read in a few years. Atmospheric, compelling, excellent character development. The fractured timeline made things a little harder to understand, but it worked for me. I will go back and read Long Bright River, the author's previous mystery....more
Read for work. Fun and informative biography of Edwin Binney. Minus one star because the illustrator made the women and girls cartoonishly, impossiblyRead for work. Fun and informative biography of Edwin Binney. Minus one star because the illustrator made the women and girls cartoonishly, impossibly thin while portraying the men and boys realistically. Gross....more
Very similar to the author's previous mystery, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Fun romp with corpses. I learned a bit about Australian histoVery similar to the author's previous mystery, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Fun romp with corpses. I learned a bit about Australian history and geography. Also, now I know that Australians don't rummage in their purses; they fossick in their handbags....more
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker staff writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, conducted more than 300 in-depth interviews on the topic of . . . reality teEmily Nussbaum, New Yorker staff writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, conducted more than 300 in-depth interviews on the topic of . . . reality television?! The title is a bit of a cheat because it comes from the movie The Truman Show. But the whole thing is written well and held my interest, even though I haven't seen some of the shows Nussbaum writes about. (But I have seen a lot of them. Even The Gong Show.) I didn't know that the whole reality vs. scripted conflict goes all the way back to radio, when people complained that writers and actors and musicians were being thrown out of work by a show called—I'm not kidding—Candid Microphone....more
I laughed out loud about two dozen times. This is especially impressive because some of the essays are quite sad. What is it like when your dad is a sI laughed out loud about two dozen times. This is especially impressive because some of the essays are quite sad. What is it like when your dad is a spy? Lonely. What is it like to be a little kid in Florida? Rather shitty, especially when your mom is poor and refuses to get rid of her abusive, erratic boyfriend. What is it like when your mom accidentally burns down the house she was in the process of selling? Well, your relationship with her certainly isn't going to get better.
DeRuiter seems to be a thoroughgoing optimist now, which surprised me given the circumstances of her upbringing. It sounds as if she married a delightful man, which certainly sweetens life. And she has never been on a diet. And she got a book deal! And I think she and/or her husband might be extremely rich?
One of the essay titles made me gasp: "Bikini Body of Christ." So if you find that title blasphemous or otherwise offensive, that may be a sign that this essay collection is not for you....more
When Kamala Harris ran for California attorney general, her aunt in India lined up 108 coconuts to wish her good luck. It worked! This book is a colorWhen Kamala Harris ran for California attorney general, her aunt in India lined up 108 coconuts to wish her good luck. It worked! This book is a colorful and appealing account of the U.S. vice president....more
I love this series. Fast-paced plots, appealing characters, and so funny. I didn't know that I wanted humor in my mystery novels! I'm sad that this isI love this series. Fast-paced plots, appealing characters, and so funny. I didn't know that I wanted humor in my mystery novels! I'm sad that this is the last in the series so far, but the author has promised to write at least one more....more
Fascinating glimpses of women through the ages—everything from cave art to a specific type of vibrator. I enjoyed learning about the 100 MPH coat, desFascinating glimpses of women through the ages—everything from cave art to a specific type of vibrator. I enjoyed learning about the 100 MPH coat, designed for early motorists, and the bikini, designed for scandal. The audiobook has a stellar array of readers, including Daisy Ridley, Gillian Anderson, Margaret Atwood, and many other notables. ...more
My favorite bit of trivia from this series: On the day Joséphine was crowned empress, she was wearing underwear that had emeralds sewn into it.
I wish My favorite bit of trivia from this series: On the day Joséphine was crowned empress, she was wearing underwear that had emeralds sewn into it.
I wish I had kept track of how many miles I logged on the rowing machine while watching this series of 48 lectures about Marie Antoinette, Madame de Staël, and of course Napoléon. This is a detailed and enthusiastic combination of social history (the words and deeds of regular people), economics, political philosophy, military history, and much more. Dr. Desan makes an effort to include information about women and their rights. I've watched a lot of Teaching Company courses, and this one has more lectures, more images, more animated maps, more political cartoons, more everything....more
Such a charming, funny, murderous series. My only concern is that the author has introduced so many farfetched yet appealing characters that it is staSuch a charming, funny, murderous series. My only concern is that the author has introduced so many farfetched yet appealing characters that it is starting to become difficult to keep track of them all....more
Feminist analysis and criticism of what the author calls the Upskirt Decade. She even throws in a cogent explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis iFeminist analysis and criticism of what the author calls the Upskirt Decade. She even throws in a cogent explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis in the chapter on Kim Kardashian. It doesn't really fit there, but I'm impressed anyway. I didn't know much about the wrestler Chyna, so that was the most interesting chapter to me....more
I came for the absurd title and for the funny messages the author has published on Twitter. (She responds enthusiastically to romance fraudsters, tellI came for the absurd title and for the funny messages the author has published on Twitter. (She responds enthusiastically to romance fraudsters, tells them she is a murderer and/or a cannibal, and then sends them photos of her in a helicopter or on a boat and tells them she's coming to see them in person so they can be together forever. They respond with panic, horror, and disgust.) I stayed for the compassionate and practical advice.
What I learned:
• Romance fraudsters often pretend to be military officers or oil-rig workers. These folks travel internationally, are gone for long periods, and are in physically risky jobs, all of which help the fraudsters manipulate others.
• Romance fraudsters and abusive partners share many characteristics, including sudden outbursts, abusive comments, and long periods of the silent treatment followed by love bombing. So people who have been in abusive relationships in the past may be more vulnerable to online romance fraudsters.
• The author thinks it's cruel to say that someone "fell for" a romance scam. She points out that we don't usually say that someone "fell for" a burglary.
• The public are becoming more aware of romance scams, but there's still a ton of victim blaming, which causes many scam victims to avoid coming forward out of embarrassment.
• Women (or people pretending to be women) perpetrate romance frauds on men, but this book is about the ladies.
I read this for work. Very serious story about Ai Weiwei, who grew up in a prison camp, became a famous artist, and made art related to the refugee crI read this for work. Very serious story about Ai Weiwei, who grew up in a prison camp, became a famous artist, and made art related to the refugee crisis....more
Leslie Jones once got so enraged at a Saturday Night Live colleague that she called up a murderer she knew and offered to fly him out to New York so hLeslie Jones once got so enraged at a Saturday Night Live colleague that she called up a murderer she knew and offered to fly him out to New York so he could kill this person. The murderer's response? "Les, it's Christmas. I just had a baby." The murderer suggested that Leslie simply stop communicating with this person "because it's cold in your shadow." Leslie tried this option and it worked! No homicide necessary! This audiobook is a wild, freewheeling, often teary account of the author's life, career, and philosophy. I enjoyed it very much, and I felt especially sympathetic to her when she revealed that she was unable to attend either of her parents' funerals because she was away making money to pay for those funerals. (One of her most strongly worded pieces of advice is to buy insurance so you don't burden others with those costs.) Today Leslie Jones lives in a 4,000-square-foot home in California with a swimming pool and a beauty salon and a pantry that is stocked like a 7-Eleven. And I'm so happy for her. She deserves all of that....more
Read for work. I'm so happy that this book is available so that young children can learn about some vital events in U.S. history. I enjoyed the text, Read for work. I'm so happy that this book is available so that young children can learn about some vital events in U.S. history. I enjoyed the text, but the art didn't do anything for me. Your mileage may vary....more
Rhyming poems in the Scots language, confidently read by the poet. Often somber but with some optimism and joy, especially near the end of the book. ARhyming poems in the Scots language, confidently read by the poet. Often somber but with some optimism and joy, especially near the end of the book. AH'M nae greetin, YE'RE greetin....more
I read this because of the strong ratings on Goodreads and was not disappointed. Rapid-fire plot and some appealing dialogue. My one complaint is thatI read this because of the strong ratings on Goodreads and was not disappointed. Rapid-fire plot and some appealing dialogue. My one complaint is that the author spoils the endings of the four best Agatha Christie novels in one paragraph, to which I say BOO HISS....more
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