She is hysterical. I loved this book. I laughed aloud (especially at the article about purses), and I connected emotionally to her final essay about death.
I read several Amazon "reviews" about the book, most written by people who loved the book. But I also read the reviews by people who were really disappointed by it--and you know? They made me angry! I get so defensive when I really like a book and someone disses it. Some described it as vapid and too short. Vapid? Are you kidding me? And it is what it is, length wise. She said what she had to say and what she wanted to say, and then she was done.
The thing is, I connected with this collection of essays more than I thought I would. She is writing about being over 60 much of the time, and I still have 23 years before 60. Nevertheless, I have been going through such a crisis about age and death since the birth of my last baby. And Ephron found me there, and she made my laugh at it, and she validated it and she made me sad about it. Thank you, Nora Ephron. I hope you stay well, and later die well. I think you'd know what I mean by that.
I finally got my hands on Cupcake. I had wanted listen to it as I had to Gingerbread and Shrimp, but I don't think it's out on recording yet; either that or libraries haven't purchased it. It was fun to read, though. I didn't love it as much as I did the other two, but it was still yummy. I love the detailed descriptions of what CC eats--or wants to eat--. Oh! I just wanted to chow down on cupcakes! I think it's great that CC fills out, and loves that she has filled out. But I think I have finally tired of her, even though I still adore her character.
Although I have not talked about training yet, I am about to begin talk about it. A lot. I thought I could make this blog purely about my reading, but what I really want to talk about is triathlon--and training--and figuring out how to train without over-training and without abandoning my family. I am competing in Timberman, a 1/2 Ironman, in a little less than a month.
Tomorrow I go for a 48 mile bike ride followed by a 60 min transition run. I go on most of my training rides alone (probably inadvisable) but I find it's not efficient enough to ride with a group. If I have to work out for four hours on a Sunday, I'd rather not add an hour or two in travel, set up, schmoozing, and taking breaks, even if I do have company, and even if it is safer, and even if I do learn a great deal from riding with other people. I am too tried right now to be insightful or funny, so I will report in tomorrow.
