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Summary: Awesome Guilt
Review: All the confessions in this book are deliciously guilty and are expressed in the picturesque language of poets and the best of literary writers.
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Summary: Reading Fudge
Review: I love to read in the same way that some people love eating chocolates. Just as they disregard warnings as to caloric intake in making their selections and opt for the largest, darkest,or prettiest piece in the box, so, too, I disregard the admonition not to judge a book by its cover and often select a book by its size, heft, and cover. Guilty Pleasures meets all of my superficial criteria: it has a pleasing fit to the hand, a weight perfect for horizontally-inclined literati such as I, and an eye-catching cover filled with colorful shoes such that one's eye is drawn to the authorship on the suspicion (unfounded) that this is Immelda Marcos' work. Of course, as my chocoholic friends might say, "the proof is in the pudding" and the quality of a book is in the reading. Just as a square of fudge delights as it melts and clings to the palate, Guilty Pleasures delights the mind. Eight women writers unrepentantly share the joys they find in ordinary and not so ordinary pleasures running a quixotic gamut from taking antidepressants to applying toenail polish, from crossword fanaticism to extorting money from one's parents. The writing is refreshingly witty, wicked, and wise. Although these small gems of essays are assembled of necessity in an order, I recommend reading them haphazardly. After all, what chocolate lover would adhere to the map on the candy box, eating all the creams first before proceeding to the nuts? There are enough strictures in life! Just open the book and enjoy at random. And, yes, the next time you need to tote a small gift somewhere, you might forego the candy and bring along a copy of Guilty Pleasures. Think of it as a book lover's fudge!
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Summary: Great Mother's gift
Review: I loved the humor in this book -- especially the piece about guilting out your parents to get them to send money. Even my mother got a laugh out of that one. And the piece about cinnamon rolls was sexy (my boyfriend got more than a laugh). All in all, it's a fun dip-in-and-out read. I'll probably buy a few to keep for quick gifts -- better than the same-old bottle of wine or flowers.
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Summary: good book club selection
Review: My book discussion group read Guilty Pleasures this month. It was the first non-fiction book we ever selected. The book is a lot of fun, but it has serious parts, too, so it made for a good discussion.
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Summary: Luxuriating in Guilty Pleasures
Review: Some books you read with a large double latte to make sure you are alert to the end. Some you rip through, gladly increasing your sleep deficit. Some books, though, you take with you to a hot bath, filled with oils or bubbles, a glass of wine on the floor next to you, a candle or two on the window sill, and you lock the door against the kids, the spouse, the phone, the world. That's "Guilty Pleasures." It's written by a gaggle of sharp witted women, hanging their undies for the world to see. My favorite essay is about taking antidepressants. The very talented and anonymous author takes us on a ride through her real life experience of better living through chemistry. All of the writers approach their various sins with clear-eyed honesty, exposing the kinds of things we do and think when we're alone in the car, in bed, at home. They let us into their private delights. And we love them for it. Order a copy and start the bath. Don't forget the $50 salts from London. And some Belgian chocolates. And an Egyptian cotton robe. On second thought, order a bunch and send them to all your women friends
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Summary: abashed grins
Review: These authors have tapped into a huge vein (keg?) of human experience. Each essay details a different furtive joy, and I could feel their pleasure even in the ones I couldn't identify with myself.
There are no morals given; no helpfull hints; just honest enjoyment of many things that may not fit our public personas or enhance our professional images. Before I even finished the book, I found myself mentally starting to examine my own guilty pleasures. It's so nice to know that I'm not alone in admitting that I do get a thrill out of a few somewhat dubious activities.
My daughter keeps dipping into this book, too. Obviously, it's appeal is multi-generational.
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Summary: A Cup of Tea and This Book = Perfect Combination
Review: What a pleasure to find this book! Here we have regular women from the "fly-over-zone" with all the intrigue and angst of the hottest Hollywood celebrities, without all the hype. The book is laugh-out-loud funny in many places, but I was particularly struck by how much I learned. For example, you can learn where to find the best buys on eBay for beads and bargaining techniques that would take months to learn on your own. One essay deals with the exuberance of life when contrasted with a friend's impending death; that one will let you step out into your life with a greater appreciation for it. Another essay details strategies for getting money from your mother, including an imaginary catalogue of letters to garner sympathy from Mom: "Dear Mom, I learned today that when trash cans are labeled "inedible," that isn't always true..." More follow. The book makes a perfect "chick gift" for many laughs and much insight into ordinary lives.
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