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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This included two of Fran Lebowitz’s books, Metropolitan Life and Social Studies. I loved Metropolitan Life. It was hilarious. Social Studies, not as much. Even when I didn’t like it, though, she’s extraordinarily clever. And the Netflix series that Martin Scorsese does with her is equally excellent.
Quotes:
“Edison invented the electric light bulb, the purpose of which was to make it possible for one to read at night. A great and admirable achievement and one that would undoubtedly have earned him a permanent place in the hearts and minds of civilized men had he not then turned around and invented the phonograph. This single act led to the eventual furnishing of small apartments with quadrophonic sound systems, thereby making it impossible for the better element to properly enjoy his good invention. If one follows this line of thought to its logical conclusion one clearly sees that almost without exception every displeasing aspect of science is, in one way or another, a hideous corruption of the concept of reading at night.”
“My parents were understandably upset about my inability to tell time, for they possessed the foresight to realize that any child who talked back with such verve and snap would one day need a lawyer who charged by the hour.”
“For those of you fortunate enough to have your lack of awareness extend into the realm of advertising, mood jewelry is jewelry that tells you your feelings via a heat-sensitive stone. And although one would think that stones would have quite enough to do, what with graves and walls and such, it seems that they have now taken on the job of informing people that they are nervous.”
Quotes:
“Edison invented the electric light bulb, the purpose of which was to make it possible for one to read at night. A great and admirable achievement and one that would undoubtedly have earned him a permanent place in the hearts and minds of civilized men had he not then turned around and invented the phonograph. This single act led to the eventual furnishing of small apartments with quadrophonic sound systems, thereby making it impossible for the better element to properly enjoy his good invention. If one follows this line of thought to its logical conclusion one clearly sees that almost without exception every displeasing aspect of science is, in one way or another, a hideous corruption of the concept of reading at night.”
“My parents were understandably upset about my inability to tell time, for they possessed the foresight to realize that any child who talked back with such verve and snap would one day need a lawyer who charged by the hour.”
“For those of you fortunate enough to have your lack of awareness extend into the realm of advertising, mood jewelry is jewelry that tells you your feelings via a heat-sensitive stone. And although one would think that stones would have quite enough to do, what with graves and walls and such, it seems that they have now taken on the job of informing people that they are nervous.”
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Just wasn't for me, it's not a book that you "read" more of a coffee table book, I don't really know what I was hoping for, maybe a little bit more of the docuseries on Netflix, as it was it felt dated, like all observational comedy it is of its time, and although moments were funny, realistically I've not picked this back up in 6 months.
This book is so pointless but perhaps in a good way (definitely not the type of book that you want to be reading cover to cover. Lots of witty observations and hilarious commentary on urban life. If you're a fan of Fran, you'll probably enjoy this. "Read" this as audio book which was nice because she narrates her stories, so bonus points for that.
I wanted it to be so much better. It was mostly boring or just plain. Just a couple of funny parts.
Having just finished watching Pretend It’s a City I thought I’d revisit this one from 20 years ago. I remember thinking then that it was mildly amusing. Upon a second reading two decades later I found it to be, well, mildly amusing.
This was quite hit and miss for me. I checked this out from the library after watching a couple of episodes of Pretend It's a City, which benefits from including Lebowitz's voice and mannerisms. There are some deeply funny satires in this collection. Overall, though, I found myself thinking that the author finds herself more clever than she really is.