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A review by bartvanovermeire
Things Are Against Us by Lucy Ellmann
3.0
THINGS disappoint us, as does the title essay from this collection. It had the same hypnotising cadence as 'Ducks, Newburyport', but for me lacked the humorous tone. And why blaming things first and foremost and not humans? And putting the Large Hadron Collider in the list together with fascism, poverty, ... on the minus side of thousands of years of male rule? While the Chrysler Building is on the plus side? 'What a fucking liberty!' as Catherine Tate's Nan would say.
The next two essays, 'The Underground Bunker' and 'Trapped Family Fingers', were underwhelming as well, but luckily Ellmann was back at her best in 'Three Strikes'.
Sadly, the rest of the collection is quite mixed and, while I agreed with most that she wrote, I think that's also why I didn't like it that much: it reminded me too much of myself at times. To be clear, though: Ellmann is more articulate and a lot funnier, especially in 'The Lost Art of Staying Put' she's on a (sedentary) roll.
And finally: I've now really read enough about Laura Ingalls Wilder.
So, let's not complain too much, there were some very good complaints in this collection after all.
The next two essays, 'The Underground Bunker' and 'Trapped Family Fingers', were underwhelming as well, but luckily Ellmann was back at her best in 'Three Strikes'.
Sadly, the rest of the collection is quite mixed and, while I agreed with most that she wrote, I think that's also why I didn't like it that much: it reminded me too much of myself at times. To be clear, though: Ellmann is more articulate and a lot funnier, especially in 'The Lost Art of Staying Put' she's on a (sedentary) roll.
And finally: I've now really read enough about Laura Ingalls Wilder.
So, let's not complain too much, there were some very good complaints in this collection after all.