For women only
As the only son in the Big Apple, the sap was running at puberty when my thoughts turned to the other gender — not only as girlfriends, but also as wives. Mum had a sister and four brothers, all married. There were family get-togethers, dominated by the women. They talked and laughed, argued and shouted.
From what I witnesses I wouldn’t have wed any of them, including my mother. One aunt was worst. She had diarrhoea of the mouth, wouldn’t stop talking, had an opinion about everything. Even at that age, I knew that she didn’t know what she was talking about. Did she talk in her sleep? Over the years, in more than one country, I met other garrulous women and gave them a wide berth. To be sure they may drop a gem among all the doo-doo, but it isn’t worth waiting for. I thank the firmament that my better half isn’t like that. Happily the vast majority of lady authors aren’t either, yet some are.
This reviewer encountered a case in point in Is It Just Me? by Brit Miranda Hart. Her own protagonist Miranda is bigboned 6 feet tall and a virginal 38. A college graduate who seemed to have learned nothing, she admits to knowing nothing about politics and culture. Working in an office, having friends (less boyfriends) she has tricks to keep her ignorance from them. This book, just over 300 pages, is in the form of an interview. The interviewer is herself, age 18 (Little Miranda) with a promising future. Replies to questions range from one word to pages-long paragraphs.
Miranda is asked about her thought and feelings about 18 topics. For the most part, her lengthy musings are so much verbiage, often noting that people professing to be knowledgeable (doctors, economists, art experts) aren’t. To lose weight, eat less and move more. Avoid diets.
Miranda regards 35 as the beginning of middle age, knee pains the first indication. Walking is the only worthwhile exercise, gyms overcharging for the same results. Refusing to believe that there are men of her height, the few dates she has are with dwarfs who can’t see above her breasts.
Tedious topics include buying hats to go to weddings, wondering what to buy friends for their birthdays, going on holidays, analysing dreams, etc, etc.
Miranda Hart reminds me of my aunt who talked too much. Is It Just Me? is by a woman for women. They are welcome to it.