Thoughts...
I learned, "Smell the soup, cool the soup" breathing technique from this book.
I loved the definition of art that Spencer and Eleanor explain to Timby: "...this is art, daring to put a frame around something, signing your name, and letting it speak for itself" (95).
I loved the satire. That is Semple's strength, without a doubt. The Costco satire was the best. "A wave of misanthropy swept over me. Why did that lady need a whole drum of Red Vines? What would someone even do with a hundred combs? Did that fatso really need a laminator all to herself? Couldn't she just go to Kinko's? Or that guy, what was he doing with six gallon jugs of generic scotch? And why must they all wear shorts? Thank God I wasn't one of them! Me with my case of highly rated New Zealand sauvignon blanc, my pound of fresh pineapple spears, my salt-and-pepper pistachios, my twelve-pack of dental floss. My items painted a clear picture of my sophistication...my superior taste...my sparkling intelligence" (110).
Obviously this book was relatable as it portrayed how anxiety-inducing and overwhelming an upper-middle-class modern life can be. And it's funny. The satire was funny too, and I think we were supposed to see a lot of hypocrisy there, but the truth is--Eleanor wasn't a very sympathetic character for me. By the end, she seemed needlessly hysterical (even considering the head injury). The plot didn't help her much, in my opinion, as I was unclear as to what the true "main" issue of the story was--her relationship with sister? her marriage? a general sense of overwhelm?--and the resolutions of all the little parts seemed less than satisfying.
Some good questions were raised. I thought a lot about humor, first-world problems,
hypocrisy, marriage, and family while reading this book. I thought a lot
about women being seen as hysterical, being hysterical, and how much of
each is okay.
