Diane Meier (Author of The Season of Second Chances)

Diane Meier gave

to:

Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond
by Jane Maas

My rating:

I promised myself that I would only review books worth recommending. What's the point of taking up time telling someone what NOT to read. But this book, I fear, is making me break my rule.

Jane Maas' entry into Advertising came a decade or more befor...more I promised myself that I would only review books worth recommending. What's the point of taking up time telling someone what NOT to read. But this book, I fear, is making me break my rule.

Jane Maas' entry into Advertising came a decade or more before mine. A day closer to the "advertised" Peggy Olsen era of the first season of Mad Men. And for that alone, give the gal a star. It took guts. It wasn't easy 15 years later (it isn't easy now). And -- she was responsible for the I HEART NY campaign. Beautifully realized.

But her account of that industry, which was nothing short of cut-throat, and full of characters - unsavory and unethical and perfectly horrible while being utterly fascinating - is bland and buttoned up. Where - to put it in advertising terms - is the BEEF?

Maas admits to a small degree of sexism (female copywriters only covered 'domestic' products) but never really questions the culture that promotes the double standard and hangs on to the status quo for dear life. In fact, she holds Feminism out at arm's length, as though its seeping discontent might color the environment she's managed to navigate for herself. She touches on all kinds of things - from raises to marriage, to mothering, but always in a light, surface-skimming way. And if I felt it was dishonest, am I saying that she is dishonest? I don't think so.

Sadly, the women who managed to live in corporate environments (and many who still do), dealing with the belittling evidence of sexism every day, are either emotionally suited to the shallow end of the pool, or learn to look the other way and concentrate on problem-solving on behalf of their clients and collecting their pay checks - on behalf of themselves and their families. Either way, it's not the set-up for introspection, depth and truth telling. And where would a memoir be without those skills. Many of the ads Jane Maas created, she tells you with a strange sense of wry pride, were emblematic of the very problems we faced. Ads designed to provoke women's shame about grimy collars on husband's shirts, and spots on glasses. Mass doesn't really - not really - see the connection between her not being assigned an auto account and her presentation of women as servants. It's kind of stunning.

So - sadly, no. This is not the answer to MadMen. One look at Joan or Peggy's face will tell you that. This is the story of a perfectly nice women who didn't find those times 'so bad'. Which makes them not so interesting either.(less)

Diane Meier gave

to:

The Girl Who Lived on The Moon
by Frank Delaney (Goodreads Author)

My rating:

Diane Meier gave

to:

The Last Storyteller: A Novel of Ireland
by Frank Delaney (Goodreads Author)

read in February, 2012

My rating:

As in the novel most feel was his masterpiece, "Ireland," in The Last Storyteller, the craft of storytelling is not only celebrated, it's gift-wrapped and presented in ways that feel important, and yet, personal and intimate.

For those who love the i...more As in the novel most feel was his masterpiece, "Ireland," in The Last Storyteller, the craft of storytelling is not only celebrated, it's gift-wrapped and presented in ways that feel important, and yet, personal and intimate.

For those who love the idea of Once Upon a Time... this is the book for you!

Like all of Frank's books, the language is gorgeous. No doubt you expect me to say something like that. But really -- listen. This book is something...

The story is compelling and moving and full of all the things I hope to experience when reading - to be delighted and thrilled, taken over and moved. At least for me - and clearly for many of you, no one does it better.

And if Frank delivers that punch while also showing us to a time "when the geese were barefoot" or the "pigs ate apples off the trees"; if he recalls a time on earth that was created - "when God was in his twenties.." so much the better.

'The Last Storyteller' is, as you may have read, the culmination of what he calls his Venetia Trilogy, the thirty-year, three-book saga of Ben McCarthy and his lost-and-found beloved wife, Venetia Kelly (Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show, The Matchmaker of Kenmare). That this story was designed, as myth, to reflect the passionate, difficult, often misguided quest- for-civility of Ireland itself, during those turbulent years, may be lost on some. I hope not. But the beauty of the books themselves should be lost on no one. The miracle to me is that each of the novels is a kind of triumph on their own. One doesn't need to read them all, I suppose. But what a joy to do so.

On every level, 'The Last Storyteller' delivers the goods. As a stand alone; as the natural resolution to Ben's story; as a window to the more recent history of Ireland; as an example of The Voice that began in an oral tradition and became what we know as literature; and as a fully-expressed, beautifully crafted and well designed myth that shows us the power of desire, the need to move forward in life, and the redemption of love over all evil. It's a heck of a book.(less)

Diane Meier gave

to:

An Available Man: A Novel
by Hilma Wolitzer

read in February, 2012

My rating:

Such a lovely book. My fear is that younger people may not feel drawn to a book about an older man in widow-weeds and the loves he's lost and found. And what a sad mistake that would be.

I didn't have much in common with Mrs. Dalloway when I found her...more

Diane Meier recommended An Available Man: A Novel to David

An Available Man: A Novel
by Hilma Wolitzer

My rating:

Diane Meier just took The Peter Pan. quiz

9/14 questions correct (64.29%) in 2 mins 59 secs

Diane Meier made a comment on HAPPY NEW YEAR:

"It doesn't seem possible that Diana Ross even walked into a place that looks like Hitsville - but there you go. And -- If I believed in Heaven, it WOU...more "

Diane Meier gave

to:

Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
by Gabrielle Hamilton

My rating:

Brilliant. Smart. Honest. Deep. Witty. Charming. Beautifully written. And - a wonderful read.

I loved every page. Didn't want it to end.

I even went downtown to Prune to bask in the experience of the venue she wrote so lovingly about -- and I loved i...more

Diane Meier made a comment on her review of Then Again

"I am kind of amazed that so many Goodreads-readers, whom I think of as pretty savvy and erudite, just didn't 'get' this book.

It's a light hand, to be...more "

Diane Meier gave

to:

The Druid
by Frank Delaney (Goodreads Author)

read in December, 2011

My rating:

Masterful Blend of Dtory and Style

This review is from: The Druid (Frank Delaney Storytellers) (Kindle Edition)
Understanding the nature and the rules of the Oral Tradition of storytelling is something Frank so eloquently illustrated in his best-sellin...more

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The Seasonal Read...: 15.4 - Learn Your Numbers	138	301	Aug 19, 2010 10:47pm
Challenge: 50 Books: Beth's 50 Books 2011	49	77	Dec 29, 2011 06:57am

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	The Season of Second Chances: A Novel 3.36 avg rating — 384 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Breakfast: The Talking Box 4.17 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	My rating:
	The New American Wedding: Ritual and Style in a Changing Culture by Diane Meier (Goodreads Author), Diane Meier Delaney 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2005	My rating:
	Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011	My rating:
	Lunch: Tap or Toe 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart by Laurel Ann Nattress (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Lauren Willig (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Adriana Trigiani (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 3.80 avg rating — 285 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	My rating:

Diane Meier gave to: Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond by Jane Maas	My rating:
I promised myself that I would only review books worth recommending. What's the point of taking up time telling someone what NOT to read. But this book, I fear, is making me break my rule. Jane Maas' entry into Advertising came a decade or more befor...more
Mar 21, 2012 12:44pm · see review
Diane Meier gave to: The Girl Who Lived on The Moon by Frank Delaney (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Feb 12, 2012 11:03am
Diane Meier gave to: The Last Storyteller: A Novel of Ireland by Frank Delaney (Goodreads Author) read in February, 2012	My rating:
As in the novel most feel was his masterpiece, "Ireland," in The Last Storyteller, the craft of storytelling is not only celebrated, it's gift-wrapped and presented in ways that feel important, and yet, personal and intimate. For those who love the i...more
Feb 08, 2012 04:31pm · see review
Diane Meier gave to: An Available Man: A Novel by Hilma Wolitzer read in February, 2012	My rating:
Such a lovely book. My fear is that younger people may not feel drawn to a book about an older man in widow-weeds and the loves he's lost and found. And what a sad mistake that would be. I didn't have much in common with Mrs. Dalloway when I found her...more
Feb 08, 2012 04:02pm · see review
Diane Meier recommended An Available Man: A Novel to David An Available Man: A Novel by Hilma Wolitzer	My rating:
Feb 08, 2012 04:01pm · like
Diane Meier just took The Peter Pan. quiz 9/14 questions correct (64.29%) in 2 mins 59 secs
Jan 04, 2012 11:23am · take the quiz
Diane Meier made a comment on HAPPY NEW YEAR: "It doesn't seem possible that Diana Ross even walked into a place that looks like Hitsville - but there you go. And -- If I believed in Heaven, it WOU...more "
Jan 04, 2012 08:10am
Diane Meier gave to: Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton	My rating:
Brilliant. Smart. Honest. Deep. Witty. Charming. Beautifully written. And - a wonderful read. I loved every page. Didn't want it to end. I even went downtown to Prune to bask in the experience of the venue she wrote so lovingly about -- and I loved i...more
Dec 20, 2011 06:25pm · see review
Diane Meier made a comment on her review of Then Again "I am kind of amazed that so many Goodreads-readers, whom I think of as pretty savvy and erudite, just didn't 'get' this book. It's a light hand, to be...more "
Dec 20, 2011 06:14pm · see review
Diane Meier gave to: The Druid by Frank Delaney (Goodreads Author) read in December, 2011	My rating:
Masterful Blend of Dtory and Style This review is from: The Druid (Frank Delaney Storytellers) (Kindle Edition) Understanding the nature and the rules of the Oral Tradition of storytelling is something Frank so eloquently illustrated in his best-sellin...more
Dec 15, 2011 08:14am · see review

Diane's Bookshelves

Diane's Friends (9)

Diane's Fans (7)

Diane Meier

Goodreads author profile

1 postDiane Meier's Blog

combine editionsBooks by Diane Meier

Upcoming Events

rssDiane's Recent Updates

Topics Mentioning This Author

view all 8Diane Meier's favorite authors

Diane's Friend Comments

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1 post
Diane Meier's Blog

combine editions
Books by Diane Meier

rss
Diane's Recent Updates

view all 8
Diane Meier's favorite authors