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Wallflower at the Orgy
by
Nora Ephron
From her Academy Award—nominated screenplays to her bestselling fiction and essays, Nora Ephron is one of America’s most gifted, prolific, and versatile writers. In this classic collection of magazine articles, Ephron does what she does best: embrace American culture with love, cynicism, and unmatched wit. From tracking down the beginnings of the self-help movement to dres...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
June 1st 2011
by Bantam
(first published 1970)
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Sometime last year, I read Nora Ephron's fantastic book Crazy Salad, which was a collection of columns she had written in the 1970s for various magazines. I loved that book and her writing. Even though the essays were dated, I enjoyed her wit and writing style. After all, Ms. Ephron is the genius behind When Harry Met Sally. After finishing Crazy Salad, I went on to read Scribble Scribble (collections of her columns about the media), I Feel Bad About My Neck (more recent book; focusing primarily...more
Nora Ephron is always entertaining, refreshing, and fun. This collection of magazine articles from the 60's manages to dissect a small part of American culture. It struck me that people, movies, designers, and books that were incredibly important during the time of publication are all but forgotten now. The concepts of fame and popularity still ring true, but how interesting to read an author's name that was all the rage....only to go "huh?" and have to utilize Google to do some backgr...more
i am of the opinion (and don't think i'm totally off-base in thinking) that a book that is just sitting there on the new release shelf at the library is either no good at all (because if it was, shouldn't there be a miles-long hold request list for it?) or an undiscovered gem. this book is neither...though it is more gem than worthless.
i picked it up because the title was catchy, i vaguely recognized the author's name from somewhere, it was quite thin, and i needed some books to gar...more
i picked it up because the title was catchy, i vaguely recognized the author's name from somewhere, it was quite thin, and i needed some books to gar...more
Don't be shocked. The title is a reference to what it's like to be a journalist. All the interesting things in the world go on around you, while you merely observe. This was okay. It's a collection of magazine articles Ms. Ephron wrote early in her career. I didn't like it as much as "I Feel Bad About My Neck", but maybe I just prefer her comedy to her entertainment commentary.
I read this book a couple of decades ago, I think Nora Ephorn's early works will appeal mostly to women who were a part of the women's movement in the 60's and 70's. She is a bright and clever writer with a quick wit, and her books are more entertaining than the movie versions.
thankfully, this book rescued me on a last minute flight for which i brought no entertainment. i found it in the seat pocket in front of me!!
it's a book of essays, and the title is explained (and is an appropriate metaphor) but i still had to hide the book cover from my in-laws!
while the essays tend to become formulaic in their exploration of personalities and industries, nora ephron's writing is consistent and good. my favorite was her article about her editor at cosmopo...more
it's a book of essays, and the title is explained (and is an appropriate metaphor) but i still had to hide the book cover from my in-laws!
while the essays tend to become formulaic in their exploration of personalities and industries, nora ephron's writing is consistent and good. my favorite was her article about her editor at cosmopo...more
I like Nora Ephron, but the subjects of these essays are so dated, it was hard to relate. (It's a collection of her pop culture essays from the 70's -- needless to say, I wasn't alive then, so I don't get ANY of the references.)
Vintage Nora Ephron from the 70's. Loved the chapters on Ayn Rand, the making of Catch-22, food editors, and Helen Gurley Brown. The title comes from Ms. Ephron's take on the role of a reporter--this book isn't kinky!
I love Nora, but this was just a little dated for me. I tended to lose the thread of
it. It's not her; it's me. If I had memory of the people/events of whom she wrote, it might have been better.
it. It's not her; it's me. If I had memory of the people/events of whom she wrote, it might have been better.
quirky journalist reminds me that you can say what you think in your own voice and maybe people won't think it's over the top. new york lifestyle (not DC).
Absolute drivel. The blurb also conveniently leaves out the fact that most of the articles were written in 1968 - and they don't stand the test of time either.
Nothing can compare to Nora's book entitled, "I Feel
Bad About My Neck"...although, her humor in any style
or topic is worth the read.
Bad About My Neck"...although, her humor in any style
or topic is worth the read.
I want to have drinks with Nora Ephron. I also apparently want to lie around pretending I was alive in '67 and that I get references to Jacquelin Sussan. This book is pop culture Americana at its finest, and Nora is a great narrator. I enjoyed this much more than Heartburn (which was still fine). Perhaps the most wonderful thing about it is that it's fine journalism by a writer who'd let you think she just happened to get lucky and get paid to write. She's brilliant and insightful and just s...more
Maybe I didn't give this book enough time to get good.. I couldn't get into it.
Past magazine articles by funny Nora Ephron.
Yawn. Placed in recycle bin at home.
Surprisingly relevant even though the essays are 40 years old.
Collection of Ephron's essays from the '60s. An interesting read not only because of the quality of her work, but also because it is surprising to learn that things I thought were new (or unique) issues to our day have, in fact, been around for over 50 yrs. There is also some interesting historical info (e.g., the beginning of the "food establishment", the roots of Cosmopolitan magazine's current editorial style).
Enjoyable and amusing.
A grouping of magazine articles from the 70s, this collection at times felt a bit outdated. However, Ephron's style is clear, concise, and at times far superior to that of most fashion magazine writers' styles today. Ephron reminds us to look for the story in the subject's surroundings rather than merely from the subject itself.
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Haven"t read yet. Picked up at half price books. hope I don"t die soon because I have so many books about to be read. rochelle. I always joke about my age because I am over 60 and can go at any time...ha ha. I did stand up comedy in my young days. any good books on this? Rochelle Cincinnati
Deb
rated it
Recommends it for:
chick lit fans seeking non-fiction
Shelves:
non-fiction,
short_stories
An anthology of fashion & society articles written for women's magazines in the 1960s. I thought it would act like a time capsule, but really it's a lot of well-written name-dropping and fashion snark. Didn't finish because I didn't find the topics that interesting.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, as I overall greatly enjoy Nora Ephron. It was also interesting to notice the ways in which these articles from the 1960s and 1970s show their age. I couldn't get through the Mike Nichols articles, though.
When I bought this book, I was looking for a fun read. It was written by Nora Ephron, who wrote Sleepless in Seattle. My expectations were not met. This is a book about nothing and the nothing is boring. What a waste of time.
Somewhat dated, but VERY funny. I especially loved the essay on The Fountainhead.
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Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, and blogger.
She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle. She sometimes writes with her sister, Delia Ephron.
More about Nora Ephron...
She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle. She sometimes writes with her sister, Delia Ephron.
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“The image of the journalist as wallflower at the orgy has been replaced by the journalist as the life of the party.”
—
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