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Dancing Through Life in a Pair of Broken Heels
The award-winning cartoonist joins forces with her ad-exec sister to explore, in essays and cartoons, what it means to be a woman in the 1990s. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.
212 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 17, 2022
meh. def written in 1993. had its funny parts
August 28, 2021
I almost rated this four stars because there were a couple of stories that had me rollicking, chest pained, tears in my eyes, family starting at me with wonder and concern. However, only two or three. The rest were good, lots of smiles and "I can relate to that" moments. It's a great, funny, escape the world while reading about the world type of book.
January 28, 2017
Who knew that "Cathy" was not just Cathy Guisewite but also, at least, her sister Mickey (and maybe the other sisters as well.) Reading Mickey's stories, its the voice of "Cathy."
Could not read all the stories so did not read every page of this book.
What we have here is an historical tome from that dark, pre cellphone, even pre-dvd age--the early 1990's. While reading, I picked up the angst--that Mickey describes and I felt--back in those days. There was this anxiety many woman felt about not measuring up, not having a good-enough, fun-enough life, not doing the right thing re having kids, not being good enough on the job.
Some really profound wisdom here: The observation that people give their best selves to their work day. The spouse, the kids, then get the tired, worn out, version of you. Is this how it should be?
One of my favorites of the stories is "Pondering Life and the Toilet Cleaner Commercial." Here she explains the "two basic life style categories advertisers are trying to tap into": 1. the "Who We Were Ads" and the "Who We Are Ads."
"Who We Were Ads" harken back to a simpler time. In that time "when a man saw a woman who took his fancy, he told her so, and asked her out on a date. When he fell in love with her, he asked her to get married. When they got married, the happy couple moved into a house with a white picket fence..."etc.
The getting to know one another reality in the early 1990's--"when a man sees a woman he wants to take out, he spends his next four therapy session figuring out if he's really ready for another relationship. When they think they like each other, they spend five months in individual therapy, deciding if moving in together is really the right thing to do. When they move in together , they wind up in joint therapy"...etc.
In another story she mentions the movie "an Officer and a Gentleman"--but does not discuss it, where her sister had a "Cathy" cartoon about it. Rather it is mentioned because it is the video with which she runs up a more than $40 bill in late fees (remember those?)
Fun as a time trip and if you are a "Cathy" fan.
Could not read all the stories so did not read every page of this book.
What we have here is an historical tome from that dark, pre cellphone, even pre-dvd age--the early 1990's. While reading, I picked up the angst--that Mickey describes and I felt--back in those days. There was this anxiety many woman felt about not measuring up, not having a good-enough, fun-enough life, not doing the right thing re having kids, not being good enough on the job.
Some really profound wisdom here: The observation that people give their best selves to their work day. The spouse, the kids, then get the tired, worn out, version of you. Is this how it should be?
One of my favorites of the stories is "Pondering Life and the Toilet Cleaner Commercial." Here she explains the "two basic life style categories advertisers are trying to tap into": 1. the "Who We Were Ads" and the "Who We Are Ads."
"Who We Were Ads" harken back to a simpler time. In that time "when a man saw a woman who took his fancy, he told her so, and asked her out on a date. When he fell in love with her, he asked her to get married. When they got married, the happy couple moved into a house with a white picket fence..."etc.
The getting to know one another reality in the early 1990's--"when a man sees a woman he wants to take out, he spends his next four therapy session figuring out if he's really ready for another relationship. When they think they like each other, they spend five months in individual therapy, deciding if moving in together is really the right thing to do. When they move in together , they wind up in joint therapy"...etc.
In another story she mentions the movie "an Officer and a Gentleman"--but does not discuss it, where her sister had a "Cathy" cartoon about it. Rather it is mentioned because it is the video with which she runs up a more than $40 bill in late fees (remember those?)
Fun as a time trip and if you are a "Cathy" fan.
February 22, 2012
I bought this book at a library sale because 1: the title caught my eye 2: I love the "Cathy" cartoon. This book was written 10 years ago and, even though it is dated in some ways, in others it isn't. As you might have guessed, the book is full of short humorous stories from a woman's point of view. All of us women can relate to Mickey Guisewite's experiences, trials and tribulations or if nothing else, to the Cathy illustrations. I live in a house of women, (myself and 3 daughters; hubby golfs a lot) and we are all big readers, this was a book we would all skim and read. There are so many truths in this book, all told with humor, that it's a great book to pick up when you need a pick me up.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
December 16, 2007
Funnier than her famous sister - I don't know why she hasn't written more...
January 8, 2009
Very witty, and good for lots of belly laughs! Bring'em on.
November 21, 2012
Not Erma Bombeck but good laughs
November 17, 2013
as some one who stressed out most of the time, a pair of Chinese stress balls and a funny book are needed in life. this book especially. have a good read and twirl.
March 6, 2015
Not my type of read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews