Dancing Naked-- In Fuzzy Red Slippers

by Carmen Richardson Rutlen

Dancing Naked...in Fuzzy Red Slippers isn't about life, but about living life. You'll visit Tobago on a warm summer evening, and Venice at twilight. It isn't a travel book in the usual sense, but does explore interesting landscapes of the mind and heart. It tells of dancing naked in the morning and being late for work. It addresses divorce and the accompanying sorrows and joys. It talks of a homeless woman named Joan and the death of a basset hound named Rufus. It speaks of a near-love experience, and gives instructions on what to do with an extra half-hour you find lying on the ground.

Genres: Nonfiction

204 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, wise, heartwarming, and charming 👠

I couldn’t resist this bright white-silky-smooth-to-touch (gift-book appeal), hardcopy found in one of the ‘Little
Libraries’ in our neighborhood.

Samples …
“The fandango of family and friends is a dance full of lively rhythms. This is a dance with people we love, and sometimes, don’t. Family is given to us, friends we choose. Some we keep forever, others we lose along the way, but each and everyone of them splashes our lives with bold, masterful strokes of color. And when we rise above and look from a distance, we can view this spectacular dance in a rainbow of colors we call . . .
family and friends”.

“Dad used to say, when you first meet someone you put them in a little cubbyhole, a nice neat little slot. Then, when you know them a little better, they don’t quite fit, so you move them to another cubbyhole. This keeps happening until you know them very well and discover they don’t fit into any cubbyhole. Finally, you create a custom cubby hole just for them”.

“When a friendship dies,
there’s
no right,
no wrong,
Just a soft fizzling out.

Different directions,
Different rhythms,
No longer resonating
to the same beat.

And yet,
for every friendship
that has ended,
I am thankful
to have danced
those dances
to the rhythm of those days
when we were
so beautifully
in sync”.

Life themes -love, family, friendships of all kinds, loss, marriage, divorce, body image, grief, loneliness, connections, faith, nature, women, men, identity, gossip, guilt, animals, dreams, desires, the environment, holidays, aging, hurts & happiness, freedom….
etc.

It’s the type of book you can read from start to finish… or open to any page… and dive in.

Sweet natured in love and styling -
Universal themes wrapped in hard bound beauty -
makes this a very giftable
choice …..
Add some chocolate….and you’re Queen for the day.

About 3 or 3.5 charming stars —
Happy to rate up.

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Liked this book, but it is more of a coffee table book, although too small. It is one of those books that you can read a little and then move on to something else. You can set it down and pick it up again, for it holds a variety of stories, insights and tidbits. There are lol moments as well as inspiration and introspection. But, I confess there were parts that made me want to stick my fingers in my ears and la la la la. In my case, I just turned the pages cuz there is a wealth of thought through out. Loved this as a book club choice and discussion and most of our members, my self included, had signed copies. Clever title and packaging.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like the Chicken Soup for the Soul books this one will be right up your alley. I highlighted a lot throughout the book and do feel that I will revisit it from time to time for some quick inspiration. It reads kind of like poetry in bite sized pieces so perfect for busy folks that don’t have a lot of time to sit and read all at one time. I would definitely recommend for some uplifting thoughts on life and the art of being human.

[Joy Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from my step-mother and I will cherish it always! So much like me I related to everything that Carmen wrote about. Written like we think it is fast, happy and thoughtful! I loved this book!

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many little anecdotes and poems that resonated with me! It's a nice, short read - I definitely recommend for all women. = )

[Claudia de Oliveira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, easy read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books. I'm giving it to lots of my friends

[Kizuki · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are good parts, but there are also dragging parts.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Bookers 12/22.

poems and stories - some funny, thought provoking, serious, all are short.

a nice book to read whenever.

[KansasPeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book full of wonderful ideas and captivating thoughts. Each page has the potential to send you into a funnel of existential questioning that’ll leave you refreshed!

[Author Mike Froom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facebook is Goofy fun and completely crazy. I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to be themselves.

[Mary Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful!

[Barbara Ab · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a nice book , maybe not sure, easy reading, basically because it is a collection of small poems and a kind of extracts by the author ‘s “diary” and past books.
Certainly a good marketing product as the author has her own advertisement company.
Did it make me laugh? Nope. Smile? Yes, sometimes…
By the end I was longing to finish it as I was getting extremely bored. It is full of cliché… probably I have read too much…

[Karen Cooley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of thoughts, ideas and small stories. Some are very interesting, some are her working out her pain and a little bitter. The part at the end about menopause was not good to read right before bed if you are perimenopausal as it is a pessimistic view. I expected more of a fun read from the title.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Autobiographical -- poetry, short essays.