Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

  A catchy, extremely popular album in your youth becomes the lyrics that describe your life at some point. If you're lucky......

 I never had strong feelings one way or another about Gina Gershon until I watched "Showgirls" (which I loved, btw) and now I tend to find her fascinating. This book is one of those memoirs for a particular time and difficulty in one's life, specifically a span of several weeks in which Gina's cat goes missing, that also explains a lot about her life and personality in general.  It's funny, enlightening, ridiculous and witty.....am I talking about the book or Gina herself?  Who cares?  It's def worth your time and definitely worth the audio read of Gina's voluptuous voice and nutty impersonations.   I've also never had very strong feelings toward Carly Simon, except for the fact that she was married to James Taylor of course. But in my vague preschool sense of the 1970's, I believe I definitely see and hear her in my mind's eye....always wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat and even wider smile.   But this is one of those memoirs that absolutely tran...

So I did end up watching the film after reading the book , and I was pretty pleased with it.  This could have so easily been a completely hokey movie, but it was actually presented with taste and tact......even when some of the subject matter was difficult. Released in 1986 , this film featured the beautiful Daryl Hannah, who at that time was mainly known for Ron Howard's Splash.  (Incidentally, a childhood fave of mine.)  And while it's hard to watch with a sensibility of modern times, the clan mores of female subservience are treated as well as they can be.  And the female heroism and stoicism are lessons for any time period.  I really didn't stress enough in my original review just how empowering this novel and film are.  Just what stops Ayla?  Unforgiving rules of gender?  Male dominance and rape?  Unflinching fear?  Being considered weird and ugly by her cohorts?  Nope.  None of the above.  It's as much a lesson ...

  Switch it up, play a new game Even though it's nice, I don't do vain Had to shake it up like loose change Same ol' me, just a new day, oh yeah These are some things you should know I won't stop, I'ma keep going It's a little unfair But I'm living like that....

 Oh, Adam.....you majestic whiny delicate artist of a man.  If I had known you, I know I would have dated you and then hated you. I did and still do love Counting Crows and Adam.  I love how this documentary really takes you back to the 90's......the time of sensitive, intelligent bands and singer-songwriters.  I like how Adam is willing to make fun of himself and the time we all lived in because it did generate it's share of jokes.  I love that he talks about his dreadlocks and his old romances and how different celebrity culture is now.  It makes me glad that the culture, by and large, has stopped punching down, takes mental health more seriously and looks back with nostalgia at what was truly a very, real and sincere time of creativity in America.   My favorite part of this doc on former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, is that it is told in her own voice from her recorded audio diaries.  What a gift her lovely Texas voice is!  I love h...

So many versions of this song out there, but this one is my current fave.  

 I liked Hole well enough back in the day, but never knew much about their personnel.  So I didn't really understand the mighty might of Patty Schemel. Again, you can't beat listening to this as an audiobook.  Patty's voice, her deadpan delivery and somewhat deadpan view of this time in her life sets a real mood that will take you straight back to the cold blue greys of 90's rock.   And just like Kathleen Hanna's book , this memoir offers up opinions on Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, which will make you feel some kind of way toward both of them.  The thing I most hated was realizing that Kurt taught Patty how to fix.  It's not shocking....but it is still sad.  It's amazing that Patty lived through all this.  And anyone who studies rock stars will often say that, but that realization is VERY true with Patty.  She brushed up against death and tragedy way too many times.   I finished this memoir and went back and watched video of ...

 It's almost a damn shame how much I love ragging S&TC nowadays.  But I think that was my favorite part of Susan Seidelman's memoir.....her discussion of her involvement in the HBO mega-hit.  She directed the pilot and also two of my favorite first season episodes: The Power of the Female Sex and The Baby Shower.  That was when that show was fun and unique.  Later even Susan recognized it as becoming tone-deaf and out of touch.   I also liked hearing her stories about Lower East Side Manhattan in the late 70's and early 80's.  It's one of my fave historical times of NYC for its creativity and grit.  When I was a kid I didn't understand how the different neighborhoods and boroughs of NYC worked.....I just thought it was funny how different the places looked in films.  Her effort to keep the Lower East Side and the "dirtier" life of New York was so much more real and entertaining than the glossier films of the city. Probably her bigges...

 As an older single gal, I get advice from well-meaning people all the time.  Of all that advice and observation, I think this might be one of the few books that really spoke to me. Jane Juska did something revolutionary back in 2001.  She wrote a book about being an older single woman who still wanted to have sex.  The book was called "A Round-Heeled Woman" and it was powerful. Imagine that! Then she followed up with this book which more about how RHW came to be and what came after. There are so many things I love about Jane.  She is real and unapologetic.  Modern but also rooted in polite tradition.  I think I see myself in women like this.  We understand what our current times are all about, but we still miss some old-fashioned tropes. I love how Jane laments a man she's in love with even though she knows she shouldn't be.  I love how she's not willing to give up exactly what she wants in a relationship.  I love how she's still a roma...

 This happens a lot for me.  Whenever a film gets a lot of Oscar buzz/attention/awards, I want to know more.  Especially if it's a film kinda off the beaten path.  This was definitely the case for Anora.   So first I had to know more before I committed to this film.  When Mikey Madison accepted her award and when Sean Baker spoke at all about the film, they both gave a lot of attention to the "sex worker community".  To be honest, I didn't want to watch a film portraying women (or girls) being exploited or hurt in any kind of way.  Also after having watched Mikey practically grow up on the fabulous FX show, Better Things , I didn't want to watch her in particular be abused or hurt.   I was glad to learn it's not that kind of film.  It has been called by some to be the "modern day Pretty Woman".  I kinda get it.  She doesn't get hurt physically anyway. Well kinda not.  She's definitely exploited. And she definit...

 Odd & ends that I am enjoying and embracing this spring.  Which I'm compiling as an homage to Shayla Lawson and her sublime book, This is Major .   Gave my copy to a woman who had been in my office who I know had escaped the prison complex of America and I told her she would love it, just love it, and pretty soon we'd have a female president anyway, so just hang on Miss Lady, hang on, we're getting there, read this book, you'll love it, it's for you, keep it, pass it on, spread the word, Sis, this is Major. This is me deleting numbers, numbers I don't need, numbers I don't want to answer, I don't remember your name anymore boy, if you want me you better write a letter, you better come correct, you better have that apology on your lips, you better be ready for bye boy bye, you better be ready old friend, you better be ready to know I'm not that girl anymore, don't call if you're not ready, as a matter of fact don't call at all. A bed...

 Mary in Charlotte was a revelation! So much girl power.  So much singing.  So much estrogen in one big, big room.   And grown women energy too.  I felt it.  And yes, there's a difference.  I didn't realize how much I needed to be surrounded by women my own age until I was right in the middle of them.  There's something about women who understand each other.  It only takes a look, a few words.  We know.   Even the symbolism of the crown behind Mary was not lost on me.  The empowerment.  The realization of what we had come through.  I was turning 50 in a week.  What Mary said to me when I was 20 didn't hit as hard.  But lord jesus, I felt it now.   Days after the show, I felt like I was still processing it all.  Mary's voice, her stories, the glossy Broadway feel of it all, the beautiful women in their boots and sequins all around us, the memories, the tears.   After the sho...

 Talk to 'em like you 'sposed to, Mary...... I know I can go and look online, but I'd rather post my dream playlist for the MJB show in Charlotte tonight and just dream:  Amazing You Ain't the Only One Just Fine Not Today Never Give Up on Me Come See About Me You Remind Me Keep Your Head Can't Wait For You Thick of It Don't Go Someone to Love Me (Even in the wake of the Diddy crisis.  Yes, I want it.) Good Morning Gorgeous Not Gon' Cry (And yes, I'm gonna while we sing this together, Mary.) Real Love Need Love Stay Down  The One Not Today Family Affair (I might lose my mind but I'm going with it.) Stay tuned for full review....but it might take me a day or two to recover from what I expect to be fun, beautiful, cathartic and AMAZING!

 

 The best thing about listening to this memoir as an audiobook is the mesmerizing, beautiful voice of Anjelica herself as she weaves the stories of her many loves, her beginnings of modeling and then acting and her life from young adulthood into mature age.  Her voice quavers in the parts of tragedy and loss, is quiet in the parts of fear and pain and is exuberant in triumph.   Listening to her stories made me want to watch her films that I hadn't seen and revisit the ones I had.  It made me want to look up old photos of her and bask in her cool 80's elegance.   Her stories of love and heartbreak gave me a feeling of power and resilience that I have needed after a hard year of my own disappointments.   Anjelica must have either kept really good journals and diaries or saved all of her old notes and calendars because her ability to remember details of people, places and events is nothing short of spectacular.  This memoir reads like a nam...

 

 Let's start with confessions...... Confession #1: I was never a Riot Grrrl.  Even though I was the perfect age and demographic, it just wasn't my thing.  I didn't have that kind of anger.  Confession #2: I never really dug Kathleen Hanna.  And I'm actually still on the bubble with her. Confession #3: As a writer myself, I understand how a memoir will always be your way of telling  YOUR side of the story. Confession #4: As wacky as she is, I'm Team Courtney for life. All this being said, this is a great memoir.  I recommend listening to the audiobook instead of reading to hear Kathleen's voice and raw emotion in some parts.   Her difficult 70's childhood, late 80's college education and 90's punk rock Pacific Northwest lifestyle are either relatable, memorable or terrifying. I had a different kind of life myself.  I grew up and went to college as more of Lilith Fair feminist.....let's all hold hands and sing "Closer to Fine" with the I...

 I'm telling you, if want to experience this book the best way possible don't read it, LISTEN to it.  The sound of Owen Elliot-Kugell's lovely voice as she repeatedly says "my mom" and "my mother" is a gift to your ears.   Being born in 1975, I can barely remember the 70's.  What I do remember is mostly vintage clips of television shows and news reports: bright polyester suits on variety shows, Walter Cronkite, women in long caftans and head scarves, and music.  So much music.  My own mother raised me on The Mamas and the Papas, so the voice of "Mama" Cass Elliot is one I know well. Like many people who love the 1960's, folk music and the early days of rock music, I've heard a good many of these stories before.  But I haven't heard them told from this perspective.  The purity, the honesty and the respectfulness of Owen's retelling is extraordinary.  It's the way we would all like to be described by our kids someday.   Sh...

 Reason #6752 why it's hard to work with a bunch of dudes all the time: they don't understand how us ladies need to talk.   Oh, wait.  Strike that.  They do understand.  They just don't want to hear it. The ladies out there will get this.....go with me here. You know how you'll go out to the kitchen to get a snack or go to the bathroom, at home or at work, it doesn't matter.  And while you're on that errand you'll suddenly think of something.  Then you'll come back to your cubicle or the living room or your porch and you'll need to remark on what you thought of. Examples include but are not limited to: "I am getting so fat." "I really need to stop eating so much cheese."   "I thought my period would be over by now." "Do you remember that movie we saw about 2 years ago with Clive Owen?  That was really good." "This bra is killing me." (slight homage to Pamela Adlon) Any of these phrases could come up a...

Felt like this book and movie were due for a re-take.  I am currently listening to the audio book and enjoying the lovely voice of Linda Stephens as narrator.  This movie can be found on a few streaming services including HBO/MAX and begins with a disclaimer about how the language and ideas are outmoded for our time now.  Thankfully. For me, the book and movie hold something altogether different as I realize more and more how important the idea of home and land have become to me.  When Rhett tells Scarlett she gets her strength from the dirt of Tara, I suddenly understand.   I also understand several marriages and several romantic disappointments much better now. That's the thing about books.....they can teach you something different every time...... The summer of 2017 was an odd time to decide to read this novel.  For that was the summer that the Nazis decided to crawl out of their hovels and folks decided to pull down Confederate monuments. ...