2007/05/03 Frankfurt Airport
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I feel bad about my neck

Thoughts on being a woman

On board Singapore Airlines flight 25 from JFK to Frankfurt I was reading the New Yorker and staring at an ad for Nora Ephron’s book “I feel bad about my neck and other thoughts on being a woman.” For one thing I could not remember who Nora Ephron actually is or was. When it comes to popular culture I often draw a blank. Which doesn’t mean that this never happens with the classics.
But this particular ad had some strange quotations, which I would like to share with you.
“Ephron on what she wishes she’d known: You can order more than one dessert!” Meaning Ephron never understood how restaurants actually work? Ephron was afraid to gain weight but stopped worrying after the Iraq war? And then this: “Ephron on bikinis: Oh, how I regret not having worn a bikini for the entire year I was 26. If anyone young is reading this, go right this minute, put on a bikini and don’t take it off until you’re 34.” A few questions: How old is Ephron now? Is there anybody out there who knows what happened to Ephron when she was 26? Is Ephron suggesting that we should get rid of the bra? Is Ephron a feminist? In my modest opinion she sounds like Steve Martin, but then again when it comes to popular culture I often draw a blank.


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Updates
For everyone interested, check the most recent interview with Arnon Grunberg by the friendly people at Word Riot:

http://www.wordriot.org/template_2.php?ID=1165

German (including Gerhard Neufelder), Israelian, Italian and Spanish and other visitors maybe would like to check out the latest translations of in retrospect Saint Anthony, The Story of My Baldness, The Asylum Seeker and The Jewish Messiah (see: Oeuvre).

Boxing and/or writing fanatics can check out Henk's moves and wit in the 'performances' section of the Netherlands.

For info on the PEN festival, see the 'performances' section of the USA.

I miss Dens.
said Johannes van der Sluis 03/05/2007 12:55 • x
Nora Ephron is 66. She's also a filmdirector:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001188/
But most of all, she's very scary. I saw her on Oprah (sorry, II can't help it but I'm addicted to Oprah and Dr. Phil). Facelifted and botoxed, and proud of it. Please read Ariel Levy's work instead.
http://www.ariellevy.net/
said aliefka bijlsma 03/05/2007 13:10 • x
PEN
PS On the site www.pen.org you can listen to the readings at the 'Dirty Wars' meeting.
said Johannes van der Sluis 03/05/2007 13:19 • x
Pen
@Johannes
Thank you for pointing out the readings. I will save them. They are very good, they made me feel sick – too much memories. Thank you and Arnon anyway.
PS. I think we will hear from Dens soon.
said Jan Thys 03/05/2007 14:28 • x
She wrote the screenplay for feelgood movies like "When Harry met Sally" (with the great scene by Meg Ryan in the restaurant), "You've got mail" (with Meg Ryan but without any great scenes) and "Sleepless in Seattle" (couldn't keep me awake).
Are there any bikini related changes women undergo the day they turn 34? Is 26 a better age to wear bikinis than 25 or 27?
said Ron Lander 03/05/2007 17:14 • x
Ephron is a product of what society told us we should be.
Other women hold on to her and may use her films etc as a way to feel normal. To forget their lonely 'wannabeness' for a moment.
said hanne v 03/05/2007 18:42 • x
To me it is an insult on being a woman and typical western complaining.
said hanne v 03/05/2007 18:44 • x
Popular Culture
It is a pitty that you don't know a lot about popular culture. Maybe it would be good if you would spent less time on all kinds of serious matters. Then your books might become less depressive. It took me a week to recover from reading Tirza.
said Amita Hartmann 03/05/2007 20:54 • x
bikibi26
Ephron does not suggest that we should get rid of the bra. She tries to tell that being young is something to long for when you are older.

Since the strong woman in general is represented as a young hairless exhibitionist these days, it's important for those who like to live up to expectations to act like one.

Without being too exhibitionistic: not wearing a bikini at the age of 66 and not being judged would not be a sacrifice but a relief.
said hanne v 04/05/2007 00:06 • x
Hanne V did you sign the 'beperkt houdbaar' manifest?
said Tina H 04/05/2007 00:35 • x
yes i did
said hanne v 04/05/2007 08:14 • x
@hanne & tina,
I repeat what I said earlier because you two will definitely appreciate Ariel Levy's work.
http://www.ariellevy.net/
Her book has been translated into Dutch and you can buy it at Scheltema.
said aliefka bijlsma 04/05/2007 11:40 • x
thank you, i will have a look at her website first.
said hanne v 04/05/2007 12:06 • x
PS: do not judge the "pinkness'" of her site, which is purposefully tongue in cheek. as is the design of her book-cover. She is an extremely powerful woman (Arnon: I am jealous as I'm sure you'd get to meet her by the click of a mouse). I hate the word 'feminist' but this is what she is labeled by the media as being. Quite the opposite of ms Ephron.
said aliefka bijlsma 04/05/2007 12:11 • x
aliefka
have you ever tried to meet with her?
said hanne v 04/05/2007 14:21 • x
I feel bad about my neck/Tirza
Saw the E woman too, wondered if she had her vagina looked at and done up as well I did not think Tirza was depressing, I thought it was more like a rollercoaster ride. It slowly went up, and when you are at the Top, you know the rest will be nasty and you end up shaky at the bottom. Pretty brilliant.
said Loes Reeve 05/05/2007 09:59 (Updated 10:20) • x
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