BOOK REVIEW - I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK BY NORA EPHRON
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Nora Ephron is one of those writers whose influence you could easily miss if you weren’t looking for it, because she’s part of the furniture so to speak. But there’s no doubt in my mind that some of her most famous works like When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail set the bar for more realistic romantic stories. And contributed in no small part to the world’s enduring love affair with New York City.
I can watch her movies all day long, but I also find myself returning to her writing for a quick uplift. Because that’s exactly what you get, an uplifting take on some of life’s challenges, particularly those largely felt by women.
Ephron understands the weird circle of self loathing that women so often get caught up in, which still holds up in today’s society.
In the titular essay, I Feel Bad About My Neck, she so accurately summarises the fear around ageing; how you can lift, tuck or inject whatever you like into your face but your neck will always give away your age. She fears ageing, and then she feels bad for fearing ageing.
Ephron understands the weird circle of self loathing that women so often get caught up in, which still holds up in today’s society. But it reads like you’re discussing it with a friend over lunch, and maybe you’ve just ordered your second glass of wine. It’s a welcoming escape of a book, small but perfectly formed. You’ll feel sad, happy, welcome, resentful and more, possibly all at once.
