I Remember Nothing (Nora Ephron)

Nora can write.

Her style is simple.  She's opinionated, left wing, and pretty darned feminist.  But she's funny and subtly graceful, and that's why she can say the things she says without looking bitchy.  When you disagree with her, you smile about it.

In case you didn't know, she wrote the screenplay for When Harry Met Sally.  That's how good she is.

I Remember Nothing is a collection of short, anecdotal essays.  The way she says things makes them simultaneously light and profound.  That's her gift.

I say that she "says things" because that's what it sounds like.  It's not like she's writing at you.  It's like she's talking to you.  And you just wanna listen.

Her subject matter in and of itself isn't always (in fact, usually isn't) profound, particularly special, inherently comical, or especially interesting, but the way she communicates makes it fun.  I went through essay after essay without getting tired of anything.

Nora Ephron

I guess Nora's biggest "drawback" is that she appeals mainly to women.  (Note that only people with a uterus commented in my pictured Facebook string below.)  I suppose that's not bad if women are your intended audience, but the pragmatist in me wonders, "Does she mean to reduce her potential readership by fifty percent?"  I question whether she goes into a project thinking, "I'm going to write a book especially for women."  (On the other hand, the dust jacket is pastel green and peach.  If she wanted to appeal to men, she should have made it grey or brown with semi-porn artwork.)

In any case, I've never heard a man say, "Nora Ephron is great!"  But men should read her stuff.  If you're a man, it'll give you priceless insight into women.  And you need it.  Trust me.

Tell ya what.  If you're a guy and you read I Remember Nothing as a result of reading this blog, then I'll read something you want me to read, okay?  Read the book, tell me about it - what you liked, what you didn't like, why you think her stuff appeals more to women than men.  Then tell me about a book you'd like me to read and why, and if it's a widely-known work of good literature (and "good literature" is determined by my discretion), I'll take on the task.

Check it out on Amazon!