But Enough About You Avoiding Fabulousness

by Cynthia Heimel

Discusses "Getting Stylish"--what to expect from a man who turns up the sleeves of a sports jacket--and "Lovers as Accessories"--matching her hair color with his slacks

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Essays

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Cynthia Heimel was a feminist humorist writer, a columnist, a playwright and television writer.

Reviews

[Carol Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eight reviews? Obviously, this book succeeded in avoiding fabulousness. For those of you who haven’t seen it, that’s the subtitle. The author dropped her focus on avoiding fabulousness fairly early on the book. This little collection of stories runs about 200 pages and some astute editing could’ve cut it down to about 40. Written in 1986 before the HIV epidemic took off, this book talks about dating, drugs, relationship issues, raising a kid, and the lowlife I Ching.

I’m purging my bookshelves in the slowest possible manner, by reading the things that are on there. I don’t know how long I’ve had this. I do know if I read three books a week I should have some space by the time I’m 90. I did the math. That’s unfortunately correct.

[Courtney Golden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt very dated, which it is from the late 80s. I do want to go back and re-read her first book, which I remember absolutely loving when I read it back in the days, and see how it holds up.

[Edward Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too much filler, but reliably hilarious observations.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I continue to think that Cynthia Heimel is essentially the ideal older sister - she would have a closet full of cool clothes, and let you borrow them; she would have advice about dating boys, both the stinkers and the gems; she would encourage you to have real friendships without making you think friendship was prissy and perfect-prunes-and-prisms. I found a copy of this at the $1 table and enjoyed reading it again while I did laundry and ran to the grocery store.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is no *Sex Tips for Girls*, but it has its moments. It's sort of a guide for surviving life in 1980s Manhattan, which is sometimes what I like to imagine I am doing.

I am so pissed off that there's no cover image for this book, since that's probably the best part.

[Deb Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great stuff, but most of it is rather dated. Still worth the read, particularly if you remember with loathing the mid to late 80s.

[Vanessa Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surely there's a book out there that I can find funny right now, right?

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've no idea if it holds up, but when she was writing these essays I thought Heimel was the funniest woman ever.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

COMPLETELY saturated in the eighties, but EXTREMELY hilarious. This woman can write.