Garden of Ashes

by Cookie Mueller

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

"Cookie Mueller was a writer, a mother, an outlaw, an actress, a fashion designer, a go-go dancer, a witch-doctor, an art-hag, and above all, a goddess. Boy, do I miss that girl." -John Waters

Reviews

[Isabella Armus · Rating 4 out of 5]

like getting a quick coffee with the coolest person you know

[Sara Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was good but very short so it left me wanting more. also had read some of these stories before in another one of her compilations

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already read these stories since they got reprinted in Ask Dr. Mueller but today the library ordered this book and I picked it up from hold and was surprised by its 1/8 of a letter-size. Cute, small, and gold. I love it so much.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been dying to read Cookie’s books for years, and thankfully after messaging random John Waters fan account, I finally have access to her work! This was fabulous, I loved hearing the background of the dreamlanders especially Edith Masey. I literally would do anything to spend 5 minutes inside Edith’s Shopping Bag during its prime.

Song on repeat while reading: “Female Trouble” by Divine

“What have you done today for the planet?”

[Lizzy Manevich · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick n dirty little pocket sized collection with some reprints from walking through clear water and some pieces i don’t remember reading before, missed ms cookie’s voice <3

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the episode of Divine.

[Spiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

So.
I left my copy of Escape Velocity: a Charles Portis Miscellany in my book bag at the restaurant on the 4th of July, and grabbed this volume for my commute on the 5th, pending my friend retrieving my book bag. All of the material herein contained is gathered in the recently released Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black, but it was absolutely lovely revisiting the pieces over the course of a 25 minute bus ride. Very much like eating a small bag of fresh popcorn while waiting for the movie to begin.

[Olympia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short essays and portraits of the author’s underground reckless life. It’s like she sees beauty even in the hopeless places. These texts are proof of the way writing is essential to try understanding life’s meaning. Very easy to read. The writing has a lot of personality and feels like a conversation with one of those people who have lived it all.

[Avery Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and much worth the read if only for "Fleeting Happiness" and some john waters behind the scenes

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

sleepy, reading on the 22 bus

[olive parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this only while in between screenings at tiff. special 2 me

[Möwgli Skräp · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤲🏽🦷🕊️

[Marie-Liesse]

Damn that was pretty bad?

[Meera · Rating 4 out of 5]

good! i had fun! she's so cool!
that being said tho she is kinda wrong about india … but i lived there and she didn't so i can't be mad

[Caroline Kimbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read cookie mueller’s stories forever! Some were repeats from walking through clear water but i loved those just as much as the first time I read

[Kaisa Hjorth Kristensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Many years and brain cells ago, I had this belief that everyone would be happy someday. I have since found that this isn’t necessarily so.’

[Carla León · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cookie is always inspiring.

[Adrita Talukder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 too much white hippie shit for me personally and lacking materialist analysis

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick-and-dirty tasty snack. Best bits are about John Waters. I know I said I would NEVER talk about book design again, but this pocket-sized Hanuman edition is so comely and harmonious. I would only ever give it away to someone who is really, really worthy.

[Gandalf3000#$ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, not as good as the other one but still, so good. And it’s very Tiny Book

[savanna jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

who doesn’t love cookie mueller!!

[Mills College Library]

P Hanuman