Better Than Sane: Tales from a Dangling Girl

by Alison Rose

Dorothy Parker meets Holly Golightly in this sharp, delicious, bright-girl-comes-to-New-York memoir. Alison Rose, former actress and former model (sort of), takes us from her childhood to her years at The New Yorker , revealing how, often, she “didn’t care enough about existence to keep it going herself” and preferred to stay in her room with her animals and think.

She writes about her childhood in California, daughter of a movie-star-handsome psychiatrist who was charming to friends but a bully and a tyrant to his family (he hadn’t wanted children; he believed mental illness was hereditary). She writes about how she never liked any place better than her wisteria-covered veranda off her childhood bedroom . . . and about the times she lay by the pool with her sister’s boyfriend (she ten; he eighteen), listening to “Ten Cents a Dance” on the phonograph—and learned the victory of cahoots-style flirtation . . .

She writes about moving to Manhattan in her twenties, sleeping in Central Park, subsisting on Valium, Eskatrol, and Sara Lee orange cake . . . about the “alter” family she Francine from Atlanta, whose beauty was so unnerving she disoriented those around her; “Mother,” the short gay man who photographed Alison; “Baby Bob,” just out of Austen Riggs mental hospital . . .

She writes about moving to L.A., attending the Actors Studio, living with Burt Lancaster’s son “Billy the Fish” (he lived in his own element, coming up for other people’s air), sabotaging her acting efforts (no one knew better than Alison how to shut the window on her own fingers) . . . about encountering Helmut Dantine of Casablanca fame, who gave her shelter from the storm, and about meeting Gardner McKay, her childhood TV idol, and becoming friends—sacred, close, lifelong.

She writes about returning to New York, getting a job as a receptionist at The New Yorker , being taken up by the writers there—“a tribe of gods,” who turned her from a semi-recluse into a full-fledged writer (“You can't be the smartest person who doesn’t do anything forever”); about their kindredness, the impromptu club they Insane Anonymous (a “whole other world that was better than sane”); and her emergence as a writer for the magazine. As Renata Adler said of Alison’s path, “It is the most nuanced, courageous, utterly crazy way to have wended.”

Better Than Sane is the debut of a supremely gifted and entertaining writer.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 4, 2004

About the author

Alison Rose was an American model, actress and writer. In June 1985, she began work as a receptionist at The New Yorker and later became a writer for the magazine's Talk of the Town section. In 2004, she published the memoir Better than Sane: Tales from a Dangling Girl, which told of her life at The New Yorker.

Later in her career, she became a contributor to Town & Country. Rose died at her home in Manhattan, in late September 2025, at the age of 81.

Abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Marydanielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like st. paul out in the badlands to promote his religion - i know some people - grocery people - criticized this book in very strange stupid ways - but if Better Than Sane saves a life here and there, that makes it worthwhile - certainly - i'm too impatient to sit here right now and give every reason why this book is important, so maybe later i'll come back. "It wasn't in his character to die." Hear that way of thinking and diction - that's why she is the duchess of the 18th floor. Of course if you don't hear it, and you don't know that "Dangling Girl" is a reference to - well, a classic American text - a text criticized for it's protagonist's self-involvement - then it doesn't matter what you "think." Sadly that includes "real" reviewers, who I imagine got paid money to write their reviews and who shamefully wonder in text what the meaning of the subtitle is. That's pathetic. No I won't tell you. Research it.

[Michelle Forsythe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Debated about whether to give this book a rating of 2 or 3. Just couldn’t get into her style of writing. Would have preferred some pictures and more detail on the men at The New Yorker who seemed to be so enchanted with her. Seems a shame that she did not go to college and have more of a career. She is obviously intelligent and her parents would have paid for her education. Seems to have had a lot of wasted years not doing a whole lot.

[christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

writen for herself.

[Jeffrey Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be the most oddly written book I have ever finished about someone--assuming that what the author has written is true and I believe it is--who is a true American creation, a woman who did her very best to survive in a world where there were enough souls, mostly somewhat-noted literati and other "personalities," who cared enough to provide a sufficient safety net for a lovely neurotic human to avoid suicide. There is no clear, straight-through story line; rather, there are a myriad of somewhat related, short anecdotes, that, if one stays with it, create an image of Alison Rose that--were that image a painting--leaves the viewer feeling like one feels when looking at a Hieronymous Bosch and asking, "What the hell is he trying to say to us?" And when something comes to mind, you walk away from it, uncertain that you've figured "it" out but satisfied that you've gotten somewhere close to what the artist has intended! "Better Than Sane" is likely best scored as a 2 or 3 star read; however, like the other men who encountered Alison Rose in her life, I suppose I fell a little in love with her, and like those men, I've decided to be generous with her and offer a 4!

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is strange but beautiful. I enjoyed the stories that Alison Rose told from her life. She has a way of writing the day to day that keeps me interested. Some people may find her style and the book very "self-centered" but it is a type of memoir and is about her life. Yes, she was privileged and living in NYC/Hollywood. Still, she tries to make it on her own in life as a writer/actress/model and has moments in her life with people famous and infamous. It made the book all the more interesting to me and I really enjoyed it.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not totally sure what to say about this book. I appreciate hearing about Rose's story, especially about her time with famous-adjacent people and working for the New Yorker. However, I am not sure I really feel that I know Rose or the people in her life. It was hard to differentiate from some of the men in her life and I wanted more details in many parts of the memoir. Overall, it was generally interesting to read about, but it left me wanting more details.

[Jennifer Kepesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of essays/ notes on the life of a ridiculously privileged woman who lived at a time when there were “girls” and there were married women. She was a de facto editor at the. New Yorker, an It Girl, a woman chased after by publishing luminaries and rich scions. Interesting as tableaux mementos of a certain time and place. There is a haphazard quality to what is included, how it ties together, so unfinished-feeling.

[Michelle Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this, loathed it and felt like I needed an upper to follow it at times. There were big jumps in time left a bit grey and times when I was so wanting more depth into life moments vs stories around central male characters.

What an amazing life

[Jacob Brogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You've got to read this. Longer review forthcoming.

[Barbpie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and a quick read.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like a cross in of Didion and Capote. A delight.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was an incredibly boring read for all the name dropping and sex talk in it. Blech.

[Morleena · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was different, but I got a little tired of her by the end. We probably wouldn't be friends.

[Tess Buckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the couquette LDR girls get their ballet slipper manicures on this it’s gonna be OVER. Really weird, not necessarily in a good way, but maybe I don’t get it. Sometimes I felt embarrassed for her, largely because of her age (45 and washing your stuffed bears’ clothes? The oddly childish room? Using your mothers card at 40?) but perhaps I am the villain here. Her mother should have written a book. Great syntax!!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, this settles it. I'm writing my memoir. It can't be any less interesting than this. I can't believe this person became a writer for The New Yorker. What gives?!?

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting memoir. A little muddled but fun to get into her head for awhile.