Human Relations and Other Difficulties: Essays

by Mary-Kay Wilmers

Mary-Kay Wilmers has been a giant of the English literary world for decades. She was integral in the founding of LRB in 1979 during the year-long lock-out at The Times and has served as its editor in chief since 1992. Under her leadership, the magazine has pulled no punches and faced the inevitable controversies head on, leading the Observer to wonder whether LRB is 'the best magazine in the world'. Which may explain why, while most print media has been struggling, LRB has grown to become the most circulated magazine of its kind in Europe.

This collection of Mary-Kay Wilmers' essays, book reviews, short articles and obituaries handles subjects from mistresses to marketing, and seduction to psychoanalysts, all with Wilmers' trademark insightful wit. Throughout she uses her deep and varied knowledge to provide both context and cutting criticism. This creates a portrait of a particular slice of English culture in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Book Club, Short Stories

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2018

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subtle, subversive, stunningly erudite. Wish I would have paid much more attention to Mary-Kay Wilmers throughout her career.

[Phyllis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read a few reviews of this book and was intrigued. Thought I was in the mood for non-fiction essays that were clever and entertaining after reading several "heavy" novels, so was looking forward to reading some witty and well-written observations. These are the kind of pieces you'd read in the New Yorker, a variety of topics and very detailed. (And some were published in that revered magazine). But I found them to start out clever and then become tedious. The best thing I read was the introduction. I thought I'd really enjoy "The Language of Novel Reviewing" but even this didn't hold my interest. I guess this just isn't my cup of tea.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

something kept me going, as i did finish it, but for the most part it was boring and inaccessible from my p.o.v. really uneven -- for each essay I enjoyed and learned something from [the one on Joan Didion and the one on psychoanalysis stood out], there were at least 3 that i couldn't remember the point of as soon as I finished it. Lots of book reviews of books I wouldn't want to read, etc.

I like the essay form, and the title is kind of catchy, so I guess that is why it caught my eye on shelf at the library, but I wouldn't recommend it to myself if the choice were to come up again.

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Collection of essays that seemed so promising but, for me at least, didn't deliver. For instance, the piece on obituaries and how style--what's included, what's emphasized-- has changed over time piqued my interest, but the exposition was tedious. Similarly, the other few essays I read had the same effect.

Not my cup of tea. I gave up on it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky and witty in a very British way. What else would you expect from the woman who's the editor of the London Review of Books?

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous essay collection.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever and witty as only the British can be.

[Diane Madlon-Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

[Cary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed collection of essays by the LRB founder or early editor. Some were great, some a bit of a chore to get through.

[Julie]

I chose to only read the pieces I was interested in.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

when it hit it hit but it only hit occasionally. it wants a stronger editorial pov

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

great title and cover art, but overall underwhelming content. sometimes u rlly can’t judge a book by its cover fr

[Frank Hoppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exceptional. LRB co-founder and editor Wilmers, because of her somewhat taxing day job, has had a limited output, so this collection draws together her somewhat disparate writings. She always has something very worthwhile to say and says it very very well.