Nora Ephron's I Remember Nothing -- A Book Review

Nora Ephron is an author of books, essays and screenplays.She is also a spokesperson for "women of a certain age." Those of us who have lived through college, workplace sexism, first jobs, twelfh jobs, thirteenth, fourteenth and tweny-sixth jobs, marriage, divorce, children and menopause can relate to Ephron's humor.
I'm not saying you have to be a 50+ woman to appreciate her essays (which she calls "reflections"), but it helps.

The "women of a certain age" line I came up with on my own. However, in looking for information on the book, I found the exact same phrase used. This latest book was published in November 2010. I received it from a girlfriend (aka womanfriend) for Christmas. When I opened it I was reminded that a few years back I had purchased Ephron's book I Feel Bad About My Neck. I had intended to give it to another girlfriend/womanfriend for her 50th birthday. But I feared she might take offense. So I guess it's still around here -- someplace!

I looked up that book just now and realize it was published in 2006 -- five whole years ago! My, time flies when you reach that age when you start forgetting things!

I Remember Nothing is a collections of essays. It's only 132 pages long and the type is big (a thoughtful gesture for the readers set). Some of the essays are only 2 pages long. None more than 20 pages. It's the literary opposite of "dense."  You could pick it up and read all 23 essays in one sitting. But I recommend spreading the experience out over several reading sessions. 

Suggested places to read I Remember Nothing

In the bathtub

On the beach

In a hammock

In bed

On a picnic

On an airplane (but it would have to be a short, domestic flight)

While commuting (if you drive to work, be sure to get the audiobook version)

In the bathroom

Anywhere you feel comfortable with the possibility you may burst out loud laughing! 

The TOC gives you the perfect flavor of this book. There are some truly random topics. Some of the titles lead you to expect one thing but deliver something else (not a bad thing, mind you). There is quite a bit of juicy gossip about people in Hollywood and the New York publishing biz. Actually, Ms. Ephron says some things about some people that I would consider libel. Luckily, most of these people are dead, or she could get herself sued!

Table of Contents

1. I Remember Nothing
2. Who Are You?
3. Journalism: A Love Story
4. The Legend
5. My Aruba
6. My Life as an Heiress
7. Going to the Movies
8. Twenty-FiveThings People Have a Shocking Capacity to Be Surprised by Over and Over Again
9. I Just Want to Say: The Egg-White Omelette
10. I Just Want to Say: Teflon
11. I Just Want to Say: No, I Do Not Want Another Bottle of Pellegrino
12. I Just Want to Say: The World Is Not Flat
13. I Just Want to Say: Chicken Soup
14. Pentimento
15. My Life as a Meat Loaf
16. Addicted to L-U-V
17. The Six Stages of E-Mail
18. Flops
19. Christmas DInner
20. The D Word
21. The O Word
22. What I Won't Miss
23. What I Will Miss

Even if you don't know you know Nora Ephron, I bet you know her work. In fact, I've seen Ms. Ephron referred to as "the reigning queen of the Chick Flick."

Movies

Julie & Julia = screenplay and directed by NE

When Harry Met Sally = original screenplay

Silkwood = screenplay

Sleepless In Seattle = screenplay

You've Got Mail = directed by Nora, with screenplay by daughter Delia Ephron

Books

I Feel Back About My Neck

Heartburn (also made into a movie)

Crazy Salad

Wallflower at the Orgy

Scribble Scribble

Imaginary Friends