This little gem was a random prize at the office's Xmas quiz, which I picked up without bothering to win the quiz, as the actual winners were less than bothered about it. It's a collection of columns from the late '70s, written by what can only be described as a Lady of Leisure (amply proven by the introduction "My Day"). Like any other good columnist, Fran Lebowitz is beautifully irreverent to everything; she's also unbelievably stereotypically 70s, Jewish New York, middle class/arty type.
The best bits of the book are when Lebowitz takes something completely mundane (e.g. First Women's Bank) and twists it into an alternative universe of her own, like specialised banks for children (First Nat'l Piggy Bank) or psychiatrists ("The pens in this bank are thoughtfully fully equipped with ink that blots symbolically").

Is this a must-read? No, 'fraid not. But it is a very enjoyable diversion for a train ride or similar, when one hasn't got another book to hand. It certainly gave me quite a few chuckles and a couple of proper laughs; what more do you want from a book of columns?

Will pass it on to DJgib, who wanted to give it a go as well.

On my shelf now!

Sorry, did not get on with this at all. I found the writing very self-indulgent and self-important, which would have been ok if it had been consistently funny. Unfortunately though, I didn't get beyond a few chuckles. I'm sure it has its audience though, so will move it on.

Left the book on the Bookshelf in the University Centre Grad Cafe.