Title: Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress: Tales of Growing up Groovy and Clueless
Author: Susan Jane Gilman
First published January 1, 2003
368 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780446679497 (ISBN10: 0446679496)
Rating: 3.7
Overview
Susan Jane Gilman, the author of Kiss My Tiara, brings you her hilarious and heartwarming collection of true stories in Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress. This book is not your typical coming-of-age tale, as it is not about finding a date.
Instead, you’ll follow Gilman on her journey of growing up groovy and clueless, navigating her way through life’s ups and downs with wit and humor. With relatable anecdotes and a refreshing perspective, Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like they don’t quite fit in.
About the Author
Mark your calendars for June 2019 because Susan Jane Gilman has a new novel coming out called “Donna Has Left the Building.” You may recognize Gilman from her best-selling non-fiction books, “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress,” “Undress me in the Temple of Heaven,” and “Kiss My Tiara,” or from her novel “The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street.” Gilman’s writing has been featured in various publications such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and Ms. magazine. She’s also shared her thoughts on National Public Radio.
Gilman is an accomplished writer with an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan and has received numerous literary awards for her work.
Editoral Review
In “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress: Tales of Growing up Groovy and Clueless,” Susan Jane Gilman takes readers on a humorous and insightful journey through her formative years. Published in 2003, the memoir has since become a beloved classic, offering a vivid portrait of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world.
Gilman, an award-winning author and journalist, has a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling. Her writing is both engaging and poignant, filled with vivid descriptions and pop culture references that evoke the spirit of the 1970s and 1980s.
In the book, Gilman recounts her experiences growing up in a liberal Jewish family in New York City. She details her struggles with fitting in, navigating the ups and downs of adolescence, and trying to find her own identity amid the chaos and confusion of the times.
Through vivid anecdotes and colorful characters, Gilman captures the essence of the era, from the fashion and music to the political and social upheaval that defined it. She also explores the complex relationships between parents and children, and between friends who often find themselves at odds with each other.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is how Gilman manages to balance humor and pathos, often within the same sentence. She has a way of making readers both laugh and cry, as she navigates the challenges of growing up and finding one’s place in the world.
However, the book is not without its flaws. Gilman’s style can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed or underdeveloped.
The plot can also feel disjointed at times, with some chapters veering off into tangents that do not always connect back to the main narrative. Despite these limitations, “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress” is a must-read for anyone who grew up during the 1970s and 1980s, or for anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world.
It offers a unique perspective on a seminal era in American history, and reminds us that the struggles of the past are not so different from those of the present. Overall, I would give “Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress” a solid four out of five stars.
While it is not a perfect book, it is a compelling and entertaining read that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.