I was tricked into reading an etiquette book!
That’s what I get for buying something pink with “Bitches” in the title.
I have not read any of Celia Rivenbark’s books and I do not plan to after this one: I am not Ms. Rivenbark’s target demographic. This was a bit old school and right-winged for my tastes. I’m from the South, but not Celia’s South… For starters this book is written as a long-winded advice column. There’s bold print “questions” (I assume many of them she asked herself in order to write a “funny” response to them) from people who read her newspaper column. I think if I was over 40 with a couple of children (and voted for Romney last election) this would be a little more up my alley.
Celia covers her version of etiquette for Facebook, weddings, dinner parties, driving and child rearing. Offering such gems like “Your kid sounds like pretty much of an asshole. I got nothing” in response to a parent’s question about connecting with a rude, bored teenager. She refers to her teenage daughter as Princess and her husband as “Duh Hubby” while sprinkling in personal anecdotes while doling out her advice. I thought it was particularly ironic that this etiquette “expert” (OK, she doesn’t refer to herself as an expert, but lets be honest she thinks she is…) is on her second marriage.
She irritated me on a personal level discussing people who speak foreign languages in front of non speakers. My in-laws speak Portuguese as a first language and quite honestly slip into it in my English-only presence when they are at a loss for the right phrase in English. I know my husband will translate the important bits for me, and they’re never doing it to be rude.
I was particularly amused when she used Matthew McConaughey winning an Academy Award for best actor as a big “oh my God never” since he is literally a front runner for that exact category this season. But that is probably only funny to someone like me. And has nothing to do with her book.
I am having the WORST luck with books this year… Wish me luck with Monuments Men!
I’m worried that if you read Monuments Men that you will somehow warp it to be terrible like everything else you’ve read so far this year. Maybe a Laurie Notaro or Pamie reread is a good idea first. Like a palate cleanser.