Critical essays on a whole range of topics. On Judith Krantz's Princess Daisy and Scruples:

"The final effect of both novels is of being sealed inside a luxury shopping mall whilst being softly pelted with scented sex technique manuals." ( )

Shannon gave me several Angela Carter books years ago and it's well past time I cracked them. It's clear she knows so many things I want to learn, and also I lately keep seeing her name everywhere. I even saw someone on a TV show watching Pandora's Box after I read the essay where she discusses it. The world is trying to teach me!I thought the collection of journalism would be a good introduction to her voice, which is true, but actually I felt like it wasn't quite the right first choice. I wanted to see so many of her arguments through, to have her keep discussing a thesis, but they're all pieces written for magazines and newspapers so they don't do that. (I think I might read The Sadeian Women next, to indulge that interest.)Her literary criticism is so famous for good reason, so it was great to read it. "Alison's Giggle" and "Love in a Cold Climate" will be read again, and made me want to reread or read the literature discussed. In general I wanted to learn more about what she's writing about. The other pieces I enjoyed most were the biographical ones, on the Wordsworths and Frida Kahlo and Colette. Her style really suits analysis of a famous life.And I keep laughing at her joke about her neighborhood in Japan being so clean "You could eat your dinner off the children."Thanks Shannon!Also it is annoying me I can't find the right cover art on GoodReads. Mine has a cute photo of her in a hammock. ( )