As Seen on TV: Provocations

by Lucy Grealy

Book Overview

From the author of the unforgettable Autobiography of A Face comes a collection of wonderfully unexpected essays on life, love, sex, God and politics. Whether she is contemplating promiscuity or The... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582340854
• ISBN13: 9781582340852
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A witty essay collection that came out well ahead of its time

My introduction to Lucy Grealy was through the eyes of her fellow writer and friend, Ann Patchett, in Truth and Beauty: A Friendship. Once I read Lucy's story through the eyes of her friend, I had to read her own memoir, Autobiography of a Face. Patchett's book focused almost entirely on Lucy's adult life and career, including the critical reaction to both of Lucy's books. Despite the smash success of Autobiography of a Face, Lucy's essay collection, As Seen on TV, languished. Lucy was adamant that Autobiography of a Face be appreciated for its quality of prose, not because Lucy's jaw cancer was a gruesome (and therefore intriguing) life story. When her second book failed to receive critical or public acclaim, Lucy was absolutely heartbroken. Despite the fact that dozens of copies of Autobiography of a Face are available from my local library system, As Seen on TV was difficult to track down. I finally found a copy as (horrors!) a bargain remainder book. I had no idea what to expect. Grealy's essay collection was, quite frankly, ahead of its time. This was before Laurio Notaro got The Idiot Girls' Action Adventure Club published and before the series of bestselling Idiot Girls' follow-on collections were released. The genre of self-deprecating, pseudo-intellectual, laugh-out-loud funny musings by women in their mid-20's and 30's hadn't yet been launched. The book opens with a bang, a verbal onslaught about Lucy's experience on live TV. The chapter maniacally charges from contemplation on Lucy's own TV habits, to an anslysis of hot topics on daytime talk shows, to an examination of the limosuine as a status symbol from high school through real life, to the concept of "Dr. Evil," to life backstage. The chapter culminates with a surprising twist about the hidden agenda behind Lucy's TV appearance. Other essays focus on topics like self-image and family history, as well as religious education and the struggles Lucy had publishing her first book. In one chapter, Lucy reveals that she was firmly convinced that the right boots could solve any problem, not matter how much one's life was falling apart. I think most women can identify with that. This is a great collection of funny insights and social commentary. I even forgive Grealy for getting a little manic during some of her ramblings. Enjoy this, especially if you have liked the other books by Patchett and Grealy.

It's always 5 stars for Grealy

I am a big fan of Lucy Grealy's writing. If she had written the phone book, I would sit down and read it. Her writing is just some of the most intimate I've ever read. Every essay was like receiving a present and I'm sorry she is not around to gift us with any more.

Fantastic.

The essays in this book are warm, funny, true, and lovely.I've read many books of essay's where the authors' own interest in the subject(s) at hand, extends further than the readers attention is willing to give. This isn't the case with Grealy's book. I found her musings, and meanderings, engaging throughout. Her essays take on daytime talkshows, playing with pets, the nature of twins, lost brothers- and ultimately her own struggles to make some sort of sense, or nonsense of things. Her prose talks with you- not at you, and asks you, without any finger wagging, to join in the conversations she is having with the page.I loved it.

For Philosophers of the Felicific

Lucy Grealy is a woman saved by language. Her love of words and ideas infuse each of these engaging essays. Some are, indeed, more abstract than imagistic, and Grealy's greatest strength lies in her perceptions and explorations of the tangible world. However, each essay is thoughtful, intelligent, and, as suggested by the subtitle, PROVOKING of reflection. An interesting comparison is to the essays of Marilynne Robinson, another poet of the concrete: Robinson often loses touch with the tangible in her philosophical meanderings, but Grealy almost always keeps the reader hooked into an image. Grealy's persona is lovable, loving, and downright fun. I look forward to more of her literary explorations.

Great Grealy

This woman is funny, and she can write. Only two of these essays drown in the mundane language of academia; for the most part the essays are insightful, humorous, and fun. One complaint: to the designer and art director: please wake up! Yo can barely tell the title is "As Seen on TV," and the running heads which just repeat the book title over and over again (as opposed to using the essay titles) are completely uninformative. However, these design flaws don't spoil this very enjoyable read.