I Feel Bad About My Neck

And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman

By: Nora Ephron

Narrated by: Nora Ephron

Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

With her disarming, intimate, completely accessible voice, and dry sense of humor, Nora Ephron shares with us her ups and downs in I Feel Bad About My Neck, a candid, hilarious look at women who are getting older and dealing with the tribulations of maintenance, menopause, empty nests, and life itself.

The woman who brought us When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Bewitched, and the author of best sellers Heartburn, Scribble Scribble, and Crazy Salad, discusses everything, from how much she hates her purse to how much time she spends attempting to stop the clock: the hair dye, the treadmill, the lotions and creams that promise to slow the aging process but never do. Oh, and she can't stand the way her neck looks. But her dermatologist tells her there's no quick fix for that.

Ephron chronicles her life as an obsessed cook, passionate city dweller, and hapless parent. She recounts her anything-but-glamorous days as a White House intern during the JFK years and shares how she fell in and out of love with Bill Clinton...from a distance, of course. But mostly she speaks frankly and uproariously about life as a woman of a certain age.

Utterly courageous, wickedly funny, and unexpectedly moving in its truth telling, I Feel Bad About My Neck is a book of wisdom, advice, and laugh-out-loud moments, a scrumptious, irresistible treat.

©2006 Nora Ephron (P)2006 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

• The Book Sense Book of the Year Award, Adult Nonfiction, 2007

"Ephron returns to her print roots with a new collection of essays reflecting the perspective of an aging, but still crackling sharp, cultural scribe." (Boston Globe)

"This current gatherum of hard and funny truths spares neither the author's pride nor her audience's, but it does salve wounds, and many of Ephron's insights are bound to come in handy." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Ephron's insights make the book an enjoyable romp.... For people who want a little candor and humor about not only hanging on but getting on, this book is for you." (The New York Post)

nora, just chatting, truly

i loved this audiobook, and i felt nora ephron was speaking directly to me. i felt as if we were sitting in a tiny coffee shop in new york city and chatting warmly, stopping only to sip our cappucinos and watch the world go by. i listened to this just after her passing, to honor her memory and her work.

there aren't a lot of bells and whistles to i feel bad about my neck -- these are nora's thoughts on the effort involved in women's beauty regimens and how we all (herself included) continue to subject ourself to a ridiculous amount of plucking and shaving and lotioning every day; falling in and out of love with advice from certain cooks on hosting; a diatribe on purses and one on moving in new york; and now-moving thoughts on aging and death in our society today. not too deep and not too funny but honest. i felt a simple truth in her words that i don't feel in a lot of memoirs today, as they try to be as humourous as sedaris or moving or painful. here are just some simple thoughts, some musings to muse over. what a concept, in today's age.

i also enjoyed her reading of this book, although i know from reviews some others didn't -- i felt she was just speaking her truth, not dressing the narration up or making it too much of a story. and i think that's fine, i think that is just what it was meant to be. rip nora.

self-indulgent

Witty, yes; interesting, at times. But Ephron's topics are, on the whole, petty and self-indulgent. I'd rather see her take on things that matter a bit more.

Not just for women

Nora Ephron is a riot. Love her humor, her writing, her pace, her personality. Wonderful experience.

Hilariously funny

While it took me awhile to get used to her narration ( it gets more animated as the book progresses) I loved it. Funny and touching and brutally honest at times and just a really good ‚read‘. Loved listening to it.

It Had It's Moments

I am 50 and enjoyed the first part of the book a great deal as I could relate. As the story progressed, it lost my interest and the narration by the author was very dry. I actually stopped in the middle and listened to another book, before completing this one. The observations were rather witty, but the narration was flat and did not come across well.

She's candid and entertaining

Even though I am much younger than 60, I liked her old age musings and tips. I also felt that I could relate because I used to live in the NYC area, so I know the city. In the end she talks about starting her career, getting older, her parents, celebrities she knew, her apartments, her neighbors, her friends, her relationships, staying in shape, looking good... in short, humorous sections. Mini-essays. She's is not too cynical. She's very open. I'm kind of reminded of Amy Poehler's Yes Please. However, Nora has her own irreverent style and she says just what she thinks. I really like that she narrates herself. She has passed away so I was mindful of this while listening to her talk.

Very Nora

Sometimes you have to pay close attention to notice the subtle notes of sarcasm and depreciating humor. Quick yet enjoyable.

Funny and real

This book is one of most entertaining books I’ve listened to in years.

It’s funny and most women will find something in with which to relate.

A look into the New York Life

What did you like best about I Feel Bad About My Neck? What did you like least?

I liked the love for cooking.....I can relate....The name dropping was never ending and annoying

Would you ever listen to anything by Nora Ephron again?

I always try something twice just in case I misjudged

Have you listened to any of Nora Ephron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nothing to compare it too

Did I Feel Bad About My Neck inspire you to do anything?

Be myself and not a name dropping self absorbed materialistic person

I just wish I could listen to her longer!

I thought it was great! I think I will try some of her other books