In the minds of its citizens, there is a commonly held belief that New York City is the most important place on earth; a cultural center around which the entire world revolves. Some who hold this opinion look down at the rest of the world and some simply hold it for smug satisfaction, but in her book, “The Fran Lebowitz Reader,” one New Yorker has decided to do something about it.
Born in 1950, Lebowitz got her start when Andy Warhol hired her as a columnist for Interview magazine. Since that time, she has been an icon in the literary world, writing for a host of magazines, newspapers and publications.
As for her style, Lebowitz is a humorist in the classical sense. Her writing is reminiscent of a metropolitan Mark Twain. Whether she is lampooning the papacy or decrying the moral decay caused by pocket calculators, a sharp and clever wit shines through her work.
“The Lebowitz Reader” is a collection of essays and short stories. Its topics range from discussions of art and culture to long tangents about not getting out of bed. Although nearly all the essays are sarcastic, her most stinging ire is reserved for groups of which she herself is a part.
One story details her plan to enter a team on behalf of the Big Apple in the next Olympic Games, where they would win points for snarky comments and name-dropping. Another section of the book, titled “Letters,” is devoted entirely to lambasting the literary community. Journalists are accused of making things up, authors are described as whiny and self-involved and clear reasons are laid out as to why no one should ever write a book.
Other topics are covered with varying degrees of ire. Lebowitz’s view on music in general is one of suspicion, and she has said “the only difference between music and Muzak is spelling.” One might expect someone with such a bitter worldview would be more miserly towards children, but her list of “pros & cons” for their existence is surprisingly positive.
While most of the entries in the reader are essays on society, some are fictional stories with a decidedly more ridiculous tone. “A Brush with Death” details the harrowing tales of several artistic groups holding hostages and making demands, including a rogue band of Cubists taking over the Rotunda in Washington D.C.
The compilation was first released in 1994, and although it has enjoyed a certain amount of popularity ever since, it has recently been thrust back into the public eye by a documentary titled “Public Speaking.” Directed by famed filmmaker Martin Scorsese, the documentary follows Lebowitz’s life and career. Although she still writes from time to time, these days the humorist makes her living mainly as a public speaker. Opinionated as she is, Lebowitz enjoys this calling because, as she put it, “people are not allowed to interrupt, because it’s not a conversation.”
Although a decade and a half have passed since it was written, “The Fran Lebowitz Reader” is still relevant. The author, unlike many humorists, does not poke fun at fads or parody politicians. Whether she is criticizing the concept of keeping pets or explaining why plants are too smug for their own good, Lebowitz’s satire is reserved for timeless topics. Her work is smart, polished and genuinely funny and it is definitely worth a read.
Andrew Sheridan can be reached at [email protected].
