BEDS OF NAILS AND ROSES: Witty Observations on Enjoying Life as a Modern Woman

by Irma Kurtz ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1983

The slightly offside counsels of an expatriate American ""agony aunt"" (or British ""Dear Abbie"") and unwed mother. Kurtz's situation is actually more unusual than what she has to say: part homilies about the new ""proliferation of choice"" for women, the responsibilities entailed and the courage called for; part snappy/cozy advice on the standard topics of sex, love, relationships, and marriage. Problematically, Kurtz addresses a number of audiences--from should-I-or-shouldn't-I teens on up. Appealingly, her views don't follow a set pattern. She'd have girls choose to remain virgins until 18 or so--until they're in love (or something like it), unafraid, and undeluded. With admitted bias, she'd have every woman consider motherhood--and all women look warily at marriage Regarding sex, she pooh-poohs the fixation on orgasm (""to make him feel adequate""?) and makes a pitch for honesty, unhurriedness, and humor. More controversially--though without opprobrium: ""I think most of the women who write me about homosexual fears are simply opting out of a more difficult choice: coming to terms with heterosexuality."" Mostly the observations are of the sane, like-yourself sort--skeptical of new noses, ""schematized self-discovery,"" and perfection of any sort. Nice enough in its negligible way.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION