Regina BarrecaCritiques

Okay, there are some really good things in here. But the focus on the "natural" choices women make and men make gets a little offputting, since none of the studies being done have been done on individuals not influenced by society. A couple of chapters of men's complaints about marriage would have been better if she would have included a statistical analysis of the reality, which shows that many of their complaints are unfounded. And she seems to accept without question the complaint men make that they are trapped or forced into marriage, and didn't really want to do it. The question comes up: Where did she find these men? Yeah, some men feel that way, of course. So do some women. Overall, the book wore out its welcome some time before it left.

This book cracked me up. Written from a perspective of one of the first female students to break into the Ivy League - specifically Dartmouth. Even in the world of females she felt like an outsider. She felt like Betty Boop in a world of Barbies.

The parts I remember best are the briefs overheard conversations. (from a male student) "We understand women's cycles. We know they happen every OTHER month." or "Quit crying. You're making my armpit wet."

She is a writer and has given me a framework ... a style which I can emulate. I was thinking the other day of writing a tell all about my work place. There are perhaps four or five people who have been there longer making me some kind of an expert. It should be fun to write; of course, I won't publish it anytime soon or I'll no longer have a job and perhaps not any friends.

[They Used to Call Me Snow White But I Drifted] was an interesting look at the "gender politics" of humour. The author is a professor of English and of feminist theory in the U.S. She examines how girls and boys are taught about using humour, and about what is appropriately considered funny by each gender. She continues with the use of humour in adults. Some younger readers might not be familiar with all the examples of funny women she uses, but will still get the point that trusting your own sense of humour is empowering.½

Not my favorite, a little tired about the makeup thing

I wanted to love this book - it sounded witty and fun. But I struggled to get through it. Although I love my glass or two or three of wine, I couldn't connect with the stories. Too bad - it seemed so promising.

I just couldn't do this book. I tried, I really did. From the cover copy and artwork, I thought this would be an enjoyable book. No such luck.½

I requested this book based solely on the title and I was surprised at it's content. The "You've come a long way baby!" tone is not my cup of tea. I get the idea that the editor wanted to put across but I'm just not buying it. I couldn't finish reading it. I'm obviously not the proper audience for this book so maybe my review should be disregarded.

I'm of such a different generation that I found Barreca's story about entering Dartmouth in the early days of coeducation sort of, well, boring. I think if she'd spent a bit of time on the historical context for going coed, explaining it to readers like me, I would have gotten more out of the book. I kind of expected a more nuanced picture of a time of transition than Barreca's always amusing and cogent crankiness.

Probably my favorite Gina Barreca book. The shrimp in the curtains revenge story stays with me to this day. Find it and read it.

I was really excited about the concept of Make Mine a Double when I read the Early Reviewers description. Drinking (or choosing not to drink) is often for complex reasons, and I was intrigued by the concept of looking at such reasons from a woman's standpoint.

Now having read it, I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. The tone of Make Mine a Double was overwhelming self-righteous. Maybe I'm sheltered, but I've never been looked down on because I drink. From the essays in this book, I now wonder if that is a rarity. Almost every author talks about the stigma of women drinking, how they have every right to drink. There are essays about being one of the boys and drinking as a mom, all with the tone "I have every right to be here! Stop judging me!" I just wanted to read one essay in which the author simply stated, "I drink because it is fun, judgement be damned."

Maybe that makes me a bad feminist. Still, I just wish a lot of these women would lighten up a bit.

It's a book that is composed of many essays, written from the points of views of different women. The subject matter centers around alcohol and what drinks mean and how alcohol plays a part in people's lives. As another reviewer wrote, the cover does not mesh with the vibe of the book. I thought the stories would be light, humorous, and However, the essays were controlled, and not that interesting. I really wanted to like the book, because it is an interesting premise, but overall it fell short.

Like most essay compilation books, the quality of the essays ranged greatly. I thought the best ones were at the beginning, but that could just be because I grew bored with the book. While it wasn’t bad, there was nothing here that was really memorable. Many of the entries were too “literary” for my taste. I preferred the entries that told a story or reflection from the author’s past more than the ruminations on the societal value of a specific drink. And while this might seem stupid, I hated the cover. It didn’t mesh with the vibe of the book, which was more contemplative than the silly illustration implies, and frankly, it made me feel embarrassed to be seen reading the book.

Make Mine a Double was a very interesting read. I personally do not drink very much, but I was a bit wild in my younger days, so it was very thought-provoking to read about how other women feel about drinking. The essays are often humorous and most of the time insightful. I found myself vehemently disagreeing with some of the essays, and seeing a mirror image of myself in others. Recommended reading for any current or former imbibers.

This is a collection of essays written by a variety of women about why they drink alcohol or why they do not (most of them do.) Some of the stories are entertaining and insightful, others not so much. Many seem to veer off-topic. A lackluster read.

I was excited about the concept of the book. Let me preface this though: I don't have the best luck with books that use these 'chick lit' cartoon illustrations. Something very 'Red Hat Lady' or 'Skinny Girl Eats' about them, and I'm afraid it'll be a book about shoes as a religion. Whatever it is, it gives me pause. However- I'm open-minded and read the book, rather than 'judge the book by it's cover'. I'm not a girly-girl, and I don't like red hats (though I'm open to the women underneath them) and I don't worship shoes either.

I'm sorry that I can't say I really liked the book all that much- which is weird, because you'd think a book about women drinking would be, at the very least, interesting. But this just isn't. I think the writers in this collection were writing for each other. There was a lot of bragging about what degrees they had, and where they traveled, and how they were so much smarter than women who do what is beneath them (getting married, or having kids) There was a lot of mom-hating as well. Lots of resentment about mothers who chose to stay home and raise their families.They'll take the comfort and security it gave them, then speak of their mothers like they were idiots in their choices (though- in light of their daughters- maybe they were?) Meanwhile- the book is supposed to be about drinking, but a more controlled group of women you could not find. There were confessions of throwing up (usually once, lesson learned) and here and there some drunken karaoke in an exotic locale (which is supposed to reflect on 'smart women' in a better light somehow? Isn't karaoke in foreign country still just insipid karaoke?) There are stories about 'starter husbands' (like that's a casual mistake, like she's just blowing off divorce. So funny, these failed marriages, are they not?) bragging about having affairs (again- good times!) But why not be mature? Admit the pain of that kind of thing. Particularly in light of your assumed, above average intelligence. Be REAL. One woman even claims she didn't have a vacuum because she was a feminist. Who knew a cat-hair covered rug was a step forward for women-kind? The world is nothing, if not rich with clues.

Meanwhile, for all of their 'pave the way' talk they are rule followers ad-nauseum- you get the feeling they are uber-conscious of how their stories will be perceived by other professional women- which is why the stories aren't funny, or interesting- or even relatable. They see themselves as 'rule breakers' and 'paving the way' in a very 'You've Come A Long Way, Baby!' 70's kind of way, but they are paralyzed with fear of being reprimanded at work. They seem scared to death of their bosses. The book doesn't even seem focused on the alcohol premise. They can't let their 'good girl' (in the professional world) side take a break for even a minute. So really- if that's the case- what has really changed over some drinks?? I felt like I was reading other people's Christmas letters. And I was just as impressed. Which is to say I wasn't.

The best story was about the girl who's arm fell asleep. It was at least sort of funny, and built up to something. The rest of the stories read like resumes with an asterisk at the bottom naming their favorite (or least favorite) beer, liquor, or wine. Perhaps if you have a well-to-do friend who's quite uptight this book might read like 'fun' while they take a sunbath at their summer home, and wait for the tennis pro to arrive. But I personally didn't look forward to going back and finishing up this book, once I realized it's rhythm (though I reluctantly did, so I could review in good conscience).......

ps: I certainly appreciate early-readers. How generous! I know that proceeds will go to a charity. I wish the book success, even if it's not my cup of long island iced tea.

I haven't ever read a book like this. It is essentially a comedy book written by two authors who focus only on one topic - gender differences.

Most of it is written in transcript form. The premise is that the two authors have never met and have these conversations by telephone. A chapter is comprised a conversation of quick and funny back and forths on the topic of the day.

The transcript format was a little tedious to read after a while - I think it would have been better with more breaks from it. There were sometimes very small breaks where the authors would each write a list or something like that at the end of a chapter but 90% of the book is in this transcript form.

Despite it's drawbacks, my favorite part of the transcript gimmick is the way it allowed for a silent response by one person (just an empty space) after the other person said something that they found hard to respond to. It was always funny to me. I am not sure why - but cracks me up when someone is left at a loss for words.

Beyond that - the topics ranged from really interesting to kind of silly. I felt like sometimes the authors would go pretty low for a joke and that's when the book fell short.

Basically a good silly read that has some poignant moments of insightful social commentary.½

Make Mine a Double is a collection of short stories, poems and essays edited by Gina Barreca. With titles such as "how drink saved my sibling relationships" choices are many and varied. Everyone, partakers and teetotalers alike, can find something of interest worth savoring from the 29 contributors. Reading about social, cultural and political factors around women and alcohol will keep the reader amused, fascinated , entertained and enlightened by the collection. These writings of women's complex relationships with alcohol (or not) are the story of every woman's effort to find her independence and sense of belonging (peer pressure), told in an intelligent, provocative and highly amusing way.

A fun gift for yourself or a friend, and all profits go to Windham Hospital, "Gina's Friends' fund which aids women in need. As a teetotaler, I found this book to be edited in such a way that all women will find a part that describes the way it is universally for all women, drinkers or not.

After reading this delightful, innovative, and very funny combined effort from Gene Weingarten and Gina Barreca, I’m surprised it’s not better-known.

Our two authors collaborate in a back-and-forth dialogue, each taking the side of his or her sex, trying to make the case that the members of the opposition are clearly at fault for all of those trivial arguments, and are maybe also insane. Although I believe Weingarten gets the better of most exchanges (well, as a man, I would), both writers hit many high points.

Topics range widely, but the humor never fails – this is a snappy, entertaining, and sometimes even thought-provoking study of human nature(s). The book is also cleverly edited and laid out, giving the impression of a real conversation in which wit can sparkle.

Recommended.

A bit dissapointed by this set of short stories. Such a great idea for a book. I imagined reading funny antidotes about women like myself getting up to all kinds of high jinx. What I found were mostly stories by professional writers, most it seemed were professor's and their stories just weren't that funny or engaging. In fact, I have to admit after reading a few paragraphs of some, I skipped to the next. Some of the writing was just too wordy and well, boring. I think this volume could be punched up a little by adding some down & out I'll never drink again stories, some drunken hilarity but mostly some real world women who aren't dashing off from university to book tours. Maybe a story of two about everyday mom's who'd like to have a glass of wine but have to wait till the baby is in bed.

I wasn't crazy about this set of essays, stories,and poems. It's not an in-depth, extensively researched book about women, alcohol, social norms, culture, and gender but it's not a piece of fluff either. This collection falls somewhere in between "serious book about serious issues" and "a fun and interesting take on a topic." There were definitely some funny moments and I read the book fairly quickly. But maybe as a "millennial" I'm just too young to understand some of the premises put forth in the book.

I read this book a few years ago after seeing Regina when she was a speaker at a conference that I went to. She is very funny and her books hit close to home. A great book for women

i enjoyed this book - it gave some interesting insight into a very specific historic event. Barreca writes in a easily accesible style and frequently elicited a few quiet chuckles from me. Though overall i really enjoyed the chronological/journal entry style she employed - I didn't like the shifting point of view. i would have preferred that she stayed in first person all the way through.½

This book is a must read for anyone who ever wants to have a relationship (romantic or not) with the opposite sex. Gene and Gina (yeah, it's a cute correlation, they know) have a great written chemistry. I laughed on EVERY single page. There was only one spot of bad logic (on the part of Gina) that is distracting, but the rest of the book more than makes up for it. It's a wonderfully fast read that is guaranteed to teach you something about being with "stupid."½