Oh this book is just terrific. The prose is so light and airy and flows so beautifully. Which all belies the pretty serious things that go on.

Written in the late '60s, re-released a few years ago by Thunder's Mouth, this is the story of Bettina Balser, an upper-middle-class housewife who is freaking out about the stifling life she finds herself in the thick of. The characters (her husband, his 'classy' friends, the housekeeper, their children and neighbors) are perfectly drawn, and the dialog Oh this book is just terrific.

The prose is so light and airy and flows so beautifully. Which all belies the pretty serious things that go on.

Amalfi Medievale: la struttura urbana e le forme dell'economia e della societa; Robert P.Bergman (offprint from Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana). This experimental ' Art libraries in WorldCat' target, has been realized on basis of the WorldCat Search API, a web service providing access to specific library holdings.

Written in the late '60s, re-released a few years ago by Thunder's Mouth, this is the story of Bettina Balser, an upper-middle-class housewife who is freaking out about the stifling life she finds herself in the thick of. The characters (her husband, his 'classy' friends, the housekeeper, their children and neighbors) are perfectly drawn, and the dialogue is impeccable. This story is wholly believable, and fantastically put together. Highly, highly recommended. You know, this book has really stuck in my head since I recently finished it. And I'm actually pretty unhappy (in retrospect) about the ending.

I don't want to ruin it, though this isn't really that kind of book, but basically, everything just gets tied up in a far too terrific way. Bettina and her husband have been in a silent, seething fight for months, the kind of fight that encompases their entire lives, really, where neither would even consider backing down, because it would be anathema to even think that they might be at fault. And but then there's this crazy climax scene where finally everything comes out, kind of, and hubby just breaks down. Not only does he back down, but he completely puts the whole thing on himself, takes responsibility for all the awfulness that they've both been going through. Not that I think he was wrong to do so (obvs, the book is from Bettina's POV, so we're likely going to side with her), but it's almost too wonderful to have him go through such a change of heart like that. It's like a fantasy ending, the kind of resolution that people who happen to be in sometimes-contentious relationships (no one I know, of course) only dream of.

Which just made me sadder and sadder the more I've been thinking about it, that Sue Kaufman either just took the happily-ever-after, easy way out, or was so depressed by her own situation (sorry, I read most everything as if it's autobiographically based) that she had to dream up an if-only and put it together, maybe as something to hold up as a beacon of hope. I still like the book immensely, but I sorta want to retract my earlier rapturous proclamation of its believability and all that. This is the kind of book that I have always envied for its style which I could never pull off.

You either have this talent or you don't. And Sue Kaufman has it.

My best description would be 'controlled stream of consciousness.' This story (published in 1967) of a housewife resisting the razor's edge of debilitating anxiety as she goes throughout her daily life is definitely not loosely written. But this isn't a tightly plotted book either, which makes it difficult to describe. I love the period This is the kind of book that I have always envied for its style which I could never pull off. You either have this talent or you don't. And Sue Kaufman has it. My best description would be 'controlled stream of consciousness.'

This story (published in 1967) of a housewife resisting the razor's edge of debilitating anxiety as she goes throughout her daily life is definitely not loosely written. But this isn't a tightly plotted book either, which makes it difficult to describe. I love the period details, and at the same time I appreciate the timelessness of the narrator, Bettina Balser's attempts to maneuver through life and keep her head above water. I was fascinated that (and this is not a spoiler), she became a housewife after living a relatively loose single girl's life because it was seen as a kind of 'cure' by her family. It's almost as if Sally Jay Gorce from 'The Dud Avocado' had yielded to external pressures to throw off her wicked ways and become what every woman was meant to be: a doting wife and mother. I was also surprised and intrigued by the ending, and have spent time wondering how such an ending was received at the time of publication. Would say more, but that would definitely be a spoiler:).

Take one part The Group, two parts Bell Jar, a half portion of voyeurism, a dash of bitters, and you have Diary of a Mad Housewife. Set in the late 60s/early 70s, the novel consists of the secretly scribbled thoughts of Tina, an artist who destroyed her paintings and sought marriage after a nervous breakdown. The tale stretches over roughly a six month period in the middle of her marriage to a successful and self-centered lawyer in the Upper West Side. While the story is a bit dated, there's sti Take one part The Group, two parts Bell Jar, a half portion of voyeurism, a dash of bitters, and you have Diary of a Mad Housewife.

Set in the late 60s/early 70s, the novel consists of the secretly scribbled thoughts of Tina, an artist who destroyed her paintings and sought marriage after a nervous breakdown. The tale stretches over roughly a six month period in the middle of her marriage to a successful and self-centered lawyer in the Upper West Side. While the story is a bit dated, there's still enough truth in Tina's challenges (and in the asinine behavior of her husband) to make it somewhat relevant for today. This book made me angry and uppity. You at least have to appreciate that. Data Recovery Cd Asus G750jx Iso 9001. THis book was interesting to me in three ways.

I had heard of it as a 'feminist' book from the sixties/seventies, and hadn't rea it for that reason- most things that are feminist manifestos are distasteful to me, as American style 'Men suck' feminism is NOT to my liking, and the empowering French stylyle feminism is not prevalent here, especcailly in older books. However, I was fascinated by this book, and saw little feminism in it. It was, instead, to my mind, a detailed account of descent by THis book was interesting to me in three ways.

I had heard of it as a 'feminist' book from the sixties/seventies, and hadn't rea it for that reason- most things that are feminist manifestos are distasteful to me, as American style 'Men suck' feminism is NOT to my liking, and the empowering French stylyle feminism is not prevalent here, especcailly in older books. However, I was fascinated by this book, and saw little feminism in it. It was, instead, to my mind, a detailed account of descent by a woman untreated for a strong anxiety disorder, whow as self medicating with various forms of drug/experiences, including her journaling, valium like pills, various psychoanalytical counseling sessions (previous, by an obviously mysonigistic counselor, who figured the way to fix her depression was for her to get married and have children. Did people REALLY think that way?

Do some still? Horrors.), and finally, an affair. None, of course, cure her, but in the end (spoiler alert?) she realizes that none of the self medicating will help, and that eiter she must bear out her terrors and paranoias (there not being sufficient helps for wha ails her in those days long past.

I personally would shove Zoloft at her and encourage her to actually make non socially climbing friends, but she lives in a very different world than we do.) Basically, because the dialogue is exactly like what my experiences with Lyme anxiety attacks were, the panic portions and fear descriptions of the book were particualry interesting to me. I self medicated with sleep, hiding in my home, journaling, and a lot of 'WAHT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH ME,' as varied doctors told me I was fine, also.

Having, of course, better morals and a non social climbing mysoginistic husband, I did not, of course, resort to an affair, nor would ever, but Bettina is so isolated, both from her radically changed spouse, her children, her 'friends' who are really backbiting associates, and even from any spiritual side she might have one had, that she felt there was nowhere else to turn. From a Christian standpoint, it would be easy to see how, being isolated from a loving Heavenly Father, or even from a loving earthy one (her parents, her mother being strange and estranged, her father reaching out towards her but being cut off by distance and by Johnathan's distaste) increases her desperation to spiral out of control.

Bettina chose an affair very cleary and consciously- one of the first things she does purposefully as she begins to regain some control in her life- and chooses purposefully someone she canot love and who will not love her back, but who is also controlling. Yet does not seek to control her or her lifestyle, like Johnathan does. Therefore, Bettina longs for George, and he, a bit, for her, in non-sexual ways, but their love scenes are especially pg-rated by today's standards. Except for the fact that my husband is Not a mysoginist sexist pig, like the hubby in this book is,and the lack of an affair, lol, Bettina's life is a lot like mine was a few years ago, when the Lyme panic almost had me house bound and agorophobic and everything else.

I am intrigued by Bettina regaining some 'control' or sense of self as the book finishes. She and Johnathan make their own decisions, perhaps wisely, realizing they do love one another. Not having a decent family counselor, however, I doubt the ability to heal the relationship fully. Literarily, the writing is beautiful, with rich details and a fast moving plotline, although 'nothing much' happens. Internally, a lot is going on and Kaufman allows us to see Bettina's turmoil without forcing us to internalize it and get back there ourselves.

I loved the cockroach analogy at the end. But I still loathe Johnathan. DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE by Sue Kaufman (1967) is the novel on which the 1970 film is based. (My husband graduated high school in 1967; I did in 1970 when we saw and loved the film, which is terrific but not available on DVD.) Betinna Balser, called 'teen' by her husband, a disappointed liberal-turned frantic capitalist, begins a secret diary as a means of hanging on to the shreds of her sanity in this domestic comedy. I regret it's taken me this long to discover the novel, which is, of course, DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE by Sue Kaufman (1967) is the novel on which the 1970 film is based. (My husband graduated high school in 1967; I did in 1970 when we saw and loved the film, which is terrific but not available on DVD.) Betinna Balser, called 'teen' by her husband, a disappointed liberal-turned frantic capitalist, begins a secret diary as a means of hanging on to the shreds of her sanity in this domestic comedy.

I regret it's taken me this long to discover the novel, which is, of course, even better than the film. As best I can recall, the film's dialogue is mostly straight out of this book. Bettina slowly comes unhinged as she tries to accept her role as obedient and supportive wife to her domineering husband without losing herself in the process.

It might be a bit dated—I'd like to think women don't do this anymore—but the story still reads as fresh. The film's ending is probably more realistic, but the novel is satisfying and both are wickedly funny. There is much to be said about this book. Unfortunately all that I want to say about it will spoil the story for anyone interested. It kind of touched on a lot of different emotional responses to the characters. First, you want to yell at the main character for being a bit of a spoiled brat.

She seems to have everything and even though her life isn't perfect, she doesn't even have to clean her own damn house! Then you go to being astounded at the husband. He was a lovable idiologest in t There is much to be said about this book. Unfortunately all that I want to say about it will spoil the story for anyone interested. It kind of touched on a lot of different emotional responses to the characters. First, you want to yell at the main character for being a bit of a spoiled brat.

She seems to have everything and even though her life isn't perfect, she doesn't even have to clean her own damn house! Then you go to being astounded at the husband. He was a lovable idiologest in the beginning of their relationship but then he becomes wealthier and loses touch with everything he once was. He, and the society they keep, are phony and she is responding feeling out of control of herself and her life (which she kind of is as she's not working, etc). It was a lot more interesting a story than I thought it would be. I'm in awe that a book can feel so distinctly vintage, and yet feel so timeless.

Maybe it's because a lot of what Tina deals with still hangs around in the present day, 50 years later. While the first half is a little slow, the pace picks up considerably and, by the midway point, I couldn't put this book down. It felt brutally raw and realistic, as if this really were a woman's journal that we just happen to come upon. It makes me wonder what happened to Tina & Jonathan, as well as their dau I'm in awe that a book can feel so distinctly vintage, and yet feel so timeless.

Maybe it's because a lot of what Tina deals with still hangs around in the present day, 50 years later. While the first half is a little slow, the pace picks up considerably and, by the midway point, I couldn't put this book down. It felt brutally raw and realistic, as if this really were a woman's journal that we just happen to come upon. It makes me wonder what happened to Tina & Jonathan, as well as their daughters. (I could give my left arm to read the journal entries of Silvie or Liz, 20 years later.).

This was one of those books that I had filed under socially and historically significant books to read. Given that, it was a well written story that provides a view into the life of a 1960s housewife in suburbia. It was frustrating to watch the protagonist slip into a very negative mental place, and have the husband only exacerbate the process. Just when you think things cannot get worse, they do.

I was left with the sense that to be a 1960s suburban housewife was emotionally and socially isolati This was one of those books that I had filed under socially and historically significant books to read. Given that, it was a well written story that provides a view into the life of a 1960s housewife in suburbia. It was frustrating to watch the protagonist slip into a very negative mental place, and have the husband only exacerbate the process. Just when you think things cannot get worse, they do. I was left with the sense that to be a 1960s suburban housewife was emotionally and socially isolating. (It was no wonder that women of that time self-medicated as much as they did.) Sue Kaufman's novel is a disturbing and depressing read that to some extent, reflected the realities of 1960s in the USA.

It was a story that needed to be written and likewise, to be read. Utterly thought provoking, down right depressing and I thought I was picking up a Chick lit novel. However, on a positve note: Wonderful, well written, and Sue Kaufman took you inside the darker shades in her character analysis, and having you think twice about your life, too. Just not the right time for me to read this book, m ***rereading this book Aug 2012 digging in again tonight.

I am not in the mood to read this. I have too much writing to do. And the fact that I know Sue Kaufman committed su Utterly thought provoking, down right depressing and I thought I was picking up a Chick lit novel. However, on a positve note: Wonderful, well written, and Sue Kaufman took you inside the darker shades in her character analysis, and having you think twice about your life, too. Just not the right time for me to read this book, m ***rereading this book Aug 2012 digging in again tonight.

I am not in the mood to read this. I have too much writing to do.

And the fact that I know Sue Kaufman committed suicide in real life has made it so much harder for me to read this. I don't think I can truly give this book its do so I must put it back on the shelves for now.

Smartly written novel set in domesticity, but with references to a culture and mindset that is partly historical, partly all-too-current. A clever portrayal of how far too many males see women as tools for their advancement and objects to be controlled. Especially scary since this reflected life almost half a century ago and the echoes in current society ring clear. Read this and then see the film with Carrie Snodgrass and Richard Benjamin. The only reason for 4 and not 5 stars is the ending--wo Smartly written novel set in domesticity, but with references to a culture and mindset that is partly historical, partly all-too-current. A clever portrayal of how far too many males see women as tools for their advancement and objects to be controlled. Especially scary since this reflected life almost half a century ago and the echoes in current society ring clear.

Read this and then see the film with Carrie Snodgrass and Richard Benjamin. The only reason for 4 and not 5 stars is the ending--won't say more than that to avoid a spoiler.

It is interesting to consider why the author would choose this ending and that, in turn, speaks again to the culture past and present. This 1967 gem is one of my all-time favorite books -- which I'm currently re-reading. I originally swiped Diary from my 'mudther's' collection of book club books as a tween or early teen. I've always enjoyed the The Balser Family Thanksgiving dinner scene.a true classic, but as an adult, I'm catching so many other nuances I missed the first time around. Have things changed?

Not as much as you'd think. The New York City housewife from my mother's generation is a classic archetype, and I was ama This 1967 gem is one of my all-time favorite books -- which I'm currently re-reading. I originally swiped Diary from my 'mudther's' collection of book club books as a tween or early teen.

I've always enjoyed the The Balser Family Thanksgiving dinner scene.a true classic, but as an adult, I'm catching so many other nuances I missed the first time around. Have things changed?

Not as much as you'd think. The New York City housewife from my mother's generation is a classic archetype, and I was amazed at how much I could relate to her particular problems. Put this on your list for your next book club discussion. This fictional diary chronicles the life of Bettina Balser, wife to a social climbing husband and mother to two young children, as she feels she is slowly going insane. At times intriguing, at times extremely dated, this look at a 1960’s housewife torn between liberation and the normal feminine ideal is worth the read.

It is occasionally pulpy and melodramatic, but thoroughly engrossing if only to see if uptight husband Jonathon gets his in the end. Bettina is at times a frustrating protagonist, This fictional diary chronicles the life of Bettina Balser, wife to a social climbing husband and mother to two young children, as she feels she is slowly going insane.

At times intriguing, at times extremely dated, this look at a 1960’s housewife torn between liberation and the normal feminine ideal is worth the read. It is occasionally pulpy and melodramatic, but thoroughly engrossing if only to see if uptight husband Jonathon gets his in the end. Bettina is at times a frustrating protagonist, and her decisions are not always praiseworthy, but her flaws make her seem all the more real. Kaufman was born in Long Island, New York. She received her degree from Vassar College in 1947.

In 1953 she married a doctor named Jeremiah Abraham Barondess with whom she had a son. At Vasser she did some editorial work and went on to writing. Her works appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, and The Saturday Evening Post. Her first novel came out in 1959. In 1967 she wrote Diary of a Kaufman was born in Long Island, New York. She received her degree from Vassar College in 1947. In 1953 she married a doctor named Jeremiah Abraham Barondess with whom she had a son.

At Vasser she did some editorial work and went on to writing. Her works appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, and The Saturday Evening Post. Her first novel came out in 1959. In 1967 she wrote Diary of a Mad Housewife, which would be filmed as Diary of a Mad Housewife. She died in Manhattan in 1977, at the age of 50, after a long illness.[1] The Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction is named in her honor.

Rachel Ellis datang ke Spanyol untuk mencari adik laki-lakinya, Brian, tapi ia malah bertemu keponakannya yang mungil, Luisa. Brian sendiri tidak diketahui berada di mana. Di Spanyol ia terperangkap dalam 'istana' Senor Vincente de Riano yang dingin tapi memikat, yang tahu perihal Brian, dan sekaligus wali Luisa.

Rachel yang sudah lama mendambakan memiliki anak sendiri, ama Rachel Ellis datang ke Spanyol untuk mencari adik laki-lakinya, Brian, tapi ia malah bertemu keponakannya yang mungil, Luisa. Brian sendiri tidak diketahui berada di mana. Di Spanyol ia terperangkap dalam 'istana' Senor Vincente de Riano yang dingin tapi memikat, yang tahu perihal Brian, dan sekaligus wali Luisa.

Rachel yang sudah lama mendambakan memiliki anak sendiri, amat suka pada Luisa. Sehingga ketika Senior memintanya sebagai pengasuh Luisa, diterimanya dengan senang hati. Benih-benih cinta dengan cara yang aneh tumbuh di antara mereka berdua, Senor dan Rachel.

Di antara prasangka dan keangkuhan. Rebecca Winters, an American writer and mother of four, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. When she was 17, she went to boarding school in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she learned to speak French and met girls from all over the world.

Upon returning to the U.S., Rebecca developed her love of languages when she earned her B.A. In secondary education, history, French, and Spanish from the University of Rebecca Winters, an American writer and mother of four, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. When she was 17, she went to boarding school in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she learned to speak French and met girls from all over the world. Upon returning to the U.S., Rebecca developed her love of languages when she earned her B.A. In secondary education, history, French, and Spanish from the University of Utah and did postgraduate work in Arabic. Because of her studies overseas, Rebecca decided to become a teacher and studied French and history at her alma mater in Utah.

For the past 15 years, she's taught junior-high and high-school French and history, and says she got into serious writing almost by accident. 'I went through a back door to begin my writing career,' she says. 'In the first place, I never liked to write anything —I only wrote mandatory papers for school. If anyone had told me I would become a writer, let alone love it, I would have laughed and dismissed the notion as absolutely absurd and preposterous. 'Having said that, I did write letters to my parents while I was away at boarding school when I was 17.

My mother kept them and one day, after I had become a mother for the second time, she sent me all my old letters and asked me to write my memories from them for posterity. At the time I thought she was insane, but because I adore my mother I did as she asked. 'By the time I’d finished sorting through all those teenage thoughts, observations and opinions, the seeds of a story had begun to form in my mind. The seed eventually became a novel and was published in 1979. It was called The Loving Season, published under the name Rebecca Burton. Naturally, it takes place in Switzerland and France.

'As soon as I finished that novel, I found myself wanting to start another novel entitled By Love Divided, a World War II romance. A few years later, Harlequin bought a novel, Blind to Love, a story that takes place in Kenya. It’s been a love affair ever since. 'I guess the moral of the story is, never underestimate a mother’s intuition!' As Rebecca has kept writing, her talents have not gone unrecognized. She has won the National Readers' Choice Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and has been named Utah Writer of the Year.

Right now, Rebecca is working her way toward her 50th novel for Harlequin.

LISTSERV 16.0 - ARLIS-L Archives ARLIS-L Archives ARLIS-L@LSV.ARLISNA.ORG View: Message: [ ] By Topic: [ First Previous Next Last ] By Author: [ First Previous Next Last ] Font: Subject: From: Bronwen Bitetti Reply-To: Bronwen Bitetti Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2012 09:44:20 -0400 Content-Type: multipart/alternative Parts/Attachments: (131 lines), (764 lines) Sorry, your browser doesn't support iframes. View Message Search Archives Options Archives.