Living It Up

The authoress is performance artist Karen Finley (who achieved notoriety several years ago, when Senator Helms and cohorts objected to the NEA subsidizig a woman who smeared chocolate on her breasts and called it art) she offers her a masterful parody of the Martha Stewart school of happy homemaking. Arranged as a monthly guide, the text includes activities such as making a bathmat out of your hair as a Mother's Day gift, creating a John Wayne Bobbitt Father's Day party serving of (guess what?) and stirring up a "Turkey Brew" by stuffing the various elements of a Thanksgiving dinner into a fifty pound blender and liquefying. Fun for all, and all for fun, and biting tongue-in-cheek-and-jowl social-politcal satire.

Not only have I read "Living It Up," but I read it often. At least once a week. I am (to say the least) obsessed. While some of the ideas are a little to out-of-it to sound realistic (such as growing flowers in your armpits)- others sound like fun (such as the "throw your own funeral party." and also the idea for a "depression room"). If you are a fan of Karen Finley- whether from seeing her live, hearing her recordings, or even an earlier book- you will definitely love this title. SO CLIMB OUT FROM UNDER THE BED, BUY A BLENDER, AND BUY THE BOOK!