Customer Reviews

Ask Dr. Mueller: The Writings of Cookie Mueller (High Risk Books)

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Cookie Mueller was a rare bird, indeed. Although a dark-hearted urban creature of Manhattan, she was also a natural-born writer, and more than that, a risk-taker who made no apologies and was able to maintain an insightful eloquence about her mistakes and triumphs.

What triumphs could those be, you ask? A junkie freak with a penchant for public urination? Her written documentation is the parallel of the photography of Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin and Mary Ellen Mark. She reported her milieu without much sympathy and her readers are the wiser for it.

Don't read this if: you are squeamish about drugs, ambivalent sexuality or bodily functions. Also don't attempt it if: you tend to glorify the rot of drug addiction, death, and/or perversion. Either way, you'll be disappointed. Do read it if: you're a fan of the unvarnished stuff of life, told in fanciful reportage, with little self-consciousness.

I think Cookie would approve if I close by saying that these collected essays are perfect toilet reading.

This is a great book. It has the complete "Garden of Ashes" and "Crank Calls" books that are now out of print. Plus most of the book "Walking through Clear Water". Also included are works from newspapers and magazines, as well as unreleased stories. My only complaint is that the only pictures of her are on the front and back cover. The most complete Cookie Mueller book to date.

Also recommended:

"Walking Through Clear Water" is small and convenient to carry around. It has 2 stories not included in "Ask Doctor Mueller"

What a life Cookie Mueller lived! I don't know how she survived thru John Waters, single mom, the 70's, the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It's so amazing to read her writing and not think that she is fabricating --but the more I read, the more I'm convinced she is NOT making it up. This woman was never a big celebrity or anything in her day (Unfortunately, she died of AIDS in 1989). Read this book and you will wonder why she didn't get famous. I could see her on Oprah or Sally Jessy Raphael. No it's not all fun and games -she had some seriously horrid things happen to her, and these cannot be played down. Just the stories she can tell. ...and I see her gift for writing. All I can say is "Read this book!"

I saw Cookie Mueller for the first time when I found the photographer (now a mega one shall I say!) Nan Goldin's works. She was this woman who had a hair that doesn't know the definition of shampoo (She admitted that in the book.) whilst seems to be so daring yet loving she could pee on the street in front of passer-bys and the camera (As shown at the back of the book). She was visually what I would call as a perfect child if a white-trash from some obnoxious place like Minnesota meets the real Gypsy Princess. Well, how wrong I was and we all were, that not only she had the look that encompasses all our perceptions of nomad, but her words, somewhat poignant and vulnerable in the street-wise ways, was all hidden under her wild, yet wonderful smile. I somehow can imagine what she would had been if she were born into this fast 90s, instead of this hippish, aura-talking 70s. I wouldn't have been surprised if she was reviewing the fashion column of New York Times, bringing it just a little more colours and humours. Perhaps they would even have printed the sections in colour. Cookie's book isn't a masterpiece of literacy. In fact, you might say it's just another anecdote from some forgotten woman in the 70s. But her courage to jot down such happenings, sometimes wonderful, sometimes sad, in a wonderfully honest fashion is a fine result on its own. She might could have been on the third substance when she was writing, but who care? After all, we all enjoy the time of her tripping words in front of our eyes spreading through the papers.

It's extremely difficult to not like this book. It screams for attention like an unkempt debutante with her bouffanted hairdo carelessly peppered with curlers and hairpins whilst balancing precariously on one leg while reciting the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner backwards. Delightfully camp, poignant, and full of references to cultural mavens John Waters, Divine, and the entire Baltimore jetset popularized by the notorious director of "Pink Flamingos" etc. Read this book if you're depressed or on the brink of a nervous breakdown because it's the best home remedy for the blues.

Was introduced to Cookie's work at an Other Voices, Voices Lost event in NYC. The actor/comedian Julie Halston read/performed some of this book and the audience was in tears with laughter. It's NY angst as its dry witty best.

Cookie Mueller provides the words that her friend's photos cannot. Candid, honest and too true, her experiences maybe interpreted as party fantasy to those who have not lived the lifestyle they distantly embrace in John Waters' films and Nan Goldin's color saturated photos. It is pure talent that she is able to tell her experiences from an observer's perspective. I am so glad that she is able to explicate the stories of sinking a yacht, hitchhiking and partying in nyc with clarity and ease. One who participated in such odd circumstances is rarely able to articulate the insanity - which to me makes her writings most sane. She lives life.

A friend of mine in London, mentioned re reading this book the other day.
I knew Cookie when I lived in Provincetown in the mid 70's. A lot of John Water's character's were there at that time. It was quite a sight to see her, we called her Cat Woman for her eye make up, riding her bicycle up and down Commercial St. There was nothing about Cookie that wasn't genuine. She was highly creative, I had an outfit she made, was one of my prize possesions, but being a bit of a gypsy myself, I lost it somewhere along the way. I babysat Baby Noodles a couple of times, Max, he must be close to 4o now...how weird! My favorite thing was dancing at the Back Room, Peyton spinning disco. Cookie had the most charming lisp, and she'd say Jan, you know I think your tho hot! Edith, Cookie and Sharon had a little revue they performed at the Back Room in the afternoons...Edith dressed like Dorothy singing Somewhere over the Rainbow...Or lipstick on your collar told the tale on you...with Cookie and Sharon singing back up vocals...the slightest hint of a Baltimore accent takes me right back to those days. If you want a glimpse of the demi monde, Cookie's the real deal...and Nan too. She may give the impression of being a voyeur, but in fact was a willing participant with a good eye and a camera. Live fast and die young I guess. AID's hadn't hit yet, and we didn't know what hit us when it did...drugs....I'm pretty lucky to have known them, even luckier that I didn't get too messed up and I'm still here. It was a golden time in my life. Cookie was oddly, tough as nails and tender in equal parts...and wicked wicked funny.
Someone mentioned what a shame she wasn't still around to be on Oprah...she would have given her a run for her money...and you certainly won't be finding out it's some kind of fake memoir here!
Enjoy the book!

Cookie totally rules. This book is so hysterical and fabulous.... it's so unfair how many people don't know about her brilliant life & brilliant writing.

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