Creme de la Femme: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor [Paperback]

Nancy Davis (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 1997

Creme de la Femme is a thoughtful compilation that unites the sharp writing of Gloria Steinem with the wry musings of Erma Bombeck.  Here is Joan Rivers mocking institutions, Merrill Markoe educating, and many more women teaching, learning, growing, loving, leaving--in a let's-not-take-ourselves-too-seriously way.

Arranged thematically into topics like politics, equal rights, relationships, men, family, aging, you'll find humor ranging from the ironic to the sublime.  In addition, all this funny business is for a good cause--all royalties and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ever hear yourself laughing in a movie theater when no one else finds the line even remotely funny? Creme de la Femme, a compendium of cynical, light-hearted, or downright birdbrained doggerel, riffs, essays, and stories, proves once again that humor is idiosyncratic. Contributors invited to flex their comic muscles include American politicos and writers Gloria Steinem and Anna Quindlen, comedian Joan Rivers, and cartoonists Roz Chast and Lynda Barry. Certain selections cause fluttering eyelids, but others win laughs or true guffaws. Some veer between categories, such as Paula Poundstone's strictures for producing the Oscars: "... everyone will wear usher uniforms and we'll put the money saved in gowns into low-income housing." No big hair to compensate for the gowns, she adds sternly, and no squinting at teleprompters to read off immortal lines like, "It's nice to be here." Breakups, predictable sex-role foibles, pregnancy, PMS, and politics are well worked over.

From the Publisher

"Hilarious!"
--Douglas McGrath, writer/director Emma

"Imagine me, a liberated woman long before Women's Lib, being shocked and surprised at the brilliance, creativity, and humor of the women represented here."
--Estelle Parsons, Academy Award winning film (Bonnie & Clyde) and television (Roseanne) actress

"Sometimes edgy, sometimes gentle, full of witty women's thoughts."
--Donna Hanover, journalist, Fox TV Good Day New York

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference; 2nd edition (August 5, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375700560
• ISBN-13: 978-0375700569
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,251,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have a need to laugh....buy this book., June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creme de la Femme: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor (Paperback)

I adored this book. The subject matter ranges from the trauma of trying on a bathing suit to the absurdity of politics. My must read story is " I wish I was Mrs. Kenny Rogers", by kathy Najimy.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to keep and enjoy - not a one time read., November 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Creme de la Femme: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor (Paperback)

I've already bought a dozen! Carl Reiner's review on the back of CREME de la FEMME is absolutely true. It is a book you can pick up again and again and each time you discover something wonderful.

CREME de la FEMME takes the talent of a wide range of women and combines them into a book that you feel compelled to keep near you. It manages to amuse you, make you think, and reflect on your own life all at the same time. It's not a book to read in one shot and put aside. At first you want to skim through it because it is so full of rich treasures that you don't know what to read first. Then you want to go back and savour the humor and insight of some many women coming from different experiences and backgrounds.

Do I recommend it? You bet. Not many books actually make me laugh out loud. It's difficult not to be rude and start reading it to anyone nearby. It also makes a great gift and I love the idea that the royalties go to three such worthy charities. I plan to give many more copies as gifts.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Are These Stories Made Up?, October 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Creme de la Femme: The Best of Contemporary Women's Humor (Paperback)

Let's face it. The last thing we girls needed was somthing as trivial as this book. I have been going through a divorce and was looking for a pick-me-up! What did I get? I was bombarded with stories about Columbus Day and inappreciable pendancy! I feel the stories were an attempt to obtain some sort of attar from the writers significant others! Give us a break! Please leave the peripatetic for those who know what they are talking about. If a person is looking to invest in expensive setaceous then they have found their book. But if a person does not want to be insulted I wouldn't recommend this insulting bit of fire starting paper!