Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York [Paperback]

Gail Parent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 28, 2004

Three decades after its original bestselling publication, Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York is still completely on target as the most achingly funny book-length suicide note ever written by an agonizingly single 30-year-old trying unsuccessfully to straddle two worlds: the one she's been programmed for from birth—marriage first, life later—and the illusive swinging singles scene of liberated New York City.

Meet Sheila Levine, she’s smart and funny, and her mother tells her she’s beautiful. . . . But her skirt’s always a bit wrinkled, she’s trying to lose 15—make that 25—pounds, she just turned 30 . . . and she’s still single. She tries to date and mate, she really does, but disappointment turns to desperation, and after a flash of insight, Sheila calmly decides to kill herself. So she starts to get her affairs in order and writes a suicide note to her loving parents to explain it all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sometimes heartbreaking, mostly hilarious, always full of life.” (Newsweek)

About the Author

Gail Parent received her degree from New York University and then moved to Los Angeles with her husband and became one of Hollywood’s most successful writers. Her screenwriting credits include the Carol Burnett Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda, and The Golden Girls.

Product Details

• Paperback: 223 pages
• Publisher: Overlook TP (January 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585674710
• ISBN-13: 978-1585674718
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #983,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a find!, May 10, 2004

By 

A. Lively "self proclaimed girly girl" (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York (Paperback)

I am so glad this book was re-released for my reading pleasure. A little different from my usual reads, but worth every minute.
Sheila is a 30 something unmarried, unattractive, overweight Jewish woman living in NYC and hating every minute of it. A controlling mother, no real friends and alone in the city that never sleeps. Sheila's answer to her misery is to commit suicide. The entire book is her suicide note to all the people in her life that have caused her pain.
Sheils gets all her affairs in order including her will, the Rabbi to read her eulogy, her cemetary plots, etc and wants to make sure that everyone knows that she died because she was not a married woman.
This is a serious issue but has some LOL moments that will keep you reading until you finish the last page.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's time this poignant, funny book was resurrected!, September 27, 1997

By 

Aurilla Stevens "AS" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (Paperback)

Sheila, darling, I miss you. I see you're out of print, and,boy, what a shame. Such a sad thing to happen to such a nice Jewishgirl. You embodied (and a nice body, what do you mean fat) the angst of all women who don't resemble Barbie Doll. I watched your mother plotz, I listened to you kvetch, and I empathized with your ever-postponed plan to commit suicide because no man would propose (even though you demonstrated you could cook and clean and do things in bed that nice Jewish girls weren't supposed to do). Who could resist your opening paragraph? "A few years ago, on the East Side of Manhattan, not far from Bloomingdale's, a man set up a business where he sold diet shakes, delicious chocolate milk shakes having only seventy-seven calories. Well, I tell you, fat young girls came from near and far and lined up around the block at lunchtime. Only seventy-seven calories and such heaven! I was one of the ones that had two for lunch every day..."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheila Levine is Dead and Living In New York, July 13, 2002

By 

Pat Schilling (Greenfield, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York (Hardcover)

What a GREAT read for any woman who has or is currently playing the dating game. Sheila is the kind of woman we all would love to know. She's human to the core and oh so vunerable. I certainly believe we all can relate to Sheila and her life as she is trying to be herself and at the same time fit the mold that society has pre-ordained for single women of "that certain age". I first read this book in 1973, and just recently purchased another copy, as mine has been passed around and read by all my friends, and their friends,for the past 29 years. Sheila Levine will soon become your best girlfriend as you struggle with life's little adventures!!! LOVELY READ