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One book better than two?
I have finally made it into the Guardian newspaper, twice in a week. I wrote a blog about romantic literary heroes that don’t age, then appeared in a piece in today’s lifestyle section. Today’s article is not flattering (read it here if you can be bothered, it goes on a bit). The writer, someone I’ve never heard of called Zoe Williams, clearly loathes and detests me. This is not unusual in a Guardian writer. She says she is ‘amazed’ by me, calling me a ‘no-mark’. What’s that exactly? I can only assume that she is referring to my wrinkle-free complexion, something I am rather pleased about. She goes on to insist that she cannot believe how I managed to string out my observations about French women into one book, let alone two.
It was around here that I got confused. I know I write books with more regularity than most people have their eye-brows plucked, but can I really have missed one? What is this second book about French women?
It was then I twigged: Ms Williams is referring to the US edition of Two Lipsticks and a Lover, called All you need to be Impossibly French. How unfortunate. It is one thing writing a vehement attack on someone, but to get such a basic fact wrong is rather, well, sloppy.
Ms Williams has every right to refuse to take care of herself (as she so proudly states that she does) but she should really take more care in her research. Moreover, she is guilty of missing the point of my one book about Frenchwomen. It is not that I think that Frenchwomen are a superior race, nor do I think that English women should be condemned for not looking good. However, I do think that one can both look good and be intelligent; it is these two qualities that one should strive for. I said in the book that I thought that English women had a stronger sense of sisterhood and I would always rather go out with a group of them than a group of French women.
If Ms Williams had bothered to read one of the books - rather than thinking they were two separate books - she would have learnt this. But maybe she was too busy stroking her goatee to care!
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2008
25 Mar 2008 helena
It is a little known fact that all Guardian articles are written by men called Dave who wear anoraks and goatees. So you were right on that point!
No-mark is apparently urban slang for a ‘loser’; it originated in Manchester some time in the 1990s. Used as in “Get a job and a life you no-mark!” It is understandable why Ms Williams should view you as such: while all you have managed to achieve in the last few years is the publication of five books and the birth of three children, Ms Williams has knocked out the seminal work Swimming with the Tide: Democratising the Places where we Work. She was helped in this epic endeavour by a certain Chris Ward. It does not have a rating on amazon, but that is because it does not appear, an oversight that they must be kicking themselves over!
Well. I read the article, the whole blasted thing. I’m not sure what Ms. William’s was going on about, nor why she is so angry. She seems to have missed the points of all the books she mentions (but apparently did not actually read). Women can be intelligent and attractive–why wouldn’t you want that for yourself?
We’re poor, buying “Two Lipsticks” was a guilty pleasure that I don’t regret, I’ve read it several times.
Zoe, you are one hirsute honey. Sometimes, a gal just wants to relax and read about underwear.
It’s fun.
Oops, I mean “Impossibly French.” I’m American.
Sorry!
Nice research Rupert. Her article went on and on and…..boring.
Just ordered the US version to give to my French friend. Let me tell Helena,you have never seen a more glamourus dentist! And she cooks like Nigella. Will let you know what she thinks. Hejsan svejsan!
Helena,
What did you ever do to this woman. She seems to take your book as a grave threat to women everywhere. IT’s too bad she didn’t read it before skewering it to tiny litte pieces. I personally have enjoyed every one of your books which I purchased for my library. I never heard of her book. She probably has no sense of humor at all!
“Poor Sabbia Rosa, though I admit I don’t know who she is.”
“I am not seducing anybody. I am not making time for myself or my beauty regime.”
Or making time to type “Sabbia Rosa” into Google, apparently. :p Personally, I think some nice undies might help her evil mood a bit.
Get over her - Zoe Williams is just polly filler - a plug ugly one at that!
And….it’s the usual excuse from the fatties. Williams says that “they are thin because they are born that way”. Oh please! THEY ARE THIN BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT A PRIORITY NOT TO STUFF THEIR FACES, TO LOOK GOOD AND TO BE HEALTHY. See my blog Understanding Skinny Bitches. Julesritter.com
I am a regular Guardian reader…Sorry I find it hard to stomach the Daily Mail, but I do love your blog and your books.
I have never read an article by Zoe Williams that made me do anything but cringe. They are never remotely funny, are always badly researched and have some embarrassingly warped and bitter pseudo-feminist agenda.
Definitely don’t give another thought to what she wrote earlier this week. Personally I would love you to write a second book about French women as I loved Two Lipsticks and a Lover so much.
someone has a big chip on their shoulder i think! i dont think she has actually read any of the books she is commenting on, and especially not yours helena as she has completely missed the point! i wouldnt take it personally at all she just needs to get over her self! and if you do ever decide to write another book on french women i would definately read it.
In an idle moment I thought I ‘d have a “quick” read of Zoe Williams article - and doesn’t it go on!! I’m not sure what her problem is - she’s very negative and seems to want to fit everything into some kind of feminist framework. I completely agree with Jules Ritter - better to take responsibility for oneself than sit around slagging off other people’s efforts. Taking responsibility in all sorts of areas of life, not just women and their appearance, seems to be something the French are much better at than us Brits all round. Take no notice Helena - and you know what, I will finally get around to reading “Two Lipsticks” - promise!
There are many fantastic French expressions to describe Zoe - the first one which comes to mind is mal b@#!ée, bref… I have been happily married to a Frenchman for 4 years. We drink Champagne, eat chocolate, croissants, full fat smelly cheese, oh and loads of fruit and vegetables and guess what? Since we’ve been together I’ve been consistently 3 kilos lighter. I never ask for only half and I don’t smoke either. She obviously has no understanding of the typical French woman’s love of food, l’art de la table [ie spending hours at the table without the tele on] and ability to enjoy all food sins without comfort gorging or binging. Anglo children are always amazed when I tell them chocolate is good, especially at breakfast - as long as you really savour it and don’t eat it again 5 times in the same day with a packet of crisps and a coke to wash it down. Evidemment!!!
Ms. Powell, you should be happy that you were mentioned in The Guardian, even if the reviews were bad. Even if they are, you still get free exposure. So why complain as if she’s done you SUCH an injury? You should “savour” it.
Perhaps Ms. Williams is a woman secure in herself without the need to EMULATE others, and therefore feels confident to give a counter view on a phenomenon in pop culture to which you contribute. The responses here show a fundamental lack of understanding of what was written. Both you and your readers have decided to attack the writer rather than what she says. Attacking the person (”she doesn’t take care of herself”) has little to do with what she said. Nice dodge.
As for the posters here, unless they’re teenagers (fatties? oh come on…last I looked YOURS WASN’T the diet book) their comments are simply about insecurity and poor reading skills. I guess one shouldn’t be surprised by this being that the raison d’etre is to slavishly copy others doing things which are merely common sense, eh?