Brooklyn Bookbeat: Carroll Gardens writer praises ‘Messy Lives’
Brooklynite Katie Roiphe has long been known for her courageous writing, whether in the form of personal essays or cultural and literary criticism. Since the publication of “The MorningAfter: Fear, Sex and Feminism” in 1994, Roiphe’s work has regularly been described as thought-provoking and bold. Her newest book is no exception.
“In Praise of Messy Lives,” Roiphe’s collection of essays published this past fall, includes a stringent critique of the provincial conventions that shape contemporary culture in America. Roiphe examines several topics, including society’s treatment of single mothers and its obsession with Facebook and Mad Men.
Roiphe does not shy away from assessing her own life; she is as self-aware as she is critical of popular culture, and her essays include autobiographical snippets that analyze her personal life – a “messy life” – including her divorce and her role as a mother.