Some Onely Books: Trimberger and Patel October 22, 2008

I haven’t read these, but they look great. I just ordered them today, as I continue my quest to personally fund several love handles on the heaving gut of the Amazon.com beast. Note that Lisa and I are interested in singlehood around the world–hence Lisa’s intriguing post about Iranian singles and the below mention of Patel’s book:

The New Single Woman, by E. Kay Trimberger

Review
“The Good News from Planet Singleton is that despite overwhelming cultural messages to the contrary, it’s possible for women to live happily ever after alone . . . Trimberger’s research skills are impressive and her message clear.” -Publishers Weekly “This fascinating study is the perfect antidote to the onslaught of books telling women to marry or be miserable. The women Trimberger depicts have complex and interesting lives enriched by . . . children, family, lovers, and most of all friends. Must reading for the single, the coupled, and everyone in between.” -Katha Pollitt “A much-needed breath of fresh air. Women have been in bondage to the dream of the ‘soulmate’ for far too long, and Kay Trimberger gives us the inspiration and insight to get on with our lives.” -Barbara Ehrenreich

Chasing the Good Life, by Bhaichand Patel

Being single: for some, it means complete bliss; for others, it is a malaise that must be cured. Irrespective of one’s point of view, in a society where the unattached person is viewed as an oddity, singledom comes with challenges: dealing with uncomfortable questions from well-meaning relatives and friends; the hushed whispers; the envy; and, of course, the unwanted attention from those who think singles are people of dubious morals. 
Chasing the Good Life: On Being Single has a diverse crop of individuals bringing you their stories—the nonagenarian Khushwant Singh revels in gastric freedom; ‘single girl’ Radhika Jha struggles to find accommodation in Delhi (she has since given up and married); Sheela Reddy lives the life of a ‘married single’; Suhel Seth perfects (or doesn’t) the art of seduction; and Jerry Pinto finds unique ways to combat annoying people who ask him why he isn’t married. 
Through many such tales of bliss, exasperation, freedom, loneliness, self-discovery, hilarity and heartbreak (the editor, Bhaichand Patel, has found to his dismay that there is more to chasing the good life than lust and debauchery) this anthology captures the spirit of a person alone.