My question isn't about the book - I would like to know what Nora's childhood was like. Obviously humor and creativity abound endless with all the Ephrons, so I'm curious to hear how their parents cultivated that.

My question for Nora is about how she juggled being a single parent with her career? I thought of that often as I was reading the book and she was mentioning her various divorces. I have a husband who actually helps me a lot and I still feel like I can't juggle my career, my children , and my home.

Betsy

Have you ever solved the handbag dilemma? With more and more things "we can't leave home without," I find myself carpetbagging, literally.
And is there a mind/bag connection where when you want something it automatically migrates to the bottom?!

I just started reading "I Feel Bad About My Neck" so I don't have any comments... yet. Has Norah Ephrom ever written for stand up comics?

I love your writing style. Did it take years to develope or did you hit on it early on in your career?

For about 25 years I have wanted a haircut/style that I could wash with a bar of soap and dry with a towel. And, now, at age 58, I caught myself seriously looking at cotton sack dresses in the hippy stores. I feel certain I am dangerouldy close to that haircut. Am I done for? Or Is there life after vanity?

Nora,
I came away after reading your book feeling that your passion and survival is your sense of humor. It feels to me that you use this wonderful gift to relate to all women. When did you know that this was your gift?

After reading I Feel Bad About My Neck, which I loved and passed on to all the women in my life that I love, I found a book of your essays called Crazy Salad. I have found your essays regarding the Women's movement of the early 1970's fascinating, considering what has happened in our recent election process. I was wondering your thoughts on women attacking both Sen. Clinton and Gov. Palin. Both are obviously strong women and leaders but (unlike men) are being judged (by other women) for their family and marital lives. Do you think it is possible for women to ever unite, instead of bringing each other down?

My question for Nora:
(As a younger woman) What would be your best advice about coping with the inevitable... getting older? In other words, should I even worry about my neck, my purse, maintenance etc.?

Nora - The chapter from the book that I could most identify with was On Rapture. Too many times to count, I have found myself getting fully engulfed with the characters or story lines that I just don't want the book to end. Wondering if you've recently found a book that you lost yourself in?

Nora, as a book lover, avid romantic comedy movie goer and aspiring writer, I would like to know how you settle in to write. How do your ideas go from imagination to paper and screen? Your characters are all so believable - normal and quirky, fun and honest - are they bits and pieces of people you know or even yourself?

Being a cookbook/food lit addict, I thoroughly enjoyed your section on how different recipes and approaches to cooking and entertaining played a role in the different phases of your life. (I was lucky enough to track down a copy of the Chamberlain's "Flavors of France" from the library,and it is now sitting on my kitchen table.) What is your current passion or fascination?

NORA,

We are on the same page.. i gave up worrying about my neck,my purse or any other thing. Just go with it! The rest of you need to ununderstand that you can only take so many suppliments, treatments etc before life catches up with us. You can stay outrageous but may be a little wrinkled.. Life goes on, but never has to stop!

I just wanted to let you know that I have a hard time wearing turtlenecks with all my hot flashes. How do you get around this problem when you're trying to hide your neck?

Nora, what are you working on now? When will we see/read it? Thanks for your honesty.

I really enjoyed the whole book very much; I really wanted to sit down and talk with Nora; I am 71. The humor was wonderful to read but I enjoyed her thoughts as she turned serious concerning certain issues like death, the "d" word, and the death of her friend. I just felt I wanted to talk to her about this and how much I have thought about dying as I grow older. Does she ever think about God and eternity? Is so, why doesn't she mention this?

What a thoughtful book for women to read and discuss. I really wish we could all sit down in person with Nora.

Thanks for this wonderful book, Nora.

Phyllis

I loved Nora's book but I have no time to worry about my neck when I'm still worrying about my thighs! I did buy some decolletage cream one day from a very beautiful young man at the Nordstroms Clarins counter, it seems to be working well....I am trying to maintain some humor over the aging process but my body maintenance needs seem to be increasing every year. And I am still outraged over the existence of my chin hairs!

Another funny/but very telling book on body image is by Valerie Frankel's "Thin is the New Happy". Talk about body image issues - her mother put her on a diet when she was 11! She speaks with humor and pain about her struggle with dieting and self-acceptance, something I could relate to.

There's something wrong with our system when I calculate my BMI and emerge as overweight - but only because I am short (5'0") and muscular,not waiflike. I wear a petite size 6, thanks to the elliptical machine and yoga, so I'm not worried about it, er um...too much.

My question is I guess when you live in New York you have be concern about your looks in a way. I do admit I do have a thing about purses now I will not buy a $50 dollar or higher purse or name brand however an actress who has her clothes over at K-Mart can't think of her name had a great bag hobo bag a couple of years ago that I killed and also loved so much so I am always trying to find a purse like that. I never really looked at my neck until I read your book but being 48 (just turned it on the 22nd of this month) I guess I do feel bad about it. I do admit now that I am in prememopaus and with a almost 6 year old girl who is autistic I really don't have time to look at my self I do admit I have got to shave my legs (old fashioned way) Just hated that my heads sweats like crazy and I still have socks on because of cold feet and I hate sometimes that I can take a showder and do some work around the trailer it looks like I didn;t take a shower. Also prememopas brings back the old cramps and the moodiness again. Sometimes I hate this age. Nails are not done either last time I had a manicure was this summer and it was free. Man being older is the pits. Do you sometimes feel the same way? Its like all you see is skinny people who have who have top paying jobs and I am a stay at home mom who cleans up the trailer for my family. I do admit for once I did something for myself when I went to the free manicure they gave me free products for my hair so now I buy full body stuff for my hair shampoo and containtor and it really brings it too life. That is all wear on make up either. Do you ever feel like a woman from somewhere else trying to feel worthy in this planet or anywhere Yes or no

Nora, I just loved your book. You have the perfect way of saying just what I want to say. I have loved your style for years.
You still look wonderful for your or any age. You go lady.

Nora, I loved your book, particularly the essay called Rapture. I could completely relate to the feeling of being totally consumed by a great book.I just finished reading Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund and I miss the character Una and 19th century New England so much! Ah, what a story! What are the the last couple of books you've read that have sent you into a state of rapture?

Hi Nora, You rock for taking part in our book club. Anyhow, in your essay What I Wish I'd Known, you mentioned that anything we think is wrong with our bodies at 35 we will be nostaligic for at 45. Being 35, that sagely advice brought the biggest smile to my face. Now when I'm about to complain about this wrinkle or those less than firm areas on my thighs, I stop myself and think hey, this is as young as I'll ever be! Enjoy it. At 55 did you find yourself "taking inventory" again and looking back at 45 with nostalgia?Then again, why ,as women, do we feel we should ever have to take inventory on our body's physical appearance? In the end, I just can't believe it's worth the worry.

Don't you feel that this book was a bit self indulgent, a little whiny, and a smote of a pity party? I hate it that this is just one more piece that aids in the perpetuation of the youth oriented society. " I'm older, I have wrinkles, my hair is grey, I have hot flashes." Whaa, whaa, whaa. My age, appearance, my trials and tribulations have been earned. I am not going to hide my neck with scarves and turtlenecks. I am smarter, wiser and more content than I have ever been and love myself AS I AM. It is also noteworthy that not every women out there is able to afford much more than the hairdresser and a occaisional manipedi. And you can't even blow dry your own hair? Good God woman, grow a pair and learn how. One, and only one, chapter captured me and reminded me why I love to read so much. Rapture. Can't we read something with a little more depth?

I have a special request to all!!! Please choose The Alchemist for next month's book to read. We are a miltary family trying to make ends meet and the most crazy thing happened on Friday. I couldn't afford the book choosen this month so I read another one "Act of Treason". I already had it and it is a pretty good goverment thriller. A little too much description of things than story but pretty good. Anywho... I went to the Miramar distribution center, it is a place where E-5 and below can go to get free items like diapers, food and what ever people donate. In the book section was The Alchemist, brand new copy, for FREE. So I grabbed it. Anyway, I voted for it before and then saw it so if you are interested, please, please, please place your VOTE!!! Speaking of vote, don't forget to vote this November and keep our troops in mind -- let's end this war and bring them home!!!

To Shannon - as well as any other military spouses and family members who may be part of this book club - Thank you to BOTH you and your husband for your service. I was a military wife for fifteen years, and even though I was blessed that my husband served during peacetime I can relate to many of the sacrifices and stresses of deployment that you are experiencing. The contributions you are making are invaluable and too often go unrecognized.