NOBODY'S LOOKING AT YOU Essays by, Janet Malcolm

Named one of BBC Culture, Lit Hub, O The Oprah Magazine and New York Times Books to read. The title story, is a profile of Eileen Fisher the fashion designer, who's Mother often said, "Nobody's Looking at You." Janet Malcolm clears the veneer in these essays, featuring interviews with Eileen Fisher, Rachel Maddow, Sarah Palin and others. Ms Malcolm follows her interviewees to their home, so she obtain a clear sense of who these people are, ' onstage and off.'

The essay on Eileen Fisher, I found to be laugh out loud funny. She offers insights and nuances with behavioral descriptions such as,when she arrives for lunch at Ms. Fisher's home,there was a mix up regarding the menu choice. Ms. Malcolm states in reference to Ms. Fisher, "she apologized for the lunch that clearly needed no apology." And later she offers this description regarding Ms. Fisher, "it occurred to me that Eileen looks better in her clothes than anyone else." She ends the essay describing Ms Fisher:

"These were the clothes for Mom's closet, in the obligatory black, gray and white, and as we stood before them. the image of Eileen, in all her delicacy and beauty, wafted out of them, like an old expensive scent."

Another fascinating interview and essay; the 29 year old stiletto wearing prodigy pianist, Yuja Wang. She wears extremely short and tight fitting dresses that ride up as she plays, so that she has to tug at them when she has a free hand, to prevent full exposure. When Ms. Wang was asked by a reporter why she wore such short dresses, Ms. Wang states, "I am 29 years old, so I dress for my age. I can wear long skirts when I am 40." Once again, Ms. Malcolm follows her here there and everywhere, to present a realistic impression of this music phenomenon. She describes Ms. Wang as experiencing an existential crisis at a young age. Ms Wang states in regard to her career, she began performing at 15. "I have been doing this for 29 years, do I want to keep doing this, or is there something more? I don't like to say this, but I am almost like a prisoner. I haven't ever enjoyed my free time."

And the chapter on Sarah Palin with Kate Gosselin is a must read. At one point, in the chapter Ms Malcolm aptly describes an encounter between Sarah and Kate, "What follows is like a scene in a dream-or piece of experimental theatre-where disconnected things happen all at once, very fast and slow, and anxiety covers everything like a sticky paste."

Its a diverse, cultural exploration of fascinating individuals as 'real people' with problems, and struggles, that are deftly epitomized by Ms. Malcolm. I look forward to reading her other books.

Recent Books by Janet Malcolm:

Forty one False Starts:Essays on Artists and Writers (2014)
Iphigenia in Forest Hills: Anatomy of a Murder Trial (2012)
Burdock (2008)
Reading Chekhov: A Critical Journey (2002)