Overview
In his bestselling Wacky Chicks, irreverent social commentator and humor writer Simon Doonan introduces readers to a bracing cross section of exuberantly unconventional women: comedienne Amy Sedaris; fashion designer turned park ranger Spider Fawke; Warhol muse Brigid Berlin; Suzanne Bartsch, the woman who showed Madonna how to vogue; and many more. Distinguished primarily by their wild originality and rule-breaking chutzpah, these women defy rules, shape the cultural landscape, and enrich the world. They are about as diverse a flock as you can imagine, but all of them are Belligerent, Resilient, Uninhibited, Naughty, Creative, and Hilarious (B.R.U.N.C.H. for short). In a word, they are Wacky, and they are ready to enlighten you. A book that pays tribute to the wild and unstoppable female in each of us, Wacky Chicks is the ultimate guide to embracing your inner rebel.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
"Wacky Chicks," in the parlance of New York Observer columnist Simon Doonan, are daring women who turn heads, get people talking, and start trends. In this tribute to these unstoppable females, Doonan interviews a baker's dozen "belligerent, resilient, uninhibited, naughty, creative, and hilarious" WCs. His feisty subjects include Comedy Central's Amy Sedaris; Suzanne Bartsch, the woman who taught Madonna to vogue; hip hypnotist Jessica Porter; and Isabel Garrett, a freestyle fashion designer whose home base is a trailer in a Florida nudist colony.Publishers Weekly
Doonan, New York Observer columnist and author of Confessions of a Window Dresser, loves wacky women, and if he ever opted for a sex change, "you bet your sweet bippy" he'd be one himself. A wacky chick (w.c.) is B.R.U.N.C.H.: "belligerent, resilient, uninhibited, naughty, creative and hilarious." She's got attitude and shows it, whether that means filling her apartment with exotic reptiles, setting up her own slashed latex garment business, collecting Chihuahua skeletons or dressing up as Satan in horns at anti-abortion rallies. True, w.c.'s have a hard time keeping jobs (which is why many turn their eccentricities into self-employment) and some "transition from wacky to wack-job" and start shooting, but there's no denying the tremendous life force these gals have. To Doonan, they epitomize feminism: "If the goal of women's liberation was to create a world where the sisters could do whatever the hell they wanted, then the wacky chick must surely be the screeching apotheosis of feminist achievement." Doonan has a gay time neologizing (e.g., "obnoxiosities," "chickorators," "fashiphanous fromage" ) his way through the life stories of some 16 wacky women in this silly but fun self-help book. His point? Support your local w.c. all you can: take her to lunch, treat her like a queen and "validate" her wackiness. "Becoming a wacky-chick hag" may even speed up "your own transformation from Nora Normal to B.R.U.N.C.H.-y broad." Agent, Tanya McKinnon. (May) Forecast: While Doonan may be seeing pink-Stila Cosmetics now offers "Wacky Chick," a new pink shade, in support of his book-his publisher seems to be seeing green. S&S plans an author tour and national author publicity, and a mod jacket will attract browsers. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.From the Publisher
"My favorite fresh new writer of the year award goes to Simon Doonan...the most brash and brilliant thing in type."— Liz Smith
"[Doonan is] a postfeminist writer cloaked in the drag of a sly fashion insider."
— The New York Times
"Simon Doonan is not just a brilliant artist, he is also a keen observer of the most wacky, insane pockets of our society. As a woman I applaud him, as a reader I laugh with him, and as a book buyer I can tell you Wacky Chicks is worth paying retail for."
— Joan Rivers
"A rollicking ride through the loud, controversial, dramatic, and utterly engrossing lives of our society's most noteworthy Auntie Mames."
— Gotham