Growing up in post-feminist Australia, Nelly Thomas, one of Australia's most gifted and natural comedians, was told she could 'have it all'. She's giving it a crack - but she still isn't quite sure what 'it' is.
What do women want?
In pursuit of answers, Thomas has tried being a telemarketer, a professional student, a fast-food worker, a broadcaster, a smoker, a prostitute's confidant, a health advocate, a reality television obsessive, a mother, a partner (or is it girlfriend? lover?), an award-winning comedian, a sex-educator, a Loony Lefty Feminista and a self-confessed fatty boombah. Like many of her generation, she's had a lot of options, yet she's wondering - which do you choose?
In this hilarious part-memoir, part-manifesto, Thomas navigates the murky waters of her life and womanhood in the twenty-first century. She tackles the big contemporary issues - career, equality, family, porn, sex, entertainment, obesity, parenting, culture, class, Beyonce's derriere - with customary insight and a wickedly dry wit.
A must-read for the modern Aussie woman.
Nelly Thomas comedian, author and health ambassador - has been described as one of Australia's most natural and intelligent comedians. As well as being an award winning performer, she was listed as one of Australia's 'most innovative thinkers' in The Age newspaper's The Zone in 2011. Nelly sprung into comedy suddenly, winning the Triple J National Raw Comedy Competition in 2003. Since then she has toured nationally and internationally. Nelly recently released her latest comedy DVD The Talk (a sexual health and ethics DVD for teens and their carers) to popular and critical acclaim. What Women Want is Nelly's first book.
What Women Want
Random House Australia
Author: Nelly Thomas
ISBN: 9781742754888
Price: $34.95
Question: What inspired you to write What Women Want?
Nelly Thomas: I wanted to try and answer the question! Women alive today have lived through - and in some cases, grown up in - one of the greatest periods of change in history. Many of our mothers and grandmothers could not even get a bank loan or work without their husband's permission, now we can be Prime Minister. However, change doesn't come easy and some of us are left wondering what it's all about and what we want from all these new choices. This book is about that. Oh, and to give you a laugh.
Question: Why did you decide to write the book as a part-memoir/part-manifesto?
Nelly Thomas: I didn't really. That's how the marketing people describe it - and it's pretty accurate it turns out - but it wasn't a conscious choice. That's just how I write and think. I suppose most comedians do this - we combine personal stories with opinions so we don't bore you to death and so the ideas are more accessible and more real. There's enough people out there offering opinions and advice, I just wanted to say "hey, I've been through this and as a result I think these things". Seems slightly less pompous that way.
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