Sohn's New Book Trashes Own Demographic

Prospect Park West, Amy Sohn's new novel depicting (and picking apart) the people and places in that neighborhood, has fallen into the hands of Smartmom, Louise Crawford. In an incredibly breathy takedown, Crawford comes off as insulted, and maybe a little jealous of the neighborhood author.

For one thing, she doesn't like the Bugaboo culture cliches, the sexless marriages exposed, and whatever else Park Slope parents are generalized for—but then she goes on to say that she's "written about just about everything Sohn covers in the novel." She also seems opposed to Sohn including a frumpy character in her book (named Karen), but then has no problem admitting, "We all know many like Karen and Sohn writes good and mean about this pathetic, unattractive supermom who is obsessed with buying a coop and getting her kid into PS 321."

So who is this book for, aside from the Park Slope moms it insults? Crawford suggests the "superficial" story is perfect for those who think their "prowess giving blow jobs is a true measure of your worth as a person." Heads up, zinger alert!

Concluding the interview with herself, Crawford says she can't decide if she likes the book or not, (someone contains multitudes!) so we came to a conclusion for her: "I don't hate it... I hate that I didn't write it." The End. Or not... we've reached out to Sohn for a comment on her critic.

UPDATE: Sohn tells us, "I was extremely entertained by my friend and neighbor Louise Crawford's review of my novel, Prospect Park West, and look forward to hearing more the next time I see her at Connecticut Muffin."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on August 26, 2009 3:12 PM

Comments [rss]

OSFO

DID U JUST CALL MY FAMILY STUPID!

if u dont already know iam one of smart moms characters and fans! iam actually her daughter and and i think she is a great mom and writer! i dont understand if u dont like her collum why do u read it and spend your money on it?!?!?!

AND HOW CAN YOU CALL A FAMILY STUPID IF YOU DONT EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM! YOU DONT KNOW WHAT WE ARE LIKE OR WHAT OUR LIVES ARE LIKE!

BongoBoy

God help us all. Ms. C is the electronic version of the old neighborhood nag talking over the fence about some nasty gossipy thing or something. Her blog and Murdoch-based newspaper column are infamous in these parts for being examples of bad writing, family stupidity and lefty garbage. Her family members were on the Madoff list, so draw your conclusions from there. Her poor teenaged son must be embarrassed by all this. Ms. C. was probably tearing out the book's pages looking for any thinly veiled reference to her or her "characters" ... can't wait to see the fight at the Muff!

OSFO

DID U JUST CALL MY FAMILY STUPID!

amvass

Perhaps Ms. Sohn will update her head shot, which is from her first novel more than 10 years ago -- before she was married and had a child and suffered the slings and arrows of living among the unwashed of Brooklyn.

So, for those of you who are salivating over her sex kitten picture, realize she ain't no Sarah Palin these days.

And, yes, she is a terrible, self-reverential writer who has not progressed since boring us to tears with her infantile sexcapades in New York Press.

famdoc

@cutlass:

You've described Ms. C to a "t"

Perhaps you should add, for those who aren't familiar with her neighborhood escapades, that she's the one gawking through the curtained windows of semi-celebrities in Park Slope, trying to figure out exactly how much they paid for their homes.

millipede

Yawn. I can't imagine anything more boring than a book about Park Slope. And I live in Park Slope.

Gwinny

Ugh, Amy Sohn. I've hated her since she had that horrible column in the NY Press way back when. Why are you giving her extra publicity?? I thought you knew better, Gothamist.

zodak

i remember reading amy sohn's sex-capades in ny press in the 90s, accompanied by crude little drawings, so when i finally saw her, i couldn't believe the loser with low-self esteem i was reading about was actually good-looking. it was a shock.

hotstepper

my money is on mr. crawford being in serious need of a bj.

Mr. Shankly

Ha! That's one small step for man, one giant leap for Mel Stein.

cutlass

On the one hand, you have an annoying Park Slope "writer" who thinks her day to day domestic experiences are of interest to the public at large, and like to refer to herself and her family through cutsy nicknames. On the other hand, you have an equally annoying Park Slope writer who also thinks her day to day domestic experiences are of interest, and writes both a companion guide to Sex and the City, and a "mating" advice column.

Any way to get these two to fight to the death without a referee?

wac0202

"Painting an entire neighborhood in broad, unflattering strokes is, well, a little nasty." What? No, it's not. That's part of a book review? The setting is the neighborhood, it is not a review of the neighborhood, there is no need to be "fair and balanced."

I couldn't care less about Sohn's book, but I can't stand Crawford's blog either, so I'm torn....

babyhitler

all i know is that the chick on the left is kinda hot and the dude on right is wearing a bad wig and has moobs. The chick on the left looks like Jessie Spano from saved by the bell mated with Ione Skye from say anything.

NannyState

So true. The real distance between those two can be measured in visits to a plastic surgeon.

Bort

Just because she's not fat and ugly doesn't mean she got plastic surgery.

JacqueMehoff

prowess in BJ's, do we need more liz phairs?

dreamking

"amy sohn? is this 1996?"

Seriously.

Though I do like the "prowess giving blow jobs" as a true measure of "your worth as a person" zinger.

JacqueMehoff

guess liz wurtzel had something better to do.

JacqueMehoff

amy sohn? is this 1996?

Hoover1

It's true that Park Slope is a pretty annoying place in a lot of ways.

However, Amy Sohn has never written anything interesting. Never ever ever.

Therefore: could you replace this post with one about people fucking at The Standard, please?