Book Review: Life, Death and Other Trivia by Ruth Dickson (Shameless Repost)

Copyright 2006

(Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own, with no urging from the author, who is none other than Gather’s own “Dame” Ruth Dickson.)

Life, Death and Other Trivia follows the musings of an 80+ year young Ruth Dickson. This short vignette offers brief glimpses into the long life of an extremely interesting bon vivant.

If you’ve ever had an older relative regale you with scandalous stories, you will find parts of this book extremely humorous. Reading Ruth Dickson’s book had me remembering my own grandmother, who had a much smaller home base of 100 square miles in northern Minnesota, but who could weave unbelievable tales of her life and the lives of others. Both Grandma and Ruth Dickson share a sense of irreverence and marked political incorrectness, which is somewhat refreshing in a world where everyone is worried about what others think.

Ms. Dickson, a world traveler, has a reference library of stories untold, I’m sure, and this little tome is just the tip of the iceberg. Her book is extremely easy to read, printed in very large print. There are just seven short chapters, and I finished it in all of an hour and a half.

Chapter One describes life in the “crone zone.” Now that the author is of a certain age, certain liberties can be assumed. A crone can feign loss of hearing, display a lack of knowledge of illegal crops, and say things better left unsaid by the rest of us. Ms. Dickson makes Cronedom seem like a position worth attaining. I can hardly wait.

Chapter Two details a few of the “love stories” of the author. Though the author has admittedly forgotten many of her partners, she does remember a few, in detail. These include a provocative Sapphic interlude, and a three-some that ended up being a two-some.

The author uses Chapter Three to talk about men, how they’re all alike, what drives them (it’s their penises, naturally) and what to do about them. It’s a short chapter. Need I say more?

In Chapter Four, Tales of Redneck Lane, Ms. Dickson describes her neighbors. The once-world traveler now finds herself plopped smack dab in the middle of Bumpkinville. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t notice this when first moving into the neighborhood. She describes her backward neighbors in a way that is graphic and amusing. You can’t help but feel sorry for their situation as well as hers.

Ms. Dickson almost lost me while I read Chapter Five, How to Fix the World. She went from hilarious to semi-serious without segue way, and it was too much of a turn around for me. Where’s the in-your-face humor? Where’s the irascible old crone?

Luckily, she redeemed herself in Chapter Six, discussing religion and its implications. Here Ms. Dickson exposes her ideas of the (not so) Virgin Mary, the Magi, and the twisting of the Scriptures in translation from one language to another. Fundamentalist Christians would not like her theories, and only those with an open mind should read this chapter unless they want to have a coronary.

Chapter Seven discusses the End and Beyond. It seems the author is fond of the Soylent Green method of body disposal. It’s either that, or being left out in the wilderness for a lion to feed on. Fascinating.

Although the book is quite intriguing, the front cover art leaves a lot to be desired. Plainly put, I don’t like it. This is not how I envisioned Ruth Dickson, or any woman who claims to be a crone. My own cronedom will probably be more like an Auntie Mame who grew up as a hippie. The back cover sports a current photo of the author, and this is how I see Ruth Dickson, the crone. Although I have to say, she sure doesn’t look 80!

Is Ruth Dickson wicked? Not any more than any other old crone her age. Would I recommend this book? Yes I would, with the caveat that you must be fairly liberal, have an open mind and are looking for a quick read (like something to do while at the laundromat or waiting at the rink for your hockey kid).

Three and a half stars out of five.