Regardless if it’s happened to you, it’s a known fact that getting dumped stinks. For as painful and dejecting as it is to deal with the trauma of a breakup, it’s equally and somehow perversely satisfying to read about other people’s heartbreak. I’ve recently become a steady reader of the New York Times column Modern Love. The personal essays run the gamut from thinking you’re a bad father, the awkwardness of going on your first “real” date, to going to the barber for the first time after the end of a thirteen year relationship.
What got me wanting to write about this topic is the book I’m currently reading, Things I’ve Learned from the Women Who’ve Dumped Me. Admittedly, and this shouldn’t come as a surprise, the cover is what reeled me in. A live woman’s hand holding a plastic model of a human heart? How could I say no. 10% practical advice and 90% hilarious, 31 contributors wear their fervent hearts on their sleeves for our amusement. It can’t be said that you’ll actually learn anything from these personal essays, but it may improve your sense of humor about being dumped.
If you haven’t got enough of cracking up at other people’s misery, This American Life is re-airing one of my all-time favorite episodes this week, Break-Up, where writer Starlee Kine uses Phil Collins as inspiration for writing the perfect break-up song.
Although a break-up can make you lose sleep, your appetite and your mind, at least you know where you can go for some comic relief.
- Lisa
6 Comments
August 13, 2008 at 9:49 am
Oh, yeah … let’s see, I remember, in the days before cellphones and answering machines, a certain someone never picking up the phone again …
… right AFTER the Prom weekend down the shore.
That’s no plastic heart on that cover!
D
August 13, 2008 at 10:00 am
Ow. My eyes, the burning! I totally have to read this now!
Heartbreak is one of those human constants with which we can all empathize. It’s vaguely comforting to me to know that even back in the day, love stunk. Though the technology, I would argue, has made us crueler.
Sigh,
LAV
August 13, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Great post. I think a classic example of a break-up was on a “Sex in the City” episode… via Post-It note. The episode was titled, “The Post-it Always Sticks Twice.” Funny, right? Sometimes it’s better to laugh about it.
August 13, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I dunno, R – there’s something to be said for moping.
;)
LAV
August 14, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Well, Werther really did know how to mope. E.T.A. Hoffmann as well. How about a period of angst followed by sarcastic humor?
August 15, 2008 at 9:43 am
There you go! That’ll work…
LAV