The Encyclopedia of Exes:
by Meredith Broussard (editor of submissions)
Published by Three Rivers Press-Random House
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
Women have been heard from (a lot) relative to relationships with men. Meredith Broussard, who has written much on the relationship theme, was often asked, "What about the men?" People wanted to know what men thought and felt about relationships.
Broussard sent out the word to male authors and then compiled these stories of male-version heartbreak into what some might call "lad lit," the guy version of chick lit. All these stories are supposed to be fiction, but maybe not--as some wrote about girlfriends (or how they hoped old girlfriends would have reacted at breakup).
My favorite story, "Nightlife" by Lee Klein is about New York nightlife, that you can get a call from a drinking friend to join them (when the rest of the world is tucked in safely for the night) and arrive at the bar at 1:22 a.m. to spend another couple house drinking and listening to your already-drunk friends wax poetic about relationships. Drunk friends...remember them from college and later growing-up nights out?
These 26 men didn't mince words, even though the words are "fiction," crossing ages and kinds of relationships. Some remind me of Ann LaMott's biting humor in her self-effacing way of getting to the point.
Armchair Interviews says: Sharp writing geared to those who worry about misconduct, miscommunication, misgivings and other dating disasters, the A to Z of men speak about relationships.