SOURCE: "Yada Yada Yada," in New Republic, October 10, 1988, pp. 38-41.

Below, Wolcott offers unfavorable review of Story of My Life.

Beware of a novel built upon a catch-phrase. A flip curl eventually loses its hold. Story of my life, toss-away phrase for a toss-away life, is the signature curl of Alison Poole, postmodern boy-toy by night, aspiring actress by day. "Acting is the first thing that's made me get up in the morning. The first year I was in New York I didn't do anything but guys and blow. Staying out all night at the Surf Club and Zulu, waking up at five in the afternoon with plugged sinuses and sticky hair. Some kind of white stuff in every opening. Story of my life." So it, like, fries Alison's bacon that her much-divorced Daddy would rather encourage his latest squeeze than fork over money for her drama school...