If you don’t know who Liz Jones is, you need to. Besides being the former editor of Marie Claire, a magazine we freaking love for not being brain dead, she is an amazing and phenomenal woman who has been through the ringer with her crap ex-husband Nirpal Dhaliwal, also a writer (think the modern, latte sipping version of Slyvia Plath and Ted Hughes). Her account of this tumultuous experience, as chronicled in The Guardian made us cry laughing and then cry for real. At work. And then we made our co-workers do the same.
Read stand-out excerpts of her story below, including her funny, brazen act of revenge on her husband’s mistress as well as bleaker moments of insecurity that kind of make you want to buy her a coffee.Liz Jones is a strong, smart and a survivor (ok, we stole that from a Lifetime original movie slogan) but nevertheless Liz Jones is Bridezilla of the Month, and we can’t think of a better bouqet-tosser for the title.
The Brazen:
‘Have you been emailing her behind my back? I told you if you ever contacted her again I would end it.’ I pushed him out of the way and I emailed her: ‘Dear Daphne, did you know you were number four of the five women he (was with) in India?’ And I pressed send.
(October 2006, Mail on Sunday)
The Heartbreaking:
“Is everyone else’s marriage like mine? I feel closer to colleagues at work. Even the security guard I crawl past every morning while clutching my latte looks more concerned for my wellbeing than my husband does. How on earth did it come to this? Why on earth did we do it in the first place?”
The Guardian “I think We Need to Talk” August 6 2005
The Bridezilla:
Nothing he does is good enough. He buys me diamond earrings for Christmas and I take them back to the shop to be upgraded.
(April 2007, Mail on Sunday) The Guardian “The Ex-Files” May 13 2007
Speaking of upgrading, we’re sure her husband score can only improve. Without further ado, a quote from her ex, Dhaliwal himself, “Back in the Nineties, emboldened by the successes of feminism, women sought to slay the dragon of patriarchy by turning men into ridiculous cissies who would cry with them through chick-flicks and then cook up a decent lasagne.” (Daily Mail “How Feminism Destroyed Real Men” August 4th 2006) Hmm, we take it he wasn’t that guy! Here’s wishing Liz more love, and more lasagna, in the future!
So what IS the Bridezilla’s take on feminism? Besides being able to pick classy diamonds, what makes a ‘real’ man?
What is so good about that book? I find nothing special or heartrending about it. Lots of us have gone through much more horrible things than that and survived. Sharon Gonzalez