Don’t call Amanda from Amandaland a “monster”! If you think she’s a monster, then you haven’t been paying attention, or you are in denial about the fact that you, too – all of us, in fact – are a little bit Amanda. Because the simultaneous appeal, tragedy and horror of Amanda is that she repeatedly falls on her face trying to be something she’s not.
Who hasn’t done that? If you’ve ever thrown a party, had your photo taken, been on a date, tried to paint a picture, write a book or give a speech and had high hopes for it, you’ve probably been a little bit Amanda. Because in your head, you will hope and plan that it goes a certain way, and that will inevitably come up against hard reality.
This is totally me. In my head, I always imagine things as very perfect and wonderful. The reality always falls short.
Shorts
Just one example: by rights, I ought to have stopped having people for dinner at my house many years ago. I am the worst host in the world because I am so nervous and uptight. I so badly want to be one of those casual people who has friends round, starts cooking when they arrive and just chops and laughs and flings snacks about while everyone swills wine and has the time of their life.
