THE MAN IN THE GRAY FLANNEL SKIRT

This talkative, self-indulgent, and mad memoir of a man born to great privilege is a vain, wandering waste. Goulian, now in his late 40s, has done little with his life—despite having had all the advantages. What is intended to be interesting is that he is a heterosexual who adorns his tattooed body with lip gloss, sarongs, halter tops, and perfume. However, the shallowness of the work poses the question: Why should we care? Rob Shapiro narrates in an entertaining, direct, and thoughtful way, conveying by his tone much of the self-deprecating and mildly sardonic humor. However, this highly skilled narrator cannot rescue a catalogue of neuroses without much explanation or insight. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2011]