Image: www.edbegley.com
Witty banter
But, you don’t need to be familiar with his TV show or his movies to enjoy the book. It stands on its own. There is the familiar playful and loving dialogue between Ed and his long-suffering wife, Rachelle Carson-Begley. We get to peer into the life of a normal person and her dealing with an eco-zealot husband who refuses to throw anything out -- ever.
An eco-marriage
One charming chapter has Rachelle worried about Ed’s latest project to buy double pained windows. She frets they will ruin the design of their cute 1930s home. But Ed does his homework, finding the original manufacturer, still in business and now making double-paned windows. Once the windows are in, Rachel is not only happy with the monthly savings, but even more elated to discover that new windows (energy efficiency aside) are amazing sound insulators. Now she hears much less from the busy street outside.
Humour
There are big green dots throughout the book with "Rachelle's Turn" written in the centre, and then bold green text of Rachelle's interjections. They add humour and anyone who's seen the hit TV series will undoubtedly recognize the banter. When Rachelle proves to Ed that an Energy Star dishwasher uses less energy and water than hand washing dishes, Ed graciously admits defeat and goes into more detail in the book.
Hollywood green
There’s no question Ed's a zealot. (How else can you describe someone who times his wife’s shower?) But it's obvious Rachel loves him for it and is proud of his commitment to green. This is the guy who goes out on double-dates with Don Henley of the Eagles and could easily live the excessive life of a Hollywood star but instead chooses to live in elegant sustainability.
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