Her Pill Isn’t So Jagged

Here are a couple of suggestions for Alanis Morissette regarding her “struggle” (“Enough With the Irony,” by Robert Hilburn, Nov. 1):

1. Perspective. My wife--a third-year resident in a grueling specialty at a demanding, high-profile local hospital--and I, a television producer, have a 1-year-old son who is experiencing separation anxiety, a mortgage, two cars and a nanny whom we pay in a year over one-half of what we make. We deal with more “pressure and attention” (the latter from our employers and families) in a week than does Morissette in a year. We, however, do not have the luxury of being paid way more than we’re worth for doing what we do, and we certainly don’t have the luxury of taking a year off to “regain [our] emotional balance.”

2. Appreciation. How about simply being thankful for the success and the opportunities that have been given?

3. Grow up. More.

And by the way, it’s Morissette who resembles Sinead O’Connor, not the other way around.

SCOTT LENZ

Los Angeles

*

I followed Hilburn’s advice and looked over Alanis’ personal history--let’s see, supportive parents, good education, enough money, positive professional reinforcement, a Juno Award, plenty of ambition . . . in her own words, “there was never a roadblock.”

After selling 200,000 albums in Canada and relocating twice in search of musical compatibility, she finds the perfect collaborator and sells 26 million records--all combining to bring on a serious bout of deep, prolonged depression.

Perhaps a clue from someone like Paul Newman or Barbra Streisand would help the poor girl: They rose to the very top of the heap, only to work tirelessly to channel their millions into worthy charities and hospital and museum building funds. Hilburn seems to be particularly susceptible to this kind of pop-star ego-driven pathos; I wish he’d spare his readers.

NORM WEMAT

Studio City

*

The mail room position in our office has recently become available and I’d like to recommend Morissette for the job. This is without a doubt someone who needs a new career. I just hope she’ll be able to handle the stress and pressure that comes after a successful yearly review.

HAL BRILLI

Irvine