Alright!! Another great author to enjoy!

Jennifer (Jenny) Crusie. I’ve read two books. One was a pretty standard romance novel. The other, however, was a delightful blend of romance and intrigue. Thanks to the good people at the TADL for recommending authors for those of us who enjoy Janet E.

So, I picked up (sorry about the title) Faking It the other day. Let me tell you what I like about it:

1. Characters – totally quirky, but not so quirky that you realize they could only possibly exist in fiction. They’re enjoyable. Caring, quarrelling and everything you ever wish you had the guts to be. (My personal favorite – the 16 year-old daughter dressing like Lucille Ball to go to the dentist…because he’s a retro sort of a guy).

2. Plot – slightly far fetched, but I think all good fiction should be. It would be all that much fun if the plot resembled my life too much. I mean, really, do you want to read a 400 page book about me moving from the office to the living room, typing then reading, drinking water then snacking. Okay, that’s my life. Now, throw in one random day when a mysterious package containing top secret documents shows up at my door…we’ve got something. That’s what happens here – talented artist living a boring life painting for money instead of passion is suddenly thrown into a few days of chaos. Her life returns to normal, but the book ends there. (Again…would you want to read about her moving from studio to kitchen, painting then snacking…I thought not)

3. Complexity – I won’t knock Janet E. I think, after all, that we might be related. However, there is a complexity to Jenny C.’s writing that doesn’t appear in Janet E.s, or in a lot of writing fo that matter. With an extensive literary education Jenny C. piles on lots of great writing, stylistically, gramatically and inspirationally, without losing the reader. Start with Janet. Move to Jenny.

4. Names – Eve, Matilada, Minerva, Simon…Davy. ‘Nuff said.

I’m off! I’m 2/5’s done with my first edit. When I get a decent first chapter done, I’ll post it!

P.S. Definitely an R rating.