The heroine of this book is touted as a combination of Bridget Jones and Ally McBeal...sounds promising, right? Whimsical, funny, all-too-human? Exactly the kind of fictional friend for every woman. Well, maybe...only the voice of this first-person narrator seemed to combine not the best traits of these two beloved characters, but the worst. She was stilted, self-absorbed, pretentious, and seemed somewhat bored, even with her own emotional crisis. If she's not interested, why should we be?

That in itself isn't a reason to avoid a book. Some of the most effect characters are unlikeable--"Notes from Underground" or "Catcher in the Rye" anyone?--for a purpose. If there was a purpose for the off-putting nature of "Jane", however, I have to admit to having missed it. Instead of furthering the story, her social problems seemed to be the story, as if we were simply wallowing in self-pity.

Of course, I have never been a fan of the short story genre, as I think things tend to be cut off just as I'm becoming most interested. I mention this because the format of the story may have affected my interest in and understanding of it. Instead of being written as one cohesive narrative from start to finish, the book is several narrative chunks, each a separate incident, like a short story. I do admit that several of them showed promise, but I still think focusing the book on fewer promising incidents and giving it a more thorough treatment as a whole would have been a more effective, if less creative approach. However, in favor of this format, it is easier for the woman on-the-go to read in her spare time.

Since I expected a light and humorous touch about an imaginative woman who didn't take herself too seriously, I was very disappointed in this book. I found it depressing, limited, and somewhat repetitive in theme. If you're interested in "everywoman", I would recommend "Bridget Jones", "Wife and Mother", or "My Life on a Plate" instead...leave the pale imitations.


Recommended: No