Magnolia Wednesdays
by Wendy Wax is an enjoyable novel set in suburban Atlanta which tells the story of Vivien, a hard-driving journalist who left the South to pursue her career in the concrete jungle of New York City. She looks with derision on the land of suburbia and feels superior to the women tending to homes and children. That is, until she finds herself 41, pregnant and unemployed. In desperation, she heads back down south to live with her widowed sister, Melanie, and her two teen children. Things get interesting when Vivien takes a job reporting on life in suburbia under the pen name of "Scarlett Leigh" and begins investigating the death of her brother in law - all unbeknownst to her sister and the friends she has made in the 'burbs.Wendy Wax has created quite an ensemble cast of characters in this book - the main characters are Vivien and her sister, Melanie but there is also their critical mother, Caroline and the members of a belly-dancing class hosted at the dance studio owned by Melanie. Each of the "supporting" cast members have their own stories which add a depth and interest to the book. Like Vivien, they each undergo an evolution as the novel progresses and it is interesting to watch how they change.
Vivien, however, undergoes the most change - both physically and emotionally. As her pregnancy progresses, she is surprised by the change in her shape and size but she also begins to notice a shift in her opinion of her suburban neighbors that she so harshly criticizes in her weekly newspaper column. Slowly, she integrates into the community she has found in the 'burbs and she recognizes that there is life beyond the big bad city.
This book is a funny, entertaining read with just enough depth to make it a truly worthwhile read. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
), made him the subject of his novel 
scholars concluded James was a closeted homosexual. Toibin made the point that in many of James's works there is a theme of things being "hidden" or held beneath the surface which he connects with the author's attempts to conceal his sexual orientation.
by Meg Cabot is the second book in the Queen of Babble series and Lizzie Nichols is back and recently arrived in NYC while trying to make her dream of becoming a wedding gown specialist come true. She is up to her usual antics and desperately trying to defy her moniker of blabbermouth by keeping a multitude of secrets to herself. Although at times predictable, the book is successful because Lizzie endears herself to readers with her optimism and unyielding faith in love.
a year ago and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it - yes, it can be superficial but it is a light novel well done and I looked forward to the next in the series. In that first novel, we are introduced to Lizzie Nichols as she triumphantly saves the day at a wedding in the South of France when she re-makes the bride's wedding gown into a piece of fashion art. In the process, she also gets the guy, Luke. In the second book, she has followed Luke to NYC where he is pursuing a pre-med post-bacc so he can follow his dream of becoming a doctor while Lizzie is jobless but excited to be living with Luke. She is not satisfied, however, just to mooch off her wealthy boyfriend and ends up working two jobs - as a receptionist for a law firm to earn some cash and as wedding gown specialist in a high end shop for free to hone her craft.
. If you are looking for a light, fun read and a heroine you can love, I recommend Lizzie, aka Queen of Babble!
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by Samantha Bee
