 |
||
 |
||
|
|
||
Critic's Corner
|
|
Author of eleven best-selling novels including "The First Wives Club," "Flavor of the Month," "The Bestseller," "Pen Pals," and now — "dumping billy," Goldsmith's untimely death in January 2004, is a major loss. At the time of her death "dumping billy" was rolling off the presses, and one more novel will be forthcoming. Her often biting wit, cleverness, and bawdy language, as well as her ability to give readers satisfying characters with stories sure to intrigue have kept this author at the top of bestsellers' lists for years. Katherine Jameson, a psychologist for the elite Andrew County Day School in Manhattan is a delightful protagonist. She's escaped her roots in Brooklyn, made it over the river into Manhattan and is loving her life, if not her new boyfriend, Doctor Michael Atwood. He's an anthropologist with a personality to match his profession. Katherine prefers the name Kate and detests the way her old Brooklyn friends insist on calling her "Katie." Kate maintains a close bond with her best friends, the "B's of Bushwick." (I cleaned that up for sensitive readers). Kate's best friend Bina is what writers call a stereotype character. She's given to hysterics at the drop of a hankie, cries over everything, is just a tad too sweet to be real, and she's out to marry her longtime beau Jack. The other B's are Bev, Barbie, and Bunny. Good grief, three more stereotypes. Two are already married, another is about to get married. All live for gossip, shopping, and family relationships. How can Kate survive these women when she is the antithesis of them? Good question and one the author handles with aplomb. The namesake of the novel is one Billy Nolan. Now Billy is the owner of a Brooklyn bar and is wickedly handsome. Also, any woman he dates and dumps—and he dumps them all—immediately goes on to marry the next person she meets. Interesting? I thought so. When poor soggy Bina's boyfriend Jack announces he isn't ready to marry her (remember, this is after dating her for six long years) Bina is undone. Jack goes off in search of himself promising to return in six months. Poor Bina, what a state she is in. It takes all the B's, and Elliot Winston, a Math whiz and Kate's good friend and Elliot's pal Brice to put Bina back together again. Back up a second. Elliot is what people in Brooklyn call a Nudge—a keen mind and a loving generous friend. He is also gay for what ever difference that makes. Elliot figures out the plan to get Bina and Jack together again. All Kate has to do is get Billy Nolan to date Bina, dump her and voila — Jack will come back and marry her. Simple? Yes and no. Did I mention Max? I didn't, did I? Max is Jack's cousin. He lives in the apartment above Kate's. He actually introduced Bina and Jack. He's a solid character, even though he's just a tad vague around the edges, but he does come into the picture so must be mentioned. Elliot's plan couldn't be simpler, but it runs into a hitch or two, possibly three. First Kate hasn't figured on how Billy might feel about the whole scheme, and how she might come to feel about Billy. That's two. The third hitch readers will need to discover for themselves. Goldsmith is in top form with this up-to-date story about the life and times of the thirty- something set in New York City. I enjoy her knowing when to use "that" instead of "which," "whom" rather than "who." The language is downright blue most of the time, but you expect that with this author so it doesn't surprise you. The style, voice, and characterizations all hit just the right note of lunacy for this wonderfully funny farce with a message that leaves you with a question, "How do you pick a partner not just for a few months, but for life?" And a theme that surprises, "The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of." The latter from Pascal. Goldsmith, one more time, leaves you turning page after page until suddenly, you've read the whole thing. That's her style. We'll miss her — a lot. Copyright August 2004, Patricia Ann Jones, all rights reserved. Save Up to 30% on this book at Amazon.com Jones is a published writer and book reviewer for Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com |
|
|
BOOK
REVIEW:
