My how time flies. I’ve been reading, but not posting. So a bit of catch up is due. After reading a run of what I call quite ‘heavy’ books, that is, books that require solid concentration I was in need of some light reading. A book that can be read and enjoyed at face value, not too much analysis, a bit of humour and some wit.
I’ve long been a fan of the Maggie Alderson novel. Over the years the likes of Cents and Sensibility and Pants on Fire have provided a great source of light relief. Yes, they are in that awfully titled category ‘chick lit’ but when in need of girly entertainment, you can’t go past these stories.
So on the way home from work I stopped in at Readings Hawthorn (becoming too regular an occurrence lately!) and found How to Break Your Own Heart on the Books Alive table.
It charts the story of Amelia, a woman married to a wealthy wine merchant for fifteen years who arriving at her mid-late 30’s realises that what she wants most is a baby, but her husband doesn’t.
The Alderson novel is never entirely realistic but there are definitely elements of plausibility. The premise of a woman reaching the age of 37 and suddenly realising the thing she wants most in this world is a baby, is not new. It’s the other details that just happen to come along – the ridiculously rich Kiki, ABCC instantaneously successful just when Amelia needs an income stream, the sudden appearance of a long ago love – that add the element of fantasy and make the story so readable.
Wonderfully described characters are really what make the Alderson novel a level above all the other ‘chick lit’ type books. Lovely and wise old neighbour Hermione, Sonny the gorgeous landscaper who manages to bring Oliver, jaded hairdresser to the stars, to his knees were just a couple of my favourites. One scene where Kiki arranges a dinner party with surprise guests was a classic, filled with humour and entertainment and then finishing up with quite a profound point.
The joy of the book is that the belly laugh lines are interspersed amongst other moments. “I knew I still attracted men’s glances as I walked down the street, but perhaps, I suddenly thought, I was in danger of turning into one of those tragic women who look like hot stuff from the back and then turn around to be a scary old disappointment.’
How To Break Your Own Heart is not the best Alderson novel I’ve read, but I was far from disappointed. It’s a great piece of escapism.
