Chick Lit (Discussion May 10, 2005)

Compiled by Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove Public Library

Chick Lit explores the personal, professional, and romantic lives of young, single, working women.Quirky protagonists and humor distinguish the genre as these women look for love and deal with often less than desirable jobs.We decided during our discussion that as long as the "feel" of the books meets the chick lit criteria, the age of the protagonist doesn't matter, so main characters may range in age from teenagers to seniors

Some general characteristics of chick lit:

• Written by women for women
• First person, e-mail, diary format-personal voice (confiding to reader)
• Humor is important
• Discuss life issues (love, marriage, dating, relationships, friendships, jobs, weight)
• Circle of friends for support
• Dead end jobs they usually hate, often with bad bosses
• Unsuitable boyfriends or a lack of one
• Urban-but no real sense of place
• Outrageous situations
• Main character drifting through life
• May have overbearing/interfering mother, family
• Obsessed with fashion, weight, shopping

Bird, Sarah, The Boyfriend School, 1989
Gretchen Griner is an overworked and underpaid photographer, working for a small weekly newspaper. Her boss is also her boyfriend-her unfaithful, cheap boyfriend who never pays her for her photos, but is great in bed. What happens when Gretchen is sent to cover the Luvboree, a romance writer's convention, and becomes friends with two very successful romance novelists makes for a terrific romp. Gretchen then meets a man who loves her at first sight, but for whom she feels nothing, and soon after meets a man that she falls in love with at first sight. Who will she end up with? And how will her romance novelist friends' advice help her? For Adults and older Young Adults. Nancy Bent, LaGrange Public Library

Brashares, Ann, Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood, 2005
The third book in The Traveling Pants series (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood) continues the story of Tibby, Carmen, Lena, and Bridget as they finish their senior year of high school and spend their last summer together before splitting up for college. Friends since babyhood, the quartet share a pair of magical thrift store pants as they offer support for family problems, boyfriend issues, and worries about the future. This truly wonderful series embodies the best of the chick lit conventions. For Young Adults and Adults. Nancy Bent, LaGrange Public Library

Colgan, Jenny, Amanda's Wedding, 1999
Fran, Melanie, and Amanda walked to school together every day through the 12th grade. Although they were known as best friends, Amanda often pitted Fran and Melanie against each other, cleverly placing herself in the middle as the buffer. At about the same time they all went off to the same university, Amanda's father became incredibly rich. The girls kept in touch infrequently, only enough for Amanda to rub their faces in their inferior standing and her social hob-knobbing. Several years later, Amanda makes a rare call to let them know that she's getting married to Fraser, a Scotsman who has inherited a crumbling castle. Oh, did I mention-he was Melanie's crush during college? Amanda's slithering, bitchy personality is amusing, and you know she's bound to get her comeuppance. Mel's boyfriend took off to the States ten months ago, leaving her bewildered and heartbroken. When he returns as unannounced as he left, Mel takes him back immediately. He is as charming a character as his female comparative, Amanda. Although a nice guy, Fraser is oblivious to what a beast he is about to wed. His brother, Angus, tries desperately to make his brother see the light. Nevertheless, the prewedding events continue, including Mel and Fran's appearance at the stag party and, despite no invitation, their attendance to the party. Angus finds allies in Fran and Mel, and the events that lead up to the wedding day are hysterical-emotionally and physically. The events that lead to the celebration reception leave the reader sated. Linda Conrath, Orland Park Public Library

Dunn, Sarah, The Big Love, 2004
Everybody wants Big Love, true love, whatever you want to call the certainty that this is LOVE, forever. But sometimes fate, or unfaithful partners, pulls the plug on that dream. Alison sends her live-in boyfriend to the store for a last minute item. He phones a short while later informing Alison that he's leaving her for his Ex. For the next ten days, we watch Alison knit her life back together, weather a few more humiliations, examine her past, and make further changes. Booktalked by Lance Anderson, Hinsdale Public Library

Dyer, Chris, Wanderlust, 2003
Newspaper travel writer Kate Bogart travels the world, keeping in touch with her best friend, a boyfriend, an ex-husband, her mom, and her boss via e-mail in this amusing romp of a story. Kate meets and begins dating Miles Maxwell at the same time things seem to be heating up again with her sexy ex-husband Jack. Told entirely by e-mails which draw the reader into Kate's life and loves, this charming book is full of quirky, witty characters who are always ready to offer advice, as Kate struggles to decide which man is for her. Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove Public Library

Fforde, Katie, The Rose Revived, 1996
Desperate to save her beloved canal boat, May joins a team of housecleaners to earn money after she loses her job in a pub. (Her offense: pouring a pint over the head of an obnoxious customer.) May's new cohorts include a single mom and a struggling entertainer with romantic troubles; the adventures and romances of these three are the highlights of this light, amusing tale. Melissa Kennedy, River Forest Public Library

Fielding, Helen, Bridget Jones's Diary, 1998
The first "chick lit" novel, the success of which lead to the explosion of the genre. Here Bridget Jones obsesses about her weight, alcohol and cigarette consumption, and her hated job. Written in diary format, Bridget shares her life as a thirty-something single woman in London who's looking for love, but doesn't recognize it when it is right under her nose. Fast paced and amusing. Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove Public Library

Fielding, Helen, Bridget Jones's Diary, 1998
Entertaining, angst ridden diary of a year in Londoner Bridget's life. Bridget gets into a lot of embarrassing situations, but has lots of good resolutions for the future. I thought it was interesting that when she dieted down to her target weight, all her friends thought she looked ill and tired. Though they drink a lot, Bridget and her singleton friends are a family of sorts. Recommended for Young Adults and Adults. Brenda O'Brien, Woodridge Public Library

Giffin, Emily, Something Borrowed, 2004
This chick lit novel tells the story from the point of view of Rachel, a young lawyer living in Manhattan. Rachel is from a small town in Indiana and has moved after college graduation to NYC with her best friend from childhood, Darcy. While Rachel is successful and responsible, she has played a supporting role to her vivacious, bossy, and beautiful best friend Darcy since they met as children. When Rachel introduces Darcy to Dex, a handsome friend of hers from law school, the two start dating and eventually start planning their wedding (with Rachel, of course, as the maid of honor). One night Rachel and Dex find themselves alone after a night of partying and launch into a full-scale affair behind Darcy's back. The two develop serious feelings for each other and spend much of the rest of the novel deciding how to handle telling Darcy, and what to do about the impending wedding. This book is not your typical chick lit, and as the starred Booklist review says, "It's a gamble to cast her heroine in a potentially unsympathetic light, but Giffin manages to create empathy for her likable characters without cheapening the complexity of their situation, making for a genuinely winning tale." I would recommend this book for women ages 20 and up. Krissy Babes, Elmwood Park Public Library

Graff, Laurie, You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs, 2004
On the surface, this is a narrative of 15 years of the varied men Karrie Kline has dated. Sometimes funny, other times poignant, we see Karrie, a Jewish actress from Queens find what she most values: NYC after a stint in Los Angeles; and the support and love of her mother and stepfather. Karrie isn't an A or B list actress, but she makes a living with radio and TV commercial work, and has a number of interesting auditions. When she reaches 45 without having found the right man to marry, she looks back over her dating history and plans for the future. Recommended for Adults. Brenda O'Brien, Woodridge Public Library

Heller, Jane, Princess Charming, 1997
Three friends, who met at the courthouse getting their divorces, take a cruise for their latest annual vacation together. Cynical Elaine, a New York PR executive, is the book's narrator. Jackie owns and runs a thriving lawn and garden center near Manhattan with her now remarried ex-husband. Pat lives in Connecticut and is raising the five children from her marriage to a now-famous gastroenterologist. On the second day of the trip, Elaine overhears a ship-to-shore conversation between an onboard hit man and a man who hired him to kill his ex-wife, also a passenger on the ship, the Princess Charming. Elaine and her dinner companion, Sam, then try to discover the identities of the murderer and the intended victim. There are several stereotypical characters, but this is a fun poolside or beach read. Also available as an audio book, read by C.J. Critt, who does her usual great job. Patti Palmer, Hinsdale Public Library

Horn, Ariel, Help Wanted, Desperately, 2004
Alexa, a college senior in Pennsylvania, wants to find a job in New York City by graduation as her boyfriend Jared already has a nice job lined up there. We don't see Alexa studying or going to class much, but she does learn some interesting lessons from the odd job interviews she has. Her backup job teaching English in the Marshall Islands for a year looms closer all the time, and Alexa seems to be the only one she knows still drifting aimlessly. Entertaining, appealing, although Jared is almost too nice to be realistic. Recommended for Young Adults and Adults. Brenda O'Brien, Woodridge Public Library

Juska, Elise, Getting Over Jack Wagner, 2003
Twentysomething Eliza has a thing for musicians, specifically rock star wannabes. This began with her crush on Jack Wagner, the '80s actor / singer from the soap "General Hospital." Eliza thinks these boys and men are intense when they usually turn out to be self-indulgent. The travel agency copywriter breaks up with her latest mama's boy musician and goes on a terrible blind date. Then, she sees family and friends settling down and decides that it is time to reevaluate her life. The tagline for the book is "Love is nothing like an '80s song," and each chapter begins with a list of these songs. The flashbacks and pop culture references add to this fun and interesting read that doesn't have a "wrapped up with a bow" ending. Patti Palmer, Hinsdale Public Library

Kinsella, Sophie, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, 2003
Confirmed shopaholic, Becky Bloomwood, gets what she has always wanted: the opportunity to plan (and shop for) her own wedding. In fact, she gets two such opportunities. Her British mother assumes the wedding will be a simple, outdoor affair, but her socialite, New York City, mother-in-law to be has other ideas. Unable to say no to either, Becky's life spins out of control as she attempts to keep everybody happy, often with hilarious results. Cindy Kline, Indian Prairie Public Library

McLaughlin, Emma and Nicola Kraus, Citizen Girl, 2004
McLaughlin and Kraus, who first wrote The Nanny Diaries, are back with another chick lit adventure of a 20-something New Yorker searching for a way out of her miserable, post-college life. This chaotic satire features "Girl," an ambitious feminist whose boss saddles Girl with the worst tasks, steals her ideas, and finally fires her for speaking out. After a desperate search, Girl is hired for a dream job with a matching dream salary. As the Director of Rebranding Knowledge Acquisition for My Company, she never gets a real job description, but over time it involves shady activities with her boss and being made over to fit in with a new California client. As work goes from bad to worse, the happiness and excitement in Girl's life is a new possible boyfriend, Buster. But when Girl's new boss takes My Company into a whole new unknown direction, Girl is forced to make a decision between morals and money. The book was very jumpy and hard to follow, and I would not recommend it, except to extreme McLaughlin/Kraus fans. Krissy Babes, Elmwood Park Public Library

Markham, Wendy, Slightly Single, 2002
Tracey is 24-years-old and living the "dream life" in a shabby, unairconditioned apartment in Manhattan, New York. After graduating with an advertising degree, she lands a job in an ad agency as a glorified secretary with an abusive boss. She has two good friends-Kate and Raphael, a flaming admirer of beautiful men. She loves to wear black, or wants to think so. She credits her excess 50 pounds to her Italian heritage. Then there's Will, who she has been with for the last three years. He is incredibly handsome and non-committal. And, he's off to upstate New York for summer stock, not to return until September. Although he doesn't want her to visit, says he can't take phone calls or leave the group for even an evening, Tracey doesn't seem to "get it." But, after he leaves, she decides to make the best of the time. This includes reading the classics, taking a part-time job with a caterer, and going on a diet. Every year Raphael throws himself a grand birthday party. This year is no different, and, as usual, he unabashedly admires the beautiful men that are there. As Raphael flits away to visit with/be adored by the other homosexual men his friends have brought, the most recently dubbed "adorably delicious" man offers Tracey a seat and a beer. Of course Tracey accepts, anxious to clue him in on her close friend Raphael's crush on him. Conversation is easy and when Buckley O'Hanlon asks her to the movies, Tracey accepts, as would any friend. Afterwards they stop for a beer, and through conversation he amusedly informs Tracey that he is not gay, and, just before they leave, he kisses her. Small bits of familial relationships are dropped in along the way. Tracey's sister Mary Beth is in the process of being divorced from a man who can't seem to understand the meaning of monogamy. On the other hand, she has no self-esteem and takes his calls and him whenever the opportunity suits him. Tracey is turned off by her sister's lack of self respect. As the summer passes, both sisters overcome their blindness and realize how parallel their lives are. Tracey stumbles along the way, but with the help of her friends, she not only succeeds in her goals, but learns a great deal about herself, friends and relationships along the way. The heroine's insecurities, naivete, and stumbling stones are familiar to most females. Most readers will warm to enjoying the journey. Much criticism has been given to Tracey's inability to see through Will sooner. Most chick lit I've read includes a heroine who needs to "get it." Her character is not static and continues to improve over the three month period. We can assume a comfortable ending, but are unsure of exactly what that might be. For Adults. Linda Conrath, Orland Park Public Library

Olson, Shannon, Welcome to My Planet * Where English is Sometimes Spoken, 2003
Shannon floats through her post-college work-a-day life, waiting for something or someone to guide her towards "real life". Her mother's sudden illness gives her an excuse to return to the nest and dump her dead end job and unnamed boyfriend. Living with her parents causes Shannon's reexamination of her relationship with her mother. Newly inspired, Shannon abandons her Love Boat delusions and actualizes the life lesson her mother had always given her. Booktalked by Lance Anderson, Hinsdale Public Library

Ray, Jeanne, Eat Cake, 2003
When Ruth is stressed out she bakes a cake, or imagines herself inside a nice, warm cake. And stress is definitely on the menu since her husband lost his job, and her injured father has to move in with the family (which includes her mother who happens to loathe her ex-husband). Then there's the son's college tuition, and a typical teenage daughter, alternately helpful and frustrating. Some have called this "Hen Lit" or "Crone Lit" since the main character is 50-something. I think the description "Domestic Fantasy" fits it best, since it is enjoyable, but predictable. The cake recipes are included! Also available as an audio book, read by the author, who does a good job. Patti Palmer, Hinsdale Public Library
When Ruth, the heroine of this novel, is told by her stress reduction instructor to imagine a place where she feels totally safe, she decides on the inside of a gingerbread bundt cake. A devoted baker, Ruth is an anomaly in the world of chick lit - older and happily married - but the book's humorous tone and engaging characters should make it a favorite of women of all ages. As a true member of the sandwich generation, Ruth must deal with two teenagers, a suddenly unemployed husband, and her long-divorced parents, who both end up on her doorstep. I found the book both engaging and amusing.

Sisman, Robyn, Summer in the City, 2005
The classic opposites attract story. Lloyd Rockwell, a somewhat staid, successful bachelor, and Suze Wilding, a free-spirited, fun-loving British singleton (as Bridget would say), both work for a large international advertising firm. When they decide to take part in a six-week job swap, both encounter difficulties in adjusting to their new countries and spend a lot of long distance phone time trying to get things figured out. As a result, (you guessed it) romantic sparks begin to fly. Told in alternating chapters, the story differs from most chick-lit novels in that the reader gets to experience the male point of view. Cindy Kline, Indian Prairie Public Library

Weisberger, Lauren, The Devil Wears Prada, 2003
Andrea Sachs lands the job as editor Miranda Priestly's junior assistant at the fashion magazine Runway, where she is repeatedly told, "A million girls would die for your job." However, Miranda's unreasonable demands and the unrelenting stress of the job cause Andrea to have less time for family and friends. But it will all be worth it because Miranda's assistants always receive plum jobs at the end of their year of servitude. Or will it? Andrea copes, running from one Miranda-manufactured "crisis" to another, as she learns what really matters to her and how much one person can tolerate in this biting exploration of the fashion magazine business. Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove Public Library