Call number
FIC DAU
Collection
Genres
Publication
Viking Adult (2003), Edition: First Edition, 320 pages
Description
Best-selling author Meghan Daum is a popular contributor to such publications as The New Yorker, Harper's, and Vanity Fair. In this wickedly funny and provocative novel, New York lifestyle reporter Lucinda Trout heads to the Midwest for a taste of "real life." But as she finds out, the heartland isn't quite the paradise it seems. Full of poignant insights and peppered with outrageous humor, this marvelously entertaining tale castigates modern vanity.
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member zenhikers
I have slowly (very slowly) been making my way through the New York Times Best Books (so far I'm nearly done with 2003), and this was one on my wish list.
I have to say that I totally related to this book about a young women who moves from New York to the Midwest. It was funny and smart and
Cheers to Meghan Daum for a great first novel.
I have to say that I totally related to this book about a young women who moves from New York to the Midwest. It was funny and smart and
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insightful and not too chick-lit(ish). The Midwest wasn't caricatured as a backwoods of dumb, ugly conservative people.(It's not!) And... New York was portrayed with the ridiculous and realistic touches anyone resident would recognize. Most of all the book lacks the far too prevelant cynicism that I have grown to hate in recent contemporary fiction. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to read about a protagnoist that is hopeful and knowing and imperfect and resiliant.Cheers to Meghan Daum for a great first novel.
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LibraryThing member eenerd
A fun read, with lots of twists and turns. Fun characters, an endearing heroine, and a neat plot.
LibraryThing member smallwonder56
I can understand why Amazon and LibraryThing recommendations included this book in my lists. The main character is intelligent, witty and quirky. The trouble is, I don't like her. Meghan Daum is a good writer. No doubt the plot will appeal to women in their 20's and early 30's. Speaking as a person
It's pretty much impossible to love a book when you don't respect the lead character. I had to put this one down.
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who lives in a college town in a rural environment, I felt that it was shallow and condescending. It's pretty much impossible to love a book when you don't respect the lead character. I had to put this one down.
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LibraryThing member kristenn
This was like Kavalier & Clay in that I had to keep forcing myself to pick it back up, but then I would always enjoy it more than expected when I did. The main character screwed up a lot and in ways you could see coming, but they were also very realistic ways that hit extremely close to home. The
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general setting was so appealing for me too, since I also recently moved from a big city to the prairie. And I loved Daum's early non-fiction, although lately it's been more generic. The supporting cast was too broadly-drawn -- everyone was just so quirky. Plenty of genuine laugh-out-loud moments, however. Usually involving her boss. I tend to skim past personal growth moments, which other readers love, but she kept them moderate so that was fine. Show Less
LibraryThing member amaraduende
The narrator did not catch my interest at all. Perhaps this book gets better after the first bit... but I've got other things to read.
LibraryThing member CateK
I found this book, about a city person moving to the rural midwest prairie/farmland, to be both condescending and unrealistic. I would be surprised to learn the author had actually spent significant time in the region she writes about. (That said, I'll probably now learn that she grew up there....)
Pages
320
ISBN
0670032131 / 9780670032136