Literacy and Longing in L.A.
Review by Jennifer Pinkerton
Literacy and Longing in L.A.
by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
Bloomsbury Publishing
$13.95
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When you think of “summer reading,” usually what comes to mind is something lighter than your usual fare, something fun and easy to go with the long, warm days. A mystery, perhaps, a sensational biography, or, for many readers, a romantic comedy. “Chick lit.”
There. I said it. “Chick lit” is a term that makes many “serious” readers cringe, or turn up their noses at the implied frivolity. But once in a while a fun book comes along that is also smart. In their new novel Literacy and Longing in L.A., Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack have created a light, yet literary read, perfect for summer and perfect for a reader who wants a little fun without sacrificing all her personal sense of sophistication.
Our protagonist, Dora (named after Eudora Welty), is a bibliophile whose life is crumbling around her. Her marriage fell apart, her career is at a standstill. When things get rough, Dora buries her nose in a pile of books (and a bottle of red wine) and doesn’t come out. We attend Dora as she struggles with men, career troubles, her insecurities, her family relationships, and we are treated to her bookish ramblings along the way. The novel features plenty of Los Angeles lifestyle color, as well, as Dora snarks on Brentwood housewives in their Juicy tracksuits or makes self-deprecating cracks while hiding in the bushes outside her studio head ex-husband’s gated home.
A romantic comedy infused with erudition, readers who like their chick lit with plenty of literary asides will enjoy Literacy & Longing in L.A. And for readers who want a little more, a bonus “Books List” at the end of the book catalogs all the authors and works mentioned throughout the book.
Iconoclast Books is pleased to invite you to a special “wine-ing and signing” event with the authors of Literacy & Longing, Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack. Mark your calendars (and bring your book club!) for Wednesday, August 23rd, at 7:00 pm, when the authors will be at the Ketchum Iconoclast to chat with readers and sign copies of their books.
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