Good on Paper

Currently buried under: job interview anxiety (including pantyhose and nail files)

I just read a book, If Andy Warhol had a Girlfriend by Alison Pace, that fulfills all of the traditional Chick Lit cliches. And yet, it wasn’t so bad that I had to stop reading. In fact, I finished it in one day. Does that mean I like cliches? Or that as a reader I’m comforted by seeing familiar characters and knowing what’s going to happen next? Don’t answer that.

Let me explain. Cathy Yardley’s Will Write For Shoes describes several reoccuring cliches in Chick Lit. Actually, she calls them “important elements” of traditional Chick Lit. They include: urban location, glam industries, the simply marvelous gay friend, the evil boss, the cheating lover, drinks, dates, and Mr. Wrongs (prior to meeting Mr. Right, of course), Life implosion syndrome, Chick Lit fabulous (brand names, usually designer), club coffee klatch (those witty scenes when the girls meet for brunch or drinks), and pop culture references.

If Andy Warhol had a Girlfriend includes all of those elements. Somehow it didn’t annoy me that much. Yes, the evil boss, fabulous gay friend, and the urban location were a bit heavy handed, but for a book about the art industry, it makes sense. I won’t spoil the ending (I know you’re dying to read it now after my glowing review), but it literally ends on the last two pages. It’s one of those kinds of books.

I recently wrote a book review of See Jane Date, too. Check it out. And wish me luck on my upcoming job interview. I won’t say too much…no sense in jinxing it.