Nom de Plume

I started this book rather hating the perfect heroine and her spare, perfect prose. Grace seems to have the life we all long for: an apartment in Manhattan, a full-time cleaning person, lots of spare time, a great marriage.

The only problem is that Laz, her husband has disappeared.

This is not an uncommon occurence, but usually when he returns he is so full of affection and love that Grace allows it to continue. At his behest not to bring anyone else into the situation, Grace pretends to everyone he is still around - she strews his items around for the maid to clean; she brings coffee to the doorman, just like he does; she makes his excuses to her parents and their best friends on their weekly Scrabble night, carting home leftovers for him to eat.

Only a day turns into two, and then a week and more. He’s never been gone this long. Grace’s life starts unraveling–without his presence to define hers, she starts to inhabit a dreamlike landscape in which nothing seems real. We start to realize that she has given up her own identity to be with Laz.

Solomon takes us through this tale of transformation; it’s interesting how her language, so precise and cool in the beginning transforms just as Grace does. Grace herself is sometimes quite irritating and you want to smack her, but she doesn’t seem unbelievable. Her parents are great characters. This literary chick lit is a good read for a mellow day when you don’t want to think too much but don’t want something utterly mindless either.