Stack of Spines

I initially picked this book up because it started with a U.  Go ahead and laugh, but I’m not kidding.  In December, I set out to read 26 fiction books in 2009 — one starting with each letter of the alphabet in the title.  I called it my 2009 ABC Challenge and I have six left.  A little trouble with the reserve list has caused me to do the last 2/3 slightly out of order.  I plan a big update post when I finish highlighting all that I read.  Stay tuned!

Somewhere along the way, I got a bit of a reputation for hating chick lit.  I don’t hate chick lit, I just can’t read it all the time.  There is something to be said for a total escapist book — I just have to space mine out at regular intervals lest I become bitter that I live in middle of cornfields, USA, wear no name heels, and drive a Toyota.

The Undomestic Goddess was the perfect chick lit for me.  There was an equal mix of slapstick comedy, romance, and drama.  Perhaps I enjoyed this one more because Samantha Sweeting was a lawyer and there seemed to be more substance behind her character?  I’m not sure.  She seemed genuine and honestly conflicted, which I appreciated.  The story wrapped up “normally” rather than the often unbelievable neat and tidy summaries.  Nothing was too fake, but there was still an air of whimsy.

The Undomestic Goddess Usurped my expectations.