Maria Beaumont

As someone whose 37th birthday is quickly approaching, I could not turn down the opportunity to read this novel by Maria Beaumont. It chronicles the approaching midlife of Fran Clark, a talented former voice over actress living in London. Fran left acting 10 years earlier when she started her family with her husband Richard. As her 37th birthday party nears, her life and drinking habit get more and more out of control. When everything is finally turned upside down on the night of her party, show more Fran has to choose between finding a way to recreate herself or give in to the alcoholism that runs in her family and potentially ruin her children’s childhood. What seems obvious to everyone surrounding her proves to be very difficult for Fran.

37 was written in a comfortable, conversational tone. As someone who has never been to England, I very much enjoyed the dialog. It was delightfully different from what I am used to. Part way through the book the voice in my head while I was reading it even took on a British accent ala Madonna. I love how so often sentences were ended in rhetorical questions. No one uses the word brilliant quite like the British.

Conversation aside, life in upper-middle class London isn’t all that much different than it is here in the United States. Fran has two wonderful best friends, but they are but a life raft in shark invested waters. Fran’s relationship with her husband suffers from what sadly happens far too often after children are born. The mothers running her school’s equivalent to the PTA act and react just like catty women everywhere. Beaumont nailed the competitive nature between women that has no real reason to exist. Women are our own worst enemies.

37 was somewhat heavier than I had anticipated, but it read quickly. I related to Fran and empathized with her experiences. The ending was satisfying and inspiring. I hope that Maria Beaumont continues to write. Her voice is what made this story special.

http://literatehousewife.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/89-37/ show less

Lies, this is what this book is about, the lies we tell to save ourselves and then the things we have to do to keep those lies going because telling the truth makes things very complicated.

So, imagine you break up with a boyfriend whose last kink made you tired of trying to keep up with him, he accuses you of being too conservative, something you associate with your mother, who is, after all, on the local Conservative Party Committee. In revenge for this you write a smut laden book that a show more friend sends around some agents under a pseudonym. The book gets published and then it takes off like a rocket after being castigated by the newspapers.

And the reporters are hunting you. Your father is acting like he is having an affair, your sister is wondering how she's going out with a respectable guy, you're in love with your boss and your charming ex (the originator of some of this mess) is trying to get you back.

It sounds like a mess, and it is, for Tanya Bickerstaff, the main character, but it's a really enjoyable mess. Amy's life is believable and I could actually imagine myself in that mess (in some ways wouldn't mind being in that mess!) and you could also see the problems getting out of there.

A fun read, nothing too deep but fun.

It stood up well to a re-read. show less

Marsha Mellow and Me was a difficult act to follow and this isn't quite as good, it's not bad, but it lacks a certain something. I think because the author threw a lot of things at the mix. Charlie is from a Greek family and her father is determined to see her married off. From what I've seen of Maria Beaumont's own biography this is from personal experience right there. She also works at a Gym (well he boss prefers Total Body Emporium), a place where the fit go to get fitter and the rich go show more to get pampered. She gets promoted and discovers that management is a lot of work, finds a guy who is a bit of a sleeze, tries to avoid her matchmaking dad's macinations and discovers who her real friends are.

All in all it's not a bad read, but there are some strained moments that could have been done a little better. There were some genuine laugh out loud moments and some phrases that were just right, you could also see some reflections of reality in parts of the story. show less

Fran feels bad enough about her life, but others are making her feel even worse!
It takes crises in the lives of her friends to realise how strong she is and what she can do.
At times an emotional read, which was unexpected from where it starts.