Friday, January 4, 2008

The History of Lucy's Love Life in 10 and a Half Chapters

The History of Lucy's Love Life in 10 and a Half Chapters
Deborah Wright
Plume, Feb 2008, $14.00
ISBN: 9780452289147

Lucy cannot believe it that her fantasies have more life than her reality. One year seeing Anthony Brown has driven Lucy to total ennui as he fails to compare with her dreams shared with her heroes like Lord Byron, George Clooney and the newsagent who sells her the Daily Telegram. At least in her fantasies these hunks know how to melt a girl’s bone marrow.

Lucy is stunned when research scientist Dr. Kay Merrick fires her as his personal assistant due to tardiness. Irate, she steals his prototype time travel machine. She decides since modern man is Neanderthal when it comes to romance. She plans to use the invention to meet Byron, Casanova, and Leonardo, maybe even Ovid though Lucy does not swing that way and all the other great lovers of history.

Based on the concept that the grass is not greener on the other side, Lucy’s trek to find love in history is an engaging whimsical tale that turns HG Wells and Bill and Ted upside down. The story line is fun as begins her quest with her list of three constantly changing when the new reality fails to come close to her fantasy. However, Lucy is too flighty to be likable. She is unable to show up at work on time, unable to focus on Anthony and his needs, unable to relate her needs to him, and unable to stop day and night dreaming of other men. Still Lucy’s adventures with history’s hunks are fun to follow as her frolics provide a different look at the romantic hero.

Harriet Klausner

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