In my book: Little Earthquakes
Kerry Sullivan
Issue date: 10/21/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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"Little Earthquakes." What a novel way to describe motherhood.
Jennifer Weiner's third book, Little Earthquakes, had me hooked by page three: "Purse. It's not a purse really... What I have now is a gigantic, pink, floral-printed Vera Bradley bag big enough to hold a human head." I couldn't help but look down to the end of my bed at my own gigantic floral-printed Vera Bradley and chuckle to myself at the truth of her statement.
Little Earthquakes recounts a year in the lives of four women with nothing in common except the fact that they are all pregnant. Becky, a passionate chef, Kelly, an overachieving event planner, Ayinde, a respected television reporter, and Lia, a washed-up Hollywood actress, share the common bond of first-time motherhood and find unlikely friends in each other as they work their ways through challenging times.
Weiner is no stranger to the "Chick Lit" genre that she writes. Her first book, Good In Bed, was extremely well-received when it was published back in 2001. In Her Shoes, Weiner's second novel, received rave reviews as well. The question is, does Weiner deliver once again in Little Earthquakes?
One of Weiner's greatest strengths as a writer that is apparent in Little Earthquakes is her ability to touch her readers on a personal level. Whether we can relate to her characters because they carry huge mismatched quilted Vera bags, go to weekly yoga classes, have to deal with the irritating relatives, or simply because they are just as insecure as the rest of us, it is impossible not to feel as though Weiner is talking about someone just like you.
But Little Earthquakes is not without its problems. Weiner's characters' persistence and enduring hope are admirable, but often unrealistic. A sucker for happy endings, Weiner never fails to tie up the loose ends in her characters' lives in ways that real life rarely imitates.
Weiner also prides herself on writing about the unsung hero: the independent, plus-sized career woman who loses her man, gets him back, has a baby, and whose life is complete not long after the magic age of 30.
"My experience has been this: sure, there's misery involved in not looking like a Friends cast member, because that's what the world expects of women," Weiner said in an interview in 2001. "I wanted to show the whole scope of things - professional success, rewarding friendships, a loving, if vexing family, great meals, great adventures, and love, and self-acceptance at the end."
But if Weiner really wants to write about "the whole scope of things," why doesn't she write about the girl who doesn't get the guy, the one who doesn't discover the key to her happiness, or the woman whose life isn't neatly tied up in 400 pages?
Little Earthquakes is enjoyable enough as an inspirational novel, even if it would never hold true in reality. For her ability to touch readers and to create memorable characters, both Little Earthquakes and author Jennifer Weiner get a 7 out of 10, in my book.
Sophomore
English