This One is Mine by Maria Semple

This One is Mine by Maria Semple, 304 pages.

Violet, wife of music mogul  David has had it.  Tired of taking care of every detail and holding it together, she splurges on chocolate and meets a bass player in a Stones cover band - Teddy. Despite the fact that Teddy is sloppy, irresponsible, and a junkie, Violet becomes obsessed with him and risks her marriage, child, and life pursuing him. Meanwhile her sister-in-law Sally is a gold digger. Desiring "the good life", she latches on to a sports-stat savant who is a rising TV star, with some strange quirks. The journey of these characters to connect has as many twists and turns as driving on Mullholland.

If you believe jacket covers, this book promises to be an amazing and sharp foray into the ridiculousness of life in LA. Witty, smart, and darkly humorous from an author who previously wrote for shows like Mad About You and Arrested Development. So naturally, I had high hopes. The reality is this: the characters are shallow, vapid, and reckless. They aren't developed well enough to like or connect with any of them. 

David (husband) is supposed to be mean, I think, but you end up feeling sorry for him that he's married to such a drip. And if him asking her to take care of some loose ends and expecting her to manage the household is a hardship (with a nanny, maid, etc.) then I'm obviously missing something. Granted that is part of the "irony", but it just seems lame. Violet is obviously struggling, but she appears to lose her mind over Teddy. While I don't doubt that it is possible to be that desperate, her backstory didn't support this sudden wild behavior swing. Nothing occurs between her and David that simply saying, "Hey, relax" wouldn't fix. The subplot involving Sally was more interesting, only because she started out as a complete mess and her redemption comes in the form of contracting Hep C and discovering that her man has Aspergers.

Even though the characters were pathetic, in a manner similar to watching a train wreck I couldn't put the book down. The pace was quick, there was a lot going on, and I was definitely involved. Hoping for a better outcome, no doubt, but involved nonetheless. And I'm sure, especially after reading reviews on amazon and goodreads, that for some readers this book will be an awesome read.

Believe me when I tell you that I enjoy irony and satire, however I found this to be sad -as in pitiful.  Perhaps to understand and enjoy the book, you have to be a member of the club (lifestyle) - thanks but no thanks.

2 stars

Thanks to Marlena at Hatchette Book Group for sending along the copy. I do appreciate it everytime a package appears at my door. :)

If you are curious or interested in reading - I'll be happy to send you my copy. Email me. Here are some other reviews of the book:

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2008/11/book_notes_mari.html

http://www.editoreve.com/2008/11/review-this-one-is-mine-maria-semple.html

 

 

Comments

[jill]

Great review...I just finished this one and your thoughts are dead on...I went back and forth throughout, disturbed and irritated by/with the characters yet utterly compelled to keep reading.