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Ellen Meister
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: August 5, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0061129629
Book Room Review
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Ellen Meister’s new book, The Smart One, explores the
theme of childhood labels and how they can effect us
as adults. The Smart One is about three sisters. You have Clare, “the pretty one”, and eldest
sister, Joey, “the wild one”, and the youngest, and Bev,
the middle daugher, and “the smart one”.
All of this would make for enough of a story but Ellen turns it up a notch and adds in a murder mystery when the sisters make a discovery
of an industrial drum containing a dead body under the neighbors house. The drama that each sister goes through gives
every reader someone to identify with because each sister is in a different
stage of her life. Clare is married with
two kids and struggles with her weight and her identity. Joey was a famous one hit wonder who
struggles with staying sober.
The story mostly focuses on Bev, who seems to be
having the biggest personal crisis. Bev cannot help but feel that she has disappointed
everyone. Reeling from the effects of
divorce and a failed career, she finally thinks she may have found the answer
with teaching. Still, family
expectations (as well as Bev’s own) are so high that
taking on a job like elementary school teacher seems a disappointing choice
from someone with so much promise.
The irony of the story, of course, is that Bev may
not be as smart about her life as she thought.
Language and strong sexual themes are in this book which I have to admit
I am personally not a fan of, but I enjoyed Ellen’s witty humor and
writing. I also enjoyed the fact that
she took it beyond the basic “chick lit’ theme by adding an intriguing murder
mystery. I don’t have any sisters
myself, but I enjoyed reading about the strength, trust, and love
that sisters can find and share with each other.
Book Room Grade
C
Review Posted: August 19, 2008
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