3/18/2005: Reads: Misadventures
Misadventures by Sylvia Smith
This is a fun little book, especially if you get a kick out of other people's misfortunes. It's along the lines of Bridget Jones' Diary, but darker. A middle-aged London woman recounts a lifetime's worth of short episodes about herself and people she's known where something's gone wrong. The first-time author claims that each one is true.
The book covers her childhood in struggling working-class London (almost losing a friend's dog, creepy teachers, secrets shared) and adolescence (crushes and dates and sneaking out late), through adulthood with various clerical jobs and a series of dates and friendships. She's likeable and totally ordinary, and honest about herself even when she's telling about doing something less than honorable. She doesn't get deep into emotional angst or joy, but her dry wit is often hysterical.
There are a lot of near-miss disasters in here that might be the starting point for most books. But what makes this one refreshing is that the catastrophes don't happen, nor does she have any tremendous accomplishments or triumphs. It's an ordinary person telling about an ordinary life.. the kind of life most of us have.
