Ask Again Later

Emily is a woman I feel like I know. Like so many of my friends and I at critical points in their lives, she doubts hers own best instincts and can't seem to move past her past. I rooted her for Emily to find her own peace and accept love from all those who loved her. I enjoyed the crackling pace and lacerating wit. Ms. Davis pulled me into Emily's world in just a few pages. You won't put it down once you start. You'll be a little sorry to finish it.

The book is an excellent and witty account of the life in New York and its idiosyncrasies. It draws the reader quickly into the thoughts and concerns of the protagonist. The prose is elegant and effortless. Another excellent book by Jill D. You must read it.

Jill A. Davis somehow manages to write hysterically funny stories about the oddest people in a manner so smart and lucid that the reader is left chuckling with every page - while at the same time falling in love with the zany heroine of her latest book, Emily Rhode ('or Road' or 'Rowed' or even 'Rode', depending on the state of mind and at times acerbic patter of this marvelously created character). This is a book that sparkles with witty prose, high and low humor, and surprisingly a sensitive degree of philosophy about the current condition of life we are all living. The balance between funny and touching keeps the scales even, making the reader laugh at situations that in themselves are not at all funny - unless you have the perspective of Emily 'whatever'. Emily is a trained lawyer whose career is put on hold with the sudden hyper-dramatic news of her mother Joanie's lump. No, cancer isn't funny, but Joanie is such a wildly entertaining character that when Emily moves in to care for her, all goes slightly bizarre. We meet the father Jim who left the family when Emily was very young and for whom she has no concern, the spendthrift airhead sister Marjorie who treats the world like a shopping party, Rick the boyfriend of Emily to whom she cannot commit, Perry her gay therapeutic friend, and Paul her therapist whose sessions contain some of the most hilarious (and most insightful) moments in the book. Divided into very short, titled 'chapters', Davis ably lets us get close to Emily by exploring her foibles and her perception of the world and her family by means of what could be stand-up comedy routines - until the sadness peaks through. Marriage, therapy, death, fatal illnesses, fidelity, menial jobs for overeducated people, failed relationships - all are grist for Davis' keen mind and wit. An example of Davis' writing: 'As she's lying there waiting for surgery, I imagine a cancerous Pac-Man - or Lady Pac-Man - running through her body eating up her healthy tissues, her life, expanding its mass and taking over. Devouring the flesh that nurtured me, or longed to. I want to scream. And I'm mad that I'm of a generation that can best relate to parent's cancer to a video game.' And that is only a short tidbit of the superb writing by Jill A. Davis. This is a smart book, exceedingly well written, and one of the most entertaining reads of the year! Now in paperback... Grady Harp, January 08

Emily is the friend we all have or the person we are deep down inside. What I loved and admired most about Emily is that she was brave and strong enough to put her life on hold to come to terms with her family situation. Although her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and her dad was absent from her life since she was five years old, Emily was able to approach them with wit, humor and an open heart. Even though Emily was not outwardly emotional, and tried to make light of the situation with humor, you could feel her pain. I laughed and cried at the same time. Jill Davis is a genius!

I just finished ASK AGAIN LATER and it is a must read. It's a story about love, family and relationships. You will immediately be drawn into Emily's life with her wacky parents (we all have them!). It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. The characters are interesting and the writing is excellent. Jill Davis is a talented writer. DON'T MISS THIS ONE!