Babe in Toyland

Chick lit is much maligned, and a sometimes deservedly embarrassing moniker for books peppered with irritating baby obsessed/marriage obsessed/expensive shoe obsessed neurotics who make one feel embarassed to be sharing a gender with said character. Thank God Babe in Toyland is not this kind of book.The kind of book Babe *is* is a deftly written fun little read which leaves no bad aftertaste in your mouth about your gender or the plot. Characters are complex, interesting, funny and believable and the prose is conciously peppered with clever writing rather than falling back on stereotypes and hackneyed phrases. As we follow the main character Toby through her world of kooky friends (chain smoking best friend working at goody two shoes healthy company implores her doctor beau to practice blood draws on her arm so co-workers will believe she is a drug addict), wacky ideas (main character decides to court a TV weatherman by mailing him hokey, anonymous poems), and goofy mishaps (lead character paralell parks blindfolded to reduce stress) I found myself wanting a sequel so I could hear more about what happens with all the secondary characters and locations we only get glimpses of here. I've read a dozen paperbacks since this one which aren't half so well written and aren't nearly so fun as this little romp. Why I don't read more about this book in the press I'll never know. It's one of the nicest paperbacks of the year, and damn it would fit in your beach bag so perfectly.

This book was recommended to me by a Borders salesperson and I was not steered wrong! The behind-the-scenes look at the Toy Biz left me wanting to know more. The characters were great - especially Toby (the main character) - just the right mix of happy-go-lucky and realistic - I really wanted things to work out for her (and they did)! Pick up this book and you won't be disappointed.

From the candy-colored cover art to the sweet ending of the story, I found this to be an easy, enjoyable read for my vacation time. Well developed characters and some laugh-out-loud lines add to the fun.

Put down your Shopaholics and check out this smart and funny debut novel, it's great!

Okay, so I don't know Mrs. Seifer Olson personally but I might as well have. Just by reading the back of this book in my local Barnes and Noble I was convinced she'd tacked on three years to my life and written the book entirely about me. I too am a former art student working a job that doesn't use my skills properly and am ridiculously lacking in the love department... I have a ungodly obession with bath products and strangley enough i have a best friend who is a die hard musician that seems to be the only person who understands my quirky sense of humor and (at times) childish antics. and i've absolutely loathed one of his (at the time) prized girlfriends as well.. the list is endless... However, I have yet to develop a crush on my TV weather man and my best guy friend well... that would ruin the book yeah?Basically from the first pages of Toby's harmless sarcastic wit at the make-up counter in the run down department store, to the vinyl apholstered booth at the Twin City Diner on the last page... I fell in love with the book, and realized I'm probably percieved stranger than I really thought. Oh well. :)