Eliot's Banana

According to the Q & A by the author in this book, she originally started out writing three short stories and realized there was a way to intertwine them into this moving novel. After reading this book, I'd say she did a terrific job. Junie knows that she's still trying to figure things out. Temp jobs by day and the girlfriend of the drummer in a local band. 25 and just moved in with Leon, the drummer. All of this fun and in NYC. Though truth be told we dont find this out about her until we meet Eliot. Eliot, the sci-fi writer who has a cat with a story all of his own. Alfie, the cat who believes he's been reincarnated. And it is because of this cat that Eliot and Junie meet. Eliot, who is twice as old as Junie, intrigues her beyond anything she's ever known before. Junie is captivated by how quickly her life changes when she meets this writer. The story progresses and Junie's character becomes more evident. Still burdened by the loss of her brother when she was 8, Junie believes that her whole life she's trying to find out who she is and what she's supposed to do. In the matter of one weekend, her whole perspective changes. It isn't until ending both of her relationships and attemtping to rekindle one that she thought was long gone did she realize who she was and what she was going to do. Junie may not have things together but her transformation from taking comfort in the past to confronting her present brings a great deal of insight to this novel. The title to this book is quite appropos on many levels. From the innuendo that starts the book off and it is the understanding of how to avoid a slippery peel to confront those things in your life that trouble you. This may not be your traditional 'chick lit' fare but it certainly is worth the read. Humor and wit, love and heartache, this novel has it all.

I started out reading this thinking, oh boy, I'm not going to like this, but since it was sent to me I read it out of "duty". I'm a good gift receiver. Even so, at this point, I thought the prose was very poetic, and very decent poetry at that. I find it to be my "duty" to gives this work an honest assessment. Half-way through the book, I was cruising, enjoying all aspects of it. The book was getting in my head and pushing my buttons. I was starting to think that, my God, this is a well written, smart and very sexy book. Swain's subtle scenes crafted just enough to leave the reader edgy and chomping at the bit. Eliot's Banana covers the older man, younger woman angle. As an older man, I'd like to salute Heather Swain for her insight in giving all of us old characters hope. The older man is also a writer of past sci-fi fame. Another realistic portrayal of a writer utilized by the book's author. Eliot's Banana also covers the live-in boyfriend angle very well. Is it trouble in paradise for the young couple---well for one, paradise is just and ideal. Protaganist Junie does very well in relating her ambivalence toward her live-in, a drummer, Leon, yet still relating that their relationship is still based on love. Swain also gives us the band slacker angle. Leon is the drummer of an up and coming (in the real world) and at the same time declining (band members have issues with each other) band Mr. Whipple. These scenes are hilarious and realistic. Still, all the above is just the smoke that sells the BBQ. The meat that holds all these subplots together is the lose of Junie's young brother, which occured years earlier and also influences every aspect of Swain's Junie.The best part is---as I started to throughly enjoy this book is that I cared how Junie's inner conflicts were going to get resolved. I didn't think I had that in me, but I'll admit to you all that even at first, through kicking and screaming, I enjoyed Eliot's Banana. Feel free to take me outside and shoot me boys but, this is a fine debut. An enthusiastic 5 stars!

Twenty-five year old Indiana expatriate Junie struggles with what she wants out of life. Though she has met her teen dream by living with drummer Leon in the hip Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, Junie wonders if that is all there is? Adding to her introspection is her encounter with science fiction author Eliot at a vet. He is twice her age and hundred times more dissatisfied in life than her with his last success almost as old as Junie is.While Leon dreams of leaving the Big Apple gig behind, Junie feels she has found her prophet in Elliot, who sees her as his latest girl toy. However, Eliot's cat Alfie, who inadvertently was a partial matchmaker, realizes that Junie is his soulmate that he must protect. Frustrated by his feline limitations, Alfie struggles to show Junie what life is all about. Will Junie heed the warnings of a cat while confronting her parents on what happened almost two decades ago to her deceased brother that messed her up emotionally or will she remain unsatisfied but not know why?Title multiple meanings aside, ELIOT'S BANANA is a deep chick lit tale starring a lead female protagonist whom many readers will feel an affinity for regardless of age. The story line is cleverly devised to insure the audience can commiserate with Junie. Heather Swain brings this to the forefront through a strong support cast relating on several levels with Junie especially the three New York males and her Indiana family. Readers who appreciate a powerful character study will want to savor the fruits of this tasteful tale, one of the sub-genre's best of the year.Harriet Klausner

This was a fun book to read. I've never lived in Brooklyn or Manhattan, but I feel like I got a good taste of what it's like to be in your early 20's finding yourself out there. I'd love to run into Junie in Prospect Park and see what she's got in her coat pockets. I'm not an artist, but I found the characters of Eliot, a writer, and Leon, a musician to be fascinating, especially since they're both jockeying for the same girl. The cat is also hillarious. Read this book-- it's refreshing and fun and it has a lot of heart.

I was hooked into this novel from the beginning. Junie, the main character, leaps off the page - a refreshingly real lead who struggles with what to do with her life and loves. Dark humor, convincing plot, and (finally!) charcters with real-life quirks and qualities makes this bok a very good read.