Lucky in the Corner

I agree with the reviewer who said that this book was "pleasant" to read--it *is* very easy and accessible. But just don't confuse that with simplistic, either in the ideas it offers or the way it presents them. The way in which the main character wrestles with fidelity, with contentment, really, is very believable as it is sketched out. The supporting characters are well-executed, and the arc of the plot is satisfying and illuminating. You're left hanging a bit by the conclusion, but it works. I promptly went out upon reading this and got another of her books--it's that good. (Don't be put off by the cover, which makes the story look flaky and light, a la Diane Johnson/Le Divorce; there's real life between *these* covers.)

Fern's relationship with her mother Nora has always been strained, ever since the messy divorce due to Nora's affairs with women. Nora has eventually settled down with Jeanne, but the tension between mother and daughter remains. Fern's best friend drops her baby into Fern's lap and slowly drifts from the picture, and Fern's most stable relationship is with her dog Lucky, but with the dog's health waning, this seems to be ending as well. And when Nora begins another affair, Fern is first to figure it out and leaps at the chance to judge her mother, but as events progress, she begins to realize her mother is human after all. And with Lucky dying, both mother and daughter come to better understandings about themselves and their relationship with each other. "Lucky in the Corner" is full of glorious complexities about us humans, and Anshaw has written this tale in a tidal mosaic, where episodes from the past and present interweave, blessing the reader with all aspects of these fascinating characters and leaving us with a sense of what family (especially those extended families of non-blood relatives) means.

This book captured my attention from the first page to the last. I wasn't able to put it down. My favorite chatacter was Harold/Dolores....I wish there were more about him. Anshaw is a brilliant writer, with a fresh and amazing outlook. Her book was both witty and made me laugh outloud. I'd definetly recommend it!

Lucky in the Corner is one of those books you don't want to read too quickly, you want the pleasure to last. At its heart is one of the most complex and touching mother/daughter relationships I've ever come across. Add to that dangerous dykes, canasta-playing drags queens, dogs, uptight ex-wives, hot sex, teens in trouble, and the palpable presence of the city of Chicago. This book is a blast! Anshaw writes like a dream, she's often laugh aloud funny, and then she'll spin a sentence or metaphor that takes your breath away. For all the delicious bells and whistles, at its core this is a book about love and the tough choices it forces us all to make. A terrific ride with a payoff that moved me. Highest recommendation to my fellow readers.

Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good book about Chicago, dogs, babies, transvestites, lesbians, teenagers, love and longing, but boy I sure did like this one. Carol Anshaw's way around an image is fresh and exquisite. --One of those "If I could only write like THAT" experiences. Add this to your summer list (and beyond). This one's a winner.