Piece of Work

Julie Einstein has enjoyed all the joys of motherhood too briefly. After giving birth to Leo she left her high power public relations job to be a stay-at-home Mom. It's now three years later and, surprise, surprise, she's thoroughly enjoyed it. After all the stress and struggle she's happy to watch daytime TV, accommodate a few more pounds, and watch Leo grow. Unfortunately, this state of maternal and domestic bliss comes to a quick halt when her husband, Peter, is laid off. Time to switch places: she must go back to work and Peter will be a stay-at-home Dad. Julie reluctantly returns to the workaday world with the John Glom Agency, a PR firm whose specialty is in resurrecting careers. She may have seen her share of has-beens and a few never-weres, but no one quite like Mary Ford. Once a queen of the silver screen Mary is now a royal pain. Julie longs to look after her own three-year-old, but she's stuck with childish Mary who pilfers expensive clothing from a photo shoot and has a litany of nigh on impossible demands. Nonetheless, Julie must persevere and this she does by trying a comeback for Mary by launching a signature perfume (think Elizabeth Taylor). One slight problem: perfume is supposed to smell good, this perfume is odoriferous to the nth. Meanwhile, back at the house Peter is running a smooth ship. Sometimes life does throw us a few curves and Zigman charts them with gusto. Stage actress Emily Durante narrates this story impeccably. She has a pleasant voice and clear diction which makes listening a pleasure, whether longing to be at home with Leo or kvetching about the impossible Mary. - Gail Cooke

Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (8/06) Julia Einstein was living a perfect life. Retired from a high-stress job to raise her son Leo, Julia had never been so content in her life. She and her husband Peter had made some sacrifices in order to buy a nice home away from the face-paced, dangerous life in New York City, but every sacrifice was worth it. Then Peter lost his job. Not only did he lose his job, but he was unable to find another one. With their credit cards maxed-out and mortgage and car payments due, Julia was forced to return to work. However, when you're away from a job like Julia had, a celebrity publicist, for four years, it's hard to jump back into the workforce where you left. Desperate for a job, she finally accepts a position at a down-and-out public relations agency that specializes in promoting celebrity has-beens. Her first assignment is Mary Ford, an aging actress who's been out of the spotlight for years. Mary has decided that she'll launch a perfume line, ala Elizabeth Taylor. There are a couple of problems however. Mary has a rather caustic personality that has already caused two other publicists to quit. The other big problem is her perfume...IT STINKS. If that wasn't enough stress, Julia discovers that Peter has reorganized their house as well as all of the Parent/Teacher activities at Leo's pre-school and things are running smoother than they ever did under her direction. Although this book will have a special resonance with working mothers, it appeals to everyone, especially those of us who fall prey to our difficult customers, jumping through hoops to satisfy their every misjudged whim.

Thirty-six years old Julia Einstein enjoys being a Connecticut stay at home mother rather than being part of the Manhattan public relations rat race scene that she did before she gave birth. That changes when her spouse Peter loses his job; Julia is forced to find work in her expertise. The John Glom Public Relations form hires Julia. Her client is a desperate has-been like all those who employ John Glom. However, as actress Mary Ford finds her fame rapidly abating to where she is a notch above an obscure trivia question, she correspondently abuses those hired to help her especially her public relations specialist. The PR crowd at John Glom understands that the Mary's of the world pay to bring others down with them especially those they employ. Though she loathes the customer Julia tries finding a solution to turn around Mary's rapidly vanishing name. Though readers know early on how successful Julia will be with Mary, the key to this amusing and acerbic satire is Ford. Whereas the lead focus is Julia as she adjusts to returning to the workplace, she, her spouse, and her PR peers are sympathetic characters. Mary, on the other hand, is a nasty PIECE OF WORK who is at her best is frosty and aloof and at her worst is hostile and cruel; yet beneath her surface repugnance of everyone, vulnerability often surfaces. Thus she keeps the tale from exorbitant sweetening and ultra excessive cuteness, as there is a bit too much of both already. Julia to the rescue is a humorous entertaining tale. Harriet Klausner

Laura Zigman's fourth book is my favorite. She's created a witty and intelligent cast of characters and written a story that is not only engaging but unexpected. Touching on the Big Issue for women today- stay-at-home-and-give-It-up vs. building a career we've wanted our whole adult lives- Zigman makes you question the world of absolutes and what role we really want our husbands to play.

I really enjoyed this book and I think Laura Zigman gets better with each novel! When her husband gets fired from his job, Julia reluctantly leaves her 3-year-old son, Leo, to return to work as a publicist for has-been movie stars. (On her first day at work she meets David Cassidy!) Zigman has a great sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud. Julia's husband, a management consultant, with a flair for organizaing, turns out to be the uber Martha Stewart, helping playgroup moms navigate the Container Store, and baking a gingerbread castle to rival all others. Any mom who has ever faced the internal battle of whether or not she should work or stay home will relate to Julia's story.