The Club

I rate this book highly for it's take on the eternal 'How many children do you have?' question - It may be reasonable for some to asusme that if you are married and aging, you must have children but it is HIGHLY annoying to some who do not choose to have children. I spent time in an area in which people assumed that being a female over the age of 18 meant that I must have children. As a childfree Pagan this question is just as infuriating as its cousin: "What church do you go to?" (Asked of by a person who actually has no basis for forming an idea to what religion you belong). ("Not, 'Do you have children?' but 'How many children do you have?' as if it were inconceivable that I didn't have a fifties, Leave-It-To-Beaver life just like hers.")

Heller's strength in this novel is satirizing the country club set. My parents have always belonged to a similar place and Heller has got that aspect of the story down cold. I laughed myself silly. She also puts in a love-romance part of the story and creates two possibilities, her protagonist's rediscovering her life with her country club-golf obsessed husband or taking up with the policeman who recruits her to investigate the club undercover because of the murder of a noted feminist who was a member. The romance aspects are ok but the reason for reading this novel is the LOL hilarity surrounding the cast of characters who belong to the club.

Jane Heller has created a funny and believable heroine in Judy Mills, cookbook editor who has just been fired by a young know-it-all. During Judy's search for a job, her husband suggests she network at his country club. Judy is recruited by the police to help solve a murder at the club, and the resulting investigation will keep you in stitches. The characters you meet will keep you chuckling through the entire book - from Nedra, the who is having a torrid affair with the tennis coach, to Brandon, the chef who can't cook and many more. This book is fun and entertaining and the whodunnit question will keep you guessing right up until the end.

Jane Heller is always a funny, witty read, but this book is also a heart-warming look at modern married life and the joys and stress therein. In her usual biting satire, Ms. Heller exposes the foibles and humanity of "the counrty club set" as well as her heroine and heroine's family. Even in her quick, snappy writing, real people with real feelings shine through.

I just finished this book and loved it to the last page. Jane Heller is a first class satirist--the best satire is only a hair away from the real thing. I'm a New York editor (working, unlike Judy Mills) who's been downsized twice, I live in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and board the train every day probably minutes from where "The Club" is supposed to be. I'm a lousy tennis player and hate golf. So let me tell you, she has it right down to the details of every stereotype, from the men's and women's apparel, the attitude, the commuters, etc. Of course the characters, from WASPs to radical feminists are all exaggerated, but they're supposed to be. I was laughing through the whole thing, even though one of my favorite people got killed. But don't get me wrong--there are a lot of great people in this county, and I wouldn't be anywhere else in the continental U.S. I don't mind laughing at myself and my environment when it's well done.