The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom & Party Girl

Intending no disrespect to the author, I bought this book for its cover art, by Philadelphia artist marlise Tkaczk. I haven't read the book yet, but judging by the cover (is this a mistake?) it is a great book.

The Singular Exploits of Wonder Mom & Party Girl is a portrait of a woman we all know or are--responsible, decidedly good, proud to be a decent parent and spouse and unflinchingly certain that some paths, namely that of cocaine usage and dealing, would never intersect our own. As Audrey Corcoran, a magazine editor and mother of two, faces the shock and disillusionment of her husband's ultimate betrayal, his decision to end their marriage and pursue a life with another woman, Audrey's devastation leaves her vulnerable to a string of dangerous seductions. Although we cringe as she slips into a world of unseemly characters and desperate rationalizations for reckless behaviors, we understand why she makes the first self-destructive decision, and the second, and the third. We know why she sinks deeper and deeper, one squelch at a time, into the repulsive muck, thanks to Schuster's uncanny ability to render Audrey so like ourselves, so human. We feel heart-pangs as Audrey betrays the trust of those she loves the most, her precocious yet innocent little girls of ten and eight. As if the action-laden reader-friendly chapters weren't enough to entertain, Schuster weaves pop culture's insidious coloring of our self-images into the story like one-third of a school girl's impeccable hair braid. The products we buy to "fix ourselves" are hilariously juxtaposed with Audrey's insecurities so that, as she falls victim to mass marketing scams which promise she'll be sexier, more fun, more powerful, a better mom, a more competent employee, we feel ok to chuckle at (with) her. Schuster whips words into laugh-out-loud order, his dark wit as fierce and biting as a feline snarl. WMPG delivers and resonates because it reveals a flawed family dynamic amidst the minutia of everyday life in a society bent on profiting from our weakest moments, and that revelation leaves us deeply invested in the characters' fates. Those who enjoy a contemporary suburban middle-class tale with a powerful underbelly will feel like a junkie who scored one last hit with this read.

Mark Schuster's novel benefits from a matter fact first person narrator, whose non-linear telling of the story doesn't confuse or puzzle you, but rather reminds you of the way a new friend slowly fills in their own biography, picking and choosing what you are ready to hear. The effect pays off big time in the end, as what at times in the early going seems like a happy return to younger days, has an unfortunate, and very moving, payback. The book has many humorous notes to it, but the quirky characters and situations gather gravitas as it moves on. This is done so gracefully and believably, not heavy handedly. If it doesn't sound like a great achievement, consider that we're talking about people like a wannabe drug fighting super hero called "Captain Panther." Making somebody like that a prop for easy jokes would be one thing, turning him into a deeply sympathetic character, while not abandoning the thrust of your story, is the feat of a great writer.

First rule of parenting: you don't use drugs in front of your kids. Especially if you're the one member of the parent-teacher association charged with running the school's Just-Say-No program. Audrey Corcoran is blindsided when her husband of ten years leaves her for a much-younger, thinner woman named Chloe. Desperate not to lose her young daughters the way she lost Roger, Audrey decides to get in touch with her fun side. Her adventures lead to her try cocaine, against her better judgement. In this tragicomic novel, Audrey copes with life on and off drugs. I'm always a little amazed when a male author paints such a touching and realistic portrait of a woman's life. Scott Simon did it for 17-year-old Irena Zaric in *Pretty Birds,* and Marc Schuster does it for 30-something Audrey Corcoran. Thanks to *Desperate Housewives,* the suburban mom secretly on drugs may be something of a cliche, but Schuster never allows Audrey's life to become a caricature or a morality play. He simply gives her 292 pages to be her Super Mom & Party Girl self, and readers will be grateful for that.