Marni Jackson

This is a book that left me smiling. I won’t go into the plot, as so many reviewers cover what that is- my view of it is as a female picaresque, where our roguish heroine pluckily meets with many many famous people in situations outside of their norm and charms them all, sleeps with many of them, acts as a muse and, altogether, makes their lives better as she drags herself through her own.
The main character is so sketchily drawn as to be mostly a dream, a dream who can make cornbread from scratch in the wilderness and advise the world. In the background her marriage dissolves, her career languishes.
She’s plucky, though, and the adventures are both dreamy and fun- Leonard Cohen explaining about roasted marshmallows is one of my favourite scenes.
A light, charming book, filled with stories that seem drug induced. I quite enjoyed it, and there are a few images that will remain in my mind forever.
It sure didn’t help my already sour view of John Updike, though...… (more)

I received a hardcopy edition of this book from the author’s publisher, Flatiron Books, through a giveaway they had on GoodReads and the following is my honest opinion.

“Rose McEwan has lived her life out of the spotlight—daughter, wife, mother, ex-wife, journeyman writer trying to make ends meet. But even so, fame has come to her.” So states the description for this debut novel which contains 14 episodic stories in this fictional woman’s life from the age of 16 to 60. At the same time the author tells us in her Author’s Note that they contain some autobiographical elements.

These stories, in part, remind me of the fictional character Walter Mitty who begins to fantasize and daydream the moment he hears something interesting the moment he hears something which triggers he imagination. Rose after encountering the celebrities mentioned in each of these stories; however when she retells each incident she begins to embellish what happens afterwards.

All of these stories are quite plausible but only to a point; these stories attempt to show that even though these individuals might be a celebrity that they’re really ordinary people like you and me given the right circumstances. Rose’s embellishments are fascinating and touching, as well as being quite thought provoking and delightfully fun to read.

The interesting thing is many of us can, given the right opportunity, might do the same thing as Rose has done. I should know because being involved in local politics the way I was I got invited to a birthday party for a local elected representative where I met someone who’s a nationally known political figure, and had a photo taken of the three of us. I didn’t have to say a single word when I would show someone the photo; the photo did the embellishing for me. Honestly, wouldn’t you want to embellish a story about someone who might met who’s well known.

For having given me something I would love to read again if I can find the time, I’m giving Ms. Jackson 5 STARS for this endeavor.… (more)