In Meredith Schorr's A STATE OF JANE, Jane Alexis Frank's perfect "Ann Taylored" life has come to a screeching halt and it's going to go from bad to worse before getting any better. After breaking up with her only boyfriend, Bob, 26-year old Jane has "healed" after a one-year self-imposed date free hiatus and now she's ready to get back into the game! She's cynical about the New York City dating landscape, but pretty good at putting a positive spin on things!
"I just want to be settled in a committed relationship by the time I start law school next year, where I'll be too busy studying to meet anyone."
Get ready to see Jane date a lot. See Jane date Randall. See Jane date Jim. See Jane meet Cory for Mexican at Dave & Busters. See Jane date Todd and have a quickie with "Buddy." Pretty soon readers are wondering if there are any men left in NYC that Jane hasn't dated or slept with. For a while Jane decides to follow the credo of her co-worker, Andrew, "nail 'em and leave 'em" which does nothing to make Jane appealing. Many women reading A STATE OF JANE will recognize their own crazy period of zealous dating - well, maybe not to this extent.
Anyway, Jane goes through an incredibly self-absorbed patch in which she does just about everything possible to push her friends and family away. But Jane is in her 20's and has a talent to cook, especially sweet treats, so we'll forgive her for some of her more annoying behavior, because after all, there is a little bit of Jane in all of us. Thankfully, the people we love most, stick by us through thick and thin.
The character I love best is Jane's Dad - what a sweetheart! Dad is kind, understanding and surrounded by so much estrogen I wondered why he stayed around all the time! What a mensch!
We'll be back next Wednesday with another review! xo Cindy
