Thursday, April 9, 2009

Choral Society-Prue Leith

Choral Society
Prue Leith
St. Martin’s, Apr 28 2009, $25.95
ISBN: 9780312560782

The fifty something women meet in a choral class and become friends at a time each suffers from a midlife crisis. Lucy the food columnist has recently lost her husband and apparently now her column. Single mom Rebecca has always been single going through men like M&Ms though the constant meeting, dating and breaking up has made her wary. Venture capitalist Joanna is bored with her life as she is comfortable with bottom lines not men.

The choral director Nelson and Rebecca begin a tryst. Joanna falls in love for the first time but learns a sad lesson about mixing work with pleasure. Rebecca helps Lucy with a complete makeover that gives her confidence to try to obtain a teaching position and perhaps even a new man.

This is an engaging character study of three middle age women struggling with issues and men, or lack of the latter. Each of the three BFFs is unique as they each approach life from different foundations. Although they all would like a loving relationship with a male, each of the trio understands “I will survive” (Gloria Gaynor) without one; as they are strong and strengthened by their friendships so that they believe they can do anything because “I am woman” (Helen Reddy).

Harriet Klausner

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