The Thin Pink Line

Rating:
Summary: Funny! Great fun for anyone who's even considered pregnancy
Review: I admit it, I picked up The Thin Pink Line because I was trying to conceive at the time and anything with a bright pink home pregnancy test on it would catch my eye--but it was the bizarre, slightly twisted storyline that got me hooked. Ms. Baratz-Logsted has written a fine, funny story with a slightly dark twist, as main character Jane Taylor decides to fake a pregnancy for all the "perks." As main characters go, Jane walks that fine line between being an adorably scatterbrained gal and being an awful, horrendous person. At times you want her to succeed at her crazy scheme, at times you look forward to seeing her fail. She's kind of like a British Lucy Ricardo--only a little less "zany" and a little more "insane" (and of course, sans the Cuban hubby and the bright red hair.)

The novel is by turns hysterically funny, slightly over-the-top and quite satirical. Jane's awful relationship with her mother and sister was as biting as her relationship with her gay friend David (pronounced Duh-VEED) was sweet and wonderul--too bad the most perfect man in her life is gay! I also found the scenes at the publishing house to be particularly funny, especially when Jane tries to deal with unfavorable reviews of a novel set in the USA written by a British author (and Jane's only remaining client). Considering this is a novel set in the UK but written by an American, it seemed like a bit of tongue-in-cheek self-deprecating humor, and it does elicit a good knowing laugh.

Yes *spoiler alert* the ending was a bit too simplistic, at least for my taste (though I hear there are far more twists and turns in the sequel "Crossing the Line")--but overall, watching Jane struggle through this made-up pregnancy and the weird and often scathing insights she gains into the world of mommies-to-be, makes this novel a great, fun and funny read. I highly recommend it to anyone who's even ever thought of pregnancy (guys included)!