notanotherbookreview

GREAT WITH CHILD, Sonia Taitz's new novel (McWitty Press, 4/11) is both a satirical and serious look at a smart working woman,driven to succeed in a law firm. Women are accommodated but expected to think and act like men, a norm not a problem for feisty Abigail. For seven years, she's slaved to make partner and is about to receive her rewards, when she discovers she's pregnant after a brief encounter. Though the father's out of the picture, Abby's decided to have her baby. Despite her boss's undermining conviction that women lawyers just "disappear," she will not be mommy-tracked! But there's her huge belly and the trip and almost fall on the street, where she's helped by a handsome cavalier, who asks her to coffee. Oddly, he appears intensely attracted despite or maybe because of her belly?  Tim's attentions are persistent and he cooks! While she appreciates romance, her hormones make her ravenous but not for sex. The strange idyll ...

DOWN UNDER by Sonia Taitz (McWitty Press, Nov.11) is a farcical look at serious romance. Jude Pincus is not a heroine for the faint-hearted middle-ager. She's the Joan of Arc of bustiers and stilettos, a martyr for true love. Sadly, the man of her dreams, and the man who shares her bed, are equally missing from her life.  Judy teaches creative writing part-time and has two twin teen-aged sons, so she's not exactly idle but there is time on her hands. She's trying to figure out how she arrived at this place in her life, where she's not essential to those she cares about.  Without that connection, she thinks, what is she but a pathetic creature alone with her worries?  Among these is her husband, busy rebuilding his fortunes with the perfect tubular pasta. His import business allows him to gallivant all over Italy with brief sojourns at home. Then there's her twins The popular outgoing son is in boarding school, while his studious brother at home never leaves his r...