FICTION

Mimi: A Novel

Bloomsbury; dist. by Macmillan. 2013. 352p. ISBN 9781620400203. pap. $15; ebk. ISBN 9781620400258. F
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Ellman's (Sweet Deserts; Varying Degrees of Hopelessness;) thin romantic plot is virtually obscured by lists, prattle, and rant, all of which might be palatable if not so buried under the author's distracting treatises. On a steady stream of exclamation points, italics, capital letters, plays on words, and alliterations, readers are force-fed heavy-handed feminism along with a bit of bawdy sex. In place of literary substance that might better bolster and advance the story line, lists pop up as the device of choice, page after page of: Why I Hate Bathrobes, Things That Bug Me, etc. Also tossed into the mix are songs, recipes, and other asides.
VERDICT Mimi is less a novel and more an author leveling a barrage of her views at potential readers. Whatever gems there are may be rendered unrecognizable in this frenetic mishmash. This book may be best suited for readers who prefer having their every reaction blatantly dictated to them by a dauntless author.
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