I am not the target audience for A Girl's Best Friend, the third novel
by British author Elizabeth Young (her first two are A Promising Man
(And About Time, Too) and Asking For Trouble). This is "chick lit,"
i.e. written for young women, presumably those particularly interested
in hot romance, sex, parties, and fashion. The definition of this fairly
newly-termed genre is books by women focusing on young, often
eccentric female protagonists. Think Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen
Fielding. Although Young's novel did hold my interest moderately well --
and I appreciate a happy ending every once in a while -- the perfect
reader would be in her 20s or 30s and know contemporary British slang.
The storyline follows protagonist Izzy through a couple of
relationships and their demise, through a new job, through a potential
disaster, and through various parties. It devotes quite a lot of
attention to her love of her "best friend." This 30-something single-but-hunting-hard woman has lots of trouble with men but, by story's
end, finally seems to have come to some sort of peace with a heroic and
kind veterinarian.
Two things are somewhat disconcerting about this book. The first is
not the author's fault. "A Girl's Best Friend," as we all know, is her
dog. Henry, a mutt who is extremely lovable, is no exception -- he is
Izzy's constant companion and her only steady bedmate. However, the
repeated descriptions of him and comments on his size bear no
resemblance to the dog on the cover, a large-headed West Highland white
terrier.
Two. As the author is English, she probably wrote this novel with her
fellow countrywomen in mind. Most English books translate quite easily
into Americanese. Yet although I have visited England on numerous
occasions, I found Young's book almost required the help of an
American/British dictionary. Guess I just don't watch enough Austin
Powers. Thank goodness, I have a good friend of Welsh descent to whom I
placed many calls. Although most of the slang words are fairly clear in
context, not all are. Here are a few samples that tripped me up: "I'm a
dab hand" (very skillful at something); " he'd slag her off" (abuse her
verbally); "snogging"( necking); a "prat" (a dork); and "never quite
Oxbridge material" (i.e., Ivy League, a combination of Oxford and
Cambridge Universities).
The use of so much slang does not endear characters to me, but Henry was
certainly most endearing and one of the most developed characters. As
Young writes, one thing in dogs' favor is that "They [dogs] never brag
about their ex's stunning cleavage."
A Girl's Best Friend contains no real growth of any character, no great
revelations, and no complex mysteries. Still, it is an amusing and quick
read. A few good deeds and twists of fate occur, but the focus is on
fun, flirting and finding a marriage partner. Although summer is over,
this would make a perfect beach or vacation book. It might also
translate well into a sitcom.