No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club

December 11, 2006
In her first American release, London journalist Ironside slices
\t\t through the hullabaloo about reclaiming youth. On the cusp of 60, Marie begins
\t\t keeping a diary, and the approximately 18 months' worth of entries that make up
\t\t the narrative offer blunt appraisals of the state of the world, matters of
\t\t health and family, and the good and bad aspects of the Internet age (cut and
\t\t paste is good; booking travel online is bad). The major development is the
\t\t thrilling news Marie's going to be a grandmother, and plenty of smaller crises,
\t\t squabbles, life events and drama are contributed by her posse of goofball pals.
\t\t Widower Archie, whom Marie had a crush on when she was a teenager, is still
\t\t around, and Marie's friend Penny is on the brink of a fling with a man 30 years
\t\t her junior. After grandson Gene is born, Marie, of course, fawns over him,
\t\t though that happiness is mitigated by a friend's illness. Both humorous and
\t\t poignant, this will appeal to its target boomer demographic and should pull in
\t\t a few younger readers as well.