An Actual Life

January 1, 1996
In her first novel, Thomas, who began writing at age 50 after a career as a literary agent and editor, displays the same incisive character portrayal and bantering prose that readers enjoyed in her collection of short stories, Getting Over Tom. Here, she has taken one of those stories, about the shotgun wedding of college students Virginia and Buddy in 1960, and produced a spirited and often very funny novel about their horrendous marriage. The events, related in Virginia's voice, take place mostly in the house of Buddy's sweet, goofy Aunt Dot, in Buddy's New Jersey hometown. Virginia's life now revolves around her baby, Madeline-which is a good thing, since Buddy is sneaking around with his longtime love and ex-girlfriend, the truck-driving, heavily made-up Irene, who happens to be married to his best friend. Although she doesn't love Buddy and bravely accepts Irene's attempts at friendship, Virginia is still hurt by Buddy's infidelity. Ultimately, she must decide whether she will conform to what her family-and even Buddy himself-expect: that she stay in a loveless marriage for the sake of the baby. Thomas does a masterful job in portraying Virginia: she is terribly naive, has little sense of herself, is uptight, sexually prudish and superstitious. Yet she is also a very young woman stuck in a rotten situation, and her spunky, if often clueless, attempts to make the best of things-and to discover what she wants-are endearing and compelling.

April 1, 1996
Virginia and Buddy married young because they had to: Virginia conceived the night she lost her virginity. Now she is trapped in a loveless marriage. Buddy remains in love with his high school sweetheart, whom he continues to see on the sly. This novel chronicles Virginia's attempts to make the marriage work, against all odds. Consumed with both tender maternal feelings toward her daughter, Maddie, and the unfulfilled longings of a young, romantic girl, Virginia struggles with her self-esteem as Buddy fails to show any interest in her. She has the support of loving parents and Buddy's aunt, but they aren't privy to her private angst. Thomas (Getting Over Tom, Algonquin, 1994) weaves a good story, beautifully capturing the jaded innocence and idealism of Virginia. The tale is simple and sad, but Virginia triumphs in the end, so the reader is not left dejected. Recommended for public libraries.-Kimberly G. Allen, MCI Corporate Information Resources Ctr., Washington, D.C .

March 1, 1997
YA-The tie that binds Buddy and Virginia is not starry-eyed amore; it is stark obligation to Maddie, their almost one-year-old daughter. She was conceived in a college dormitory in 1960; clearly, the act stemmed more from curiosity on the part of her parents than from passion. When Virginia found out she was pregnant, she gladly left college and married Buddy. He continued with school. During summer break, which is when the novel begins, the family moves in with Buddy's aunt so that he can earn money painting houses. There he is reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Irene, for whom he still pines. Virginia's chattiness, quaint superstitions, and proper opinions are appreciated by Buddy's pal Chick, who is Irene's husband. Virginia knows something is missing in her marriage. She and Maddie visit her parents, and she finds contentment all around her; she returns to Hadley determined to seize her share of it. Instead, revelations about Buddy's past and present desires for Irene come to light, and a swap seems to be in the making as Chick moves closer to Virginia, but the author leaves readers guessing as to whether that convenient twist will come about. YAs will sail along with Virginia's well-expressed thoughts and choices. The story's characters are kookie at times, but then, so is young love.-Judy Sokoll, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

April 1, 1996
In her critically praised short story collection "Getting Over Tom" (1994), Thomas introduced Virginia and Buddy, who had to get married in 1959 after their sexual encounter in Buddy's dorm room. In her first novel, Thomas picks up the young couple's story after daughter Madeleine's birth, back in Buddy's hometown of Hedley, New Jersey, where his high-school sweetheart, Irene, is now married to his best friend, Chick. Virginia's narrative is both funny and poignant as she delights in daughter Maddie, worries that Buddy still loves Irene, fantasizes romance with other men, and admits that now that she and Buddy know each other better, they are actually strangers. A visit with her parents, intended as a vacation Virginia needs, serves instead to illuminate the minister father and prissy mother who raised her and to contrast her parents' marriage with her own. "Ours just sits there and blows hot air. It isn't good for anything at all." With Thomas' fresh style and pointed one-liners, this is a winning literary debut with an ending that hints the story may continue. ((Reviewed April 1, 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)