Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim

October 8, 2012
The witty and warm mother-daughter team are back with their third collection of “Chick Wit” columns they write for the Philadelphia Inquirer. New York Times bestselling author Lisa is the 56-year-old single mom of Francesca, a 25-year-old aspiring novelist and new resident of New York City. They work to establish boundaries and maintain a lifelong connection as Lisa settles into her Philadelphia-area empty nest (well, except for dogs, cats, chickens, and an errant fawn) and Francesca ventures out into the big city (complete with, alas, a frequent flasher). As always, Lisa and Francesca write about (grand-) Mother Mary with admiration, occasional frustration, and love. There’s a lot of love in this book; readers who have affectionate families will feel at home, and those who don’t will enjoy these relatives who are also friends. As in their previous books, the women muse on dating, aging, and carbs; the vagaries of home improvements, swimming, and online shopping are also addressed. Francesca’s contributions are, like her mother’s, by turns funny and poignant; “I Love You, Man,” about bro-ing out with mom (over action movies, gross-out comedy, and sports) is a hoot, and “Grandmother Whisperer,” wherein she brokers communication between the generations, is sweet and wise. Family photos round out this delightful collection of essays that are fun to read, share, and ponder.

What makes this third collection of the authors' "Chick Wit" columns so much fun is hearing them read it themselves. Lisa Scottoline's smart-alecky delivery supports her wisecracking style of introspection and self-deprecating humor. Scottoline delights in her quirky family and their unconventional styles, all the while trying to find a way to deal with empty-nest parenting. Daughter Francesca Serritella's voice is younger and less seasoned, but her energy is high, and her observations are spot-on. She tells about bonding with her mom while watching sports and action-adventure movies and offers a "Field Guide to the American Male" from the perspective of a 20-something woman. For the "Flying Scottolines," a "good fight" is not an oxymoron but the seasoning that makes mother-daughter love even more delicious. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine