The Big Love
Sarah Dunn
Back Bay Books, June 2005
Chick-Lit/Romance
Reviewer:
Monica Poling
Posted: December 14, 2005
* * * * * *
The last thing my dinner party needed was what actually happened: an hour after he left, Tom called from a pay phone to tell me to go ahead without him, he wasn’t coming back, he didn’t have the mustard, and oh, by the way, he was in love with somebody else.
And we had company!
So starts the story of Alison Hopkins, a columnist for local paper, The Philadelphia Times. She’s neurotic, funny, sad, sometimes pathetic, and enjoyable to read about. And while “The Big Love” is an easy read, it is probably a book that should be read a twice. The first read is just for pleasure, to find out what decisions Alison Hopkins makes with her life, the second to take some time to enjoy the language and the story Sarah Dunn gives us.
Mostly the story of Alison is a “coming of age” story, or rather a “coming to terms with myself” story. She tends to equate just having a man in her life with that man being “The Big Love” she seeks.
Alison hasn’t really been around the block much. She was brought up as an Evangelical Christian, and while she’s currently on the outs with her religion, she also has a lifetime of beliefs and training she can’t just chuck aside. Her sexuality is a big step for her, and she’s only been with three men total, which doesn’t give her a lot of worldly experience to draw upon.
This probably explains why Alison takes Tom back when he comes walking back into her life, holding the jar of mustard he’d originally gone out for. This part of the story is the hardest part to accept (both for the reader and for Alison herself.)
Come on little Ms. Alison, I can hear you saying. Do not listen to what this man has to say. Do not give him the time of day.
Still, you must understand that I’d been waiting for this moment and I wanted to see just how it would play out.
The Big Love is a finely developed interior story of Alison, her conflicting beliefs, and her search for the right man. We mostly stay in Alison’s head for the duration of the story, but we find it an enjoyable place to stay. Her story is both funny and sad, and we find ourselves rooting for her until the very end.
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