It’s rare to find a signed book for a dollar in a discount
book bin, but even more so when that book turns out to be a great read. Author
Ellen Meister had me at the title, and she continued her hold with a literary
ride that was sweet, saucy and so much fun.
Violet Epps is a movie critic terrified of confrontation, so
she’s saddled with a boyfriend she can’t dump, and may never get custody of the
orphaned niece who needs a better life. The only place she feels confident is
on the page, where her sarcasm reaches to the lofty heights of her hero,
Dorothy Parker. When she and her boyfriend meet at the Algonquin Hotel and the
manager presents the storied guest book for her signature, she receives a
sharp-tongued, spine transplant in the form of Parker’s ghost. After a quick
possession by Parker, she grabs the guest book and flees the scene once she
tells off her worthless beau, and her life begins to veer far from the
predictable, meek paths she usually follows.
Meister makes Violet a nicely rounded character with depth,
showing how Violet’s present fears are rooted in her childhood relationship
with her sister, Ivy. It turns out young Violet’s wicked wit was nipped in the
bud by a sibling who had her own cruel ways of getting even, something Violet
couldn’t heal from even when she and her sister grew close as adults. After the
accident that takes her sister and brother-in-law’s lives, Violet tries to gain
custody of her young niece Delaney, but her fear makes her have a meltdown at
the custody hearing. Piled onto that is the new editor’s assistant at work who
thinks she can re-write Violet’s columns without retribution.
Good thing Violet has the ghost of Dorothy Parker now, and
this is where Meister shines: she brings the daunting legend to full life,
giving her great dialogue and showing that behind many sarcastic souls lie the
tender wounds of childhood. Whenever the guest book is open, Parker is free to
drink, smoke and throw shade at every oppressive corner of Violet’s life,
sending her into new adventures with television appearances, blackmail
opportunities, work smackdowns and even a hot tryst with her martial arts
instructor. The entire plot moves as fast as Parker’s savage literary
takedowns, and in the end, Violet learns how to stand up for herself and the
ones she loves. She also helps Parker learn a thing or two, so the ghost can
finally look straight into that bright light which beckons to her whenever she
materializes.
This book is smart, heartfelt and the perfect fantasy for
any Dorothy Parker fan who always thinks of the perfect comeback after the
argument is done.
