Domestic Violets

A couple months ago a member of my book club was tossing around ideas for her pick, giving us a list of titles she was interested in reading. One of the books that she mentioned (but ultimately didn't pick) was Matthew Norman's Domestic Violets. I read a quick synopsis and thought it sounded like something that I'd like, but it wasn't until I came across it at the library that I decided to read it. Usually the description on the back of a book is a good indicator of what to expect, but I didn't think this was the case for Domestic Violets.

The novel is about a man named Tom Violet who finds himself at a tipping point. His marriage is troubled, he hates his job, and his strong attraction to his coworker appears to be mutual. Tom has spent years writing a novel and is full of anxiety on whether it is any good; the pressure being high as his father is a very famous writer who over the course of the novel wins the Pulitizer Prize. Besides the inept description of the plot, the back of the book also sums it up as a "brilliant and beguiling story of a man finally taking control of his own happiness--even if it means making a complete idiot of himself along the way." I disagree as I don't see him as much trying to take control of his life at all costs, but rather him fumbling his way towards realizing who he is and what he wants. Regardless it is an entertaining book that's fast and easy to read. Books like this are my ultimate guilty pleasure; I really enjoy books with humor and heart that focus largely on relationships and/or search for self. The writing is nothing grand, but is not bad either. It's a light read, which are good books for the summer.