Jessica Jifi Diamonds Take Forever

Diamonds Take Forever

Jessica Jifi

Avon, Dec 2005, $12.95

ISBN: 0060754745

Moroccan-American Michelle Benamou thought her life in New York was pretty good until her boyfriend dumps her and kicks her out of his apartment. She must move back home where she fears that her matchmaking mother will interfere with Michelle's lifestyle. Her friends sympathize knowing how un-cool their parents are; for instance Michelle's father owns a grocery shop.

However, her friend Benny informs her that he is undergoing an ugly divorce. She feels for him and they begin a long distance relationship as he lives in Los Angeles while she is in Nee York where she feels the city has the only opportunity for her to becoming a TV reporter. As the bi-coastal romance stays somewhat tepid, Michelle begins to reassess her life and how much her parents have done for her, but she still wants the diamonds that are forever around her finger.

The deep look at family relationships between immigrant parents and an Americanized daughter will grip the audience as assimilation begins to form a rift even when each member loves one another and is considerate and respectful of each other. Michelle's efforts to break into media news are also deftly handled. However, the center of the tale is Michelle's quest to find love, which seems somewhat pale compared with the profundity of the other prime elements. Still overall this is a perceptive well written character study.

Harriet Klausner