Lois Winston, Talk Gertie to Me

Talk Gertie to Me

Lois Winston

Love Spell, Apr, 2006, $5.99

ISBN: 0505526840

Honora "Nori" Stedworth cannot believe how fast her world collapsed. The young Manhattanite had a well-paying job she likes at a dot.com firm until they downsized her; she lives in a delightful city apartment until her mom occupies the place; and finally she caught her handsome, nice and wealthy boyfriend synchronize swimming in the Jacuzzi with her best friend. In shell shock from the series of traumatic setbacks, Nori returns to what helped her through crisis as a child; she turns to her imaginary, sarcastic friend named Gertie for help. Mackenzie "Mac" Randolph, station manager of WBAT talk radio for men ends up stuck with "Gertie", who becomes the toast of the Big Apple with her cynical show "Gertie Gets Even" telling men why they suck.

At about the same time that Gerti is making Nori famous, Mayor Earnest Stedworth runs his town Ten Commandments, Iowa and his family like a 1950s time warp. His wife Connie has become frustrated with her designated role of housewife and seeks more. She leaves for New York where she becomes famous as the "Belly Button Artist to the Stars."

This amusing contemporary tale rotates perspective between Nori and Connie so that the audience understands their frustrations that motivate their decisions. The humorous character study never slows down in spite of changing viewpoints though either subplot could have served up a delicious novel on its' own. The support cast is fun to follow adding to the enjoyment of a wacky tale of two women taking Manhattan.

Harriet Klausner