Book Buzz:"Parvenue Throws A Party" by Wendy Boucher

Parvenue Throws A Party by Wendy Boucher (Hoyden Press, $12.00, ISBN 0-9766766-0-5) Remember the pretty, popular girls from school? The ones who had a lot of friends, always got asked out on dates, and who set the tone of what to wear and where to go? Well, Janice Darcy of Parvenue Throws A Party remembers them well, because they're the ones she fawns over, worships, and so desperately wants to be. Janice's desperate struggle for acceptance and popularity intensifies after she and her family move from Carrollwood to South Tampa. Competing against her well-manicured, wealthy, tanned, polished and stylish neighbors, she sets off on one project -- make that mishap -- after another. Like the main character in TV's I Love Lucy (minus the extreme wackiness and willing sidekick), her childish need for acceptance and attention prompt her into situations that quickly get out of hand. As I began reading this book, I started to worry: what if I didn't like it? I want so much to promote and support local authors, but at the same time, I'm compelled to give my honest opinion here. I'm thrilled to report that I like Parvenue Throws A Party and enjoyed it a great deal. It's a light, breezy, fun read; great for when you need a break from life and want to relax and enjoy a laugh or two. Boucher gives us a touching prologue that helps to explain Janice's need for acceptance, so you sympathize and identify with Janice instantly. Then you feel sorry for her, and laugh at her, then get annoyed at her, and are confused by her, and laugh at her some more, and then get angry at her, and then you want to strangle her and slap her across the face...Boucher takes this character to the far edge of likeability in a skillful way that is true to the book and believable to the reader. Having the book set in Tampa added to the fun for me. The stereotypical "rich bitch" character exists in every city in the world. Somehow, though, having Tampa's landmarks, stores and eccentricities woven throughout the story made those characters seem more realistic and Janice's struggle more endearing. I work in South Tampa and I know about the lines of demarcation (stay between Kennedy and Gandy) and I've seen the trim, blonde soccer moms in their tennis whites dropping off their kids at private school and been a tad envious as I rush by them in my never-gonna-be-paid-off small car, late for work. Perhaps there's a little Janice Darcy in me. Or in all of us. Read Parvenue Throws A Party (available August 15th) and find out. Now, I've got to get started on those party invitations...