Book Review: "Goodnight Nobody" by Jennifer Weiner-Life in the Sandbox

This was not my favorite Jennifer Weiner novel but still a good one. As with all Weiner novels I laughed out loud with the hilarity of the vulnerability of her women characters in their attempts fit into a sect that she is ill-suited for…the round hole and the square peg syndrome. I especially found both validation and comfort in her depiction of the infamous “playground crew” in suburbia also known as the common terrorist sect with its self-sacrifice and aggressive tactical warfare.

“The other Upchurch toddlers had never seen so much as a minute of television. They didn’t have tantrums that made us late for school…or occasion parent-teacher conferences because of their talent-show choices.”

Very funny insights to the “perfect Mommy syndrome” the neighborhood park benches filled with perfectly coiffed, well-heeled and model-like bodies of “Barbie does Suburbia”– Upchurch versus the former career woman of NYC now plagued with dirty cargo pants,a disheveled appearance, and a scattered lifestyle.

However, the perfect mom, Kitty Cavanaugh, who pens an article (well she ghostwrites) about the elusive “perfect mommy” meets a tragic ending to the “perfect life.” Kate happens upon the corpse and is cast into the web with the strange tie to Kitty and to a mystery man from Kate’s past. Suburbia is in chaos and the “playgrounds” of both the stepford wife-like crew and their families are full of suspicion and danger. The “sandbox” is no longer safe.

While the novel is an enjoyable and entertaining read, the plot is a bit disjointed. I did, however, sympathize with Kate’s need to investigate Kitty’s murder as it gave meaning to an otherwise mundane life where she made rather unsuccessful attempts to join the “perfect-mommy” club. The question becomes: Is there such a club and what is the price of membership?

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