The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown is one of Spring’s hot new releases. When I picked up the book, I had a couple of fears. First, I thought it would be just another dull, depressing family drama. I have enough family baggage in my own life. Why would I want read about this family when I barely want to be part of my own?
My other reservation about this book is that I suspected it was Chick Lit being marketed as literary fiction. Why should I fear Brown’s novel is over-hyped chick lit? Because putting Shakespeare in stock characters' mouths won't make it a “serious literary work". First, we have Cordy, the youngest sister, a wandering free-spirit who sleeps around and can’t settle down. We have Bianca (aka Bean), the middle sister, a shopaholic who steals to support her clothes addiction, drinks fancy cocktails in NYC clubs, and who also sleeps around. Finally, we have Rosalind, the eldest sister, who is an approaching-forty, dowdy-feeling professional woman who can’t let go of her control issues. Brown gives us three Shakespearean-monikered characters, each of whom represents an archetype in the Chick Lit world. I refer you to an article called Bad Chick Lit Novel Clichés. Brown includes 4 of the five Chick Lit situations in her novel: the shoe addiction, the surprise pregnancy, the sister’s wedding, and the “OMG, I’m turning 30!” crisis. But don’t be put off Brown's novel yet – read on.
