COMPLETED CHALLENGES FOR 2009

1.funbookchallenge

2.J.Kaye'syoungadultbookchallenge

3.Orbis Terrarum

Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell

"Perfect Timing" by Jill Mansell is a fantastic, fun, fabulous book. It's impossible to throw the book down without dying to pick it up again. It's a novel about friendship, romance, family and getting through the rough spots that come our way as we make our way down the road called life. Poppy Dunbar is one of my favorite characters. While in London she runs into all sorts of circumstances. These situations seem serentipitous and miraculous. It's like her fairy godmother is waving a magical wand over Poppy giving her what she "thinks" she wants in her life or needs to know about her life.

These incidents lead Poppy to meet all sorts of characters. There is Alex and Rita.  You have to love these two people. They are in love with one another. Age doesn't hinder this couple. Rita and Alex party until the last light goes out. I can remember clearly Rita's hot pink purse trimmed with golden elephants. Can you imagine? The way they wear their wealth, decorate their home and how they dine definitely makes the words "nouveau riche" come to mind. What happens between Poppy and Rita and Alex was enough for me to wet twenty hankies. It seems never to be a good day when you find an old unexplained photograph with a woman than yourself in the photo.

By the way if you love British conversation like "so tie that in your knickers," you can add this as another reason to read the book. I have only been over the pond through reading books and movies. The British terms were easy to define and enjoy at the same time. It was like playing a British word game. Plus, it really added atmosphere to "Perfect Timing."

I liked this book for so many reasons. The spontaneity is one reason. When the girls go to a Life Drawing class that one night of boldness will follow Poppy and Claudia a long way. As people say what we do in the dark will always come to light. This fits the window peeking incident when one of the girls ends up in the lights of a police car. There are all sorts of shenanigans going on between a small group of lovers and friends. All that I could ever wish for is in "Perfect Timing" including handsome guys, guys who know how to whisper the right words in your ear and terribly possessive guys. Poppy meets the possessive type and feels like she is drowning in his love. I would have felt the same way after wearing a long gown with a turtle neck. He doesn't want anyone to appreciate her body except for himself.

I find in incredibly hard to believe Jill Mansell can work a reading wonder like this again. So, I'm going out to buy another one of her books. I know she won't disappoint me. Jill Mansell is swell.