Good In Bed

Jennifer Weiner

I think the title of this novel is its hook, something about it which makes the book browser curious. The story evolves around Cannie, a woman of large dimensions who fights her way through a world which dictates that thin is better. The title of the book grabs its history from a column which appears in a magazine, written by her ex-boyfriend, who touts the joys and sorrows of loving a big woman. Overall for a debut novel, Weiner has done a good job. She's creates a character who is witty, warm, intelligent and at times, aggravating. That just means she's human. As a reader, I enjoyed traveling along with Cannie as she alternately conquers and is conquered by the world around her. The love story which sits between the pages is authentic and familiar. However, at the halfway point, the story takes on dimensions of being quite farfetched. As a reader, you summon up some level of acceptance, because after all, this is fiction, the writer can go anywhere she wants. But once Weiner starts the wheel of implausibility rolling, it seems she has a difficult time controlling its direction. The story builds to a point where I as a reader felt as though that ball had run right into a brick wall and exploded. But despite that, this is an enjoyable story of being human, of love and friendship, of strength and weakness. It's a quick read, you care enough about the main character to want to get back to it, and even though you have to deal with that out of control ball toward the end, you still turn the pages. You know, if Oprah was still doing the dance, this would probably have gone into her files as a good nominee.