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Inside The Cover
Book Reviews Getting Over Jack Wagner In Getting Over Jack Wagner, Eliza is writing a book
about dating rock stars. Aiming for a field guide, if you will, she figures she
can put all the experience she’s had, from high school drum rebels to marching
band campers, from college band players to local rock stars, to good use
advising other women as to the natural habitats and datability of the edgy and
moody rock star. Ever since she first heard 80s soap star Jack Wagner belting
out, “All I need…” it’s been the guiding star of her love life. That is,
until she breaks up with her latest rock star boyfriend, her sister announces
she’s pregnant, her best girl friend announces she’s engaged, and her best
guy friend announces that he’s madly in love with his girlfriend. Wondering if it’s time to reconsider her dating M.O.,
Eliza uncharacteristically agrees to a blind date with the grandson of the
receptionist at Dreams Come True, the travel agency where she works as a
copywriter. He turns out to be her complete opposite in every way, and Eliza
isn’t the least surprised when the date ends in a spectacular flame out. She
is surprised though, at her reaction to it. It just may be time for Eliza, the last remaining member of
the ORSFC (or Official Rock Star Fan Club, for those of you who don’t remember
your preteen crush days) to cut up her membership card, and swear off rock stars
forever. In her debut novel, Getting Over Jack Wagner, Elise
Juska captures perfectly the child of the 80s who’s all grown up. By the
manner in which she uses detailed flashbacks to Eliza’s preteen and teen years
to show the reader how and why Eliza is so attached to the fantasy of the ideal
romantic love, it’s clear Juska’s got the cardinal “show, don’t tell”
rule of fiction down pat. The only drawback to anchoring a novel so firmly in a
particular time period is that any reader younger or older than say 25-35 may
pass it up because she assumes she won’t relate to it. Juska gives Eliza terrific supporting characters. Each of
them, from Eliza’s mother and sister, to her two best friends, and all the
former boyfriends who show up along the way, is more than just a stereotype.
These characters feel like they’re based on real people, they have real
problems and personality quirks, and it all makes it that much easier for the
reader to get absorbed in Getting Over Jack Wagner (that, and all the 80s
flashbacks that will have fellow 80s children saying, “I remember that!”). With an ending that’s unconventional but satisfying (although it did feel a little like it came out of left field…), Juska adds a measure of self-awareness to the novel that’s really engaging to the reader, and answers the question of whether or not there really is life after Jack Wagner. Amy Brozio-Andrews is a freelance writer and book reviewer. She brings more than five years' experience as a readers' advisory librarian to her work, which is regularly published by Library Journal, The Imperfect Parent, and Absolute Write. Her reviews have also been published by The Absinthe Literary Review, ForeWord Magazine, January Magazine, and Melt Magazine. Amy is also the managing editor and an international markets columnist for Absolute Write. Visit her online at http://www.amyba.com. |
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