Jane Green’s wildly successful novel, Jemina J.: A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swan,s may delight or bore you. Heading out to the beach? Nursing a broken heart? If you are in the mood for mindless, predictable “chick lit”, this book might be just what the doctor ordered, a cliché you would be likely to also read in this Cinderella/Bridget Jones Goes to America/Snow White tale.
Jane Green has mastered the breezy, humorous writing style this type of novel mandates. If you want a predictable, fast, plain-Jane-girl-with-a-big-heart-gets-the-great-guy story, this one will not disappoint. It’s a little like going to a strange city and choosing to eat at a chain knowing you can order the chicken Caesar salad from the menu with the assurance that it will be identical to the one you would be served in Boston, Kansas City or Phoenix. The publisher attempts to tease the reader with the promise of a bumpy road to love and a surprise ending “no reader will see coming”, but this book wisely does not promise to be anything other than a romp to the altar. The author doesn’t take the story with its conventional conclusion too seriously and neither should her readers.
Green uses so many allusions to happily every after fairy tales, trying to identify them all would leave a girl’s head spinning. A few pages into this soppy saga, we have met Cinderella, the poor girl who quietly does her job while hoping someday her prince who just happens to work in the same office will notice her. Archetypal stepmother characters appear with clockwork regularity. Jemina’s roommates function as comical, conniving step-sisters trying to attract the prince, the prince is seduced by a sexually predatory, evil step mom who just happens to be his new boss, and Jemina’s interim love interest turns out to be a toad. And on it goes…
A good romantic comedy dictates that although there may be plot complications, the reader never seriously doubts that there will be a happy ending. A tongue in check, Greek chorus style third person commentary is inserted regularly between Jemina’s first person, Bridget Jones-style narration to be sure that the reader never loses sight of the theme that true love and goodness will prevail. We cheer for Jemina as she transforms herself from a waddling, overweight Ugly Duckling to J.J., the willowy, graceful, desirable swan. We feel momentary angst when Jemina faces temporary setbacks in her quest for Mr. Right, but since this novel never deviates from the tried and true formula, we never despair. In the end, they will live happily ever after.
While this cheery tale certainly does not qualify as great literature, it has its place. Wordsmiths will not find poetic lines that beg to be read again, the plot will not amaze or surprise, and the characters are predictably one-dimensional. However, timing is everything. Women who want to vicariously enjoy the fleeting and delicious sensation of falling in lust or love will feel a mild flutter of recognition as Jemina finally gets her guy. For most of the sisterhood of females who chronically struggle with weight management, the novel will be like a phone chat with a supportive, loyal girlfriend. Unlike the protagonist in this predictable tale, this novel is going to remain a bit of an ugly duckling, although a charming, pleasing one. Never fear, a quick skim allows the reader to reach a conclusion that lacks the grace and beauty of a swan but gets the job done. For true satisfying “chick lit” that is the gold standard and does allow Jane Green to spin straw into gold and achieve “international bestseller” status.
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