Shawn Klomparens’ debut novel Jessica Z strikes a perfect balance, shifting flawlessly between major plot developments and the cinematic quiet moments that fill the spaces in between. The reader is treated to a relatively unremarkable 28 year-old San Franciscan career girl who is instantly endearing in her normality. We either all are, were or know a Jessica; a young woman living and working in her own city, someone with close ties to her less-than-perfect family, who finds herself in a less-than-perfect non-relationship. As the novel moves through a satisfying progression in Jessica’s career, work relationships and personal relationships, not to mention a brush with terrorism, one finds that the novel is as much a collection of moments as it is about Jessica’s story. Unlike any author I have encountered before, Klomparens can turn a seemingly benign decision, such as who takes which double bed in a non-descript motel room, into a poignant reflection of the differences between two characters. Jessica’s reality is presented in technicolor and surround sound, with a heavier dose of satisfaction than an afternoon at one of this summer's blockbuster movies. In this stunning debut novel, Shawn Klomparens sets the bar high for his literary career, and I find myself hungry for his second novel, Two Years No Rain. Shawn Klomparens' debut novel, "Jessica Z.", is one of those novels you can't put down. The characters and conflicts are realistic. The male author does a great job writing from a female point of view and his portrayal of female relationships is accurate. The story centers around Jessica Zorich, a young advertising professional in San Francisco, and her struggles she faces as a twenty-something woman: a kind of relationship with her upstairs neighbor, Patrick; a job that provides her with a lot of free time to im and e-mail this upstairs neighbor and her best friend/sister who lives in Boston;her news addicted mother who is afraid that Jessica will die in one of the crazy terrorist attacks that keep popping up around the country; and her absentee father who phones from various RV rest stops across the United States.At a party at Patrick's, Jessica meets Josh Hadden, a lithographer on sabbatical from London for a year long professorship at a nearby university. He uses the ancient art of lithography to create photos of genitalia. Jessica finds herself at one of his demonstrations, then a part of his next major project, and as his girlfriend. Their relationship is strange and at times borders on dysfunctional and quasi abusive, but it could all just be a misunderstanding between two completely different people with drastically differing ways of looking at the world. During this time, Jessica's entire life changes. She no longer speaks with Patrick, her sister is going on a six month long excursion to various islands in the south Pacific to do geology research, her new best friend is the author of the the funniest advertising blog around and the girl vying for Patrick's attention at the beginning of the novel, and she quits her job to work as an advertising consultant with this new best friend. Throughout the course of the novel, you see Jessica transform and come to terms with herself, her place in her family, and who and what is important to her. She becomes a strong and confident woman in the process. The end is surprising because it turns out that nothing is as you (and Jessica) thought it would be. The unexpected surprise is refreshing in a sea of modern fiction that has become rather predictable and boring. As much as I enjoyed the book, there are two things I didn't quite understand:1. The backdrop of terror attacks. The author didn't really explain the political culture and current events in his version of the United States that would lead to the constant threat and detonation of car and bus bombs in major cities and airports across the country. 2. Why masturbating/bringing herself to orgasm is a sleeping aide for Jessica. All in all, though. This is a fun and quick read and it was a joy to read.
What do You think about Jessica Z. (2008)?
I really enjoyed this book. Klomparens did an incredible job writing from a woman's point of view.
—Bluv76
Great summer read -- fast paced, mystery and romance. What could be better?
—lalo
Easy read.. good story. Lots of reality checks.
—Gorgeous_ray
