Jane Taylor is pregnant. Or at least she thinks she is. A couple of days late, she can't help but share the great news- with her best friend David, with random strangers, and with her unable-to-commit boyfriend, Trevor. Suddenly obsessed with pregnancy, Jane gets a glimpse into how the other half lives. Men hold open doors for pregnant women, they have a certain glow, and she can't wait to be a visible part of that community. When Jane finds out a couple of weeks later that she is most certainly not pregnant, she is unable to give up the illusion. Despite the fact that her flat stomach remains flat, she continues with the charade at the office and at home, desperate to be pregnant even though she really isn't.I picked this one up a couple of weeks ago at one of my favourite bookstores. Light and fun chick lit never fails to amuse me, and I've been reading a quite a bit of it lately while we get ready for the Christmas season. I love books that entertain me, and maybe even make me laugh. Jane Taylor is a fun protagonist. She reminded me a little of Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series. Jane gets herself into this impossible situation by lying to almost everyone around her, and once she discovers how hard it is to keep up the illusion of being pregnant, she's in too deep to simply tell the truth. I was curious as to how Lauren Baratz-Logsted would have this one play out. How would Jane maintain the illusion of her pregnancy? When would the truth come out? At the beginning I couldn't see how the plot would work out in a way that wasn't too far-fetched, but I was pleasantly surprised with what she came up with.There was also a rather fun romance thrown into the mix of this as well. I really liked Tolkien, the love interest, but to be honest I wish that there would have been a few more scenes between the two of them as the romance developed. I felt a little blindsided by it all- one moment the two are just meeting for the first time, and the next moment they are in love. It was enjoyable nonetheless, but I would have liked the developments to be a little more gradual.Overall, this was a fun read, great for when you're looking for something to read that isn't too heavy, but isn't dumbed down either. There's a sequel to The Thin Pink Line called Crossing the Line and I'm having a little trouble tracking one down from my independent bookstore. Does anyone have a copy of it that they would like to trade?
I read this book as part of a reading challenge. This book was in the category of 'a book with a color in the title'.Well, the fact that this book took forever to finish is an indication of what I thought about it. It wasn't that it was horrible, I did finish it, but I just wasn't interested. The story itself was too far fetched, and made me feel a bit stupid. Am I supposed to believe that the main character, who's name actually escapes me right now, is as smart and she is, but is stupid enough to believe that faking a pregnancy is going to work out in her favor? And don't get me started on the neatly-bundled ending. Over all, I just didn't care much for this book, but I'm glad I finally finished my reading challenge.
What do You think about The Thin Pink Line (2004)?
The opening line promised a great, snarky, cynical chick lit, full if laughter and wit... But then, well, it was like being caught in a tornado with random bits of humor, senselessness, infuriating characters, unsubstantiated plot lines, and treachery. Since I am no Dorothy, I did not even come out well in the end. After all of the main characters delusions and lies, she comes across a convenient package on the doorstep, and that fool ex boyfriend of hers is so taken he will probably go along with it... Not that I would read a sequel to save my life. Oh come on! I've read some cheesy novels in my day, but what a waste. There was no redemption for these characters.
—Lindsay
Jane Taylor is single, 29, working as an editor for Churchill & Stewart publishers in the UK. She and Trevor have been living together for some time and enjoying great sex. When her regular cycle is a couple of weeks late, she's convinced she's pregnant and is so thrilled she picks up a pregnancy test. When it shows she isn't pregnant, she buys another one and draws a thin pink line on the test window with a magic marker. After telling everyone she is pregnant, she finds she truly isn't. So, she decides to carry on with her farce. When Trevor leaves her for her lying, Jane now becomes the pregnant girl dumped by her boyfriend. "Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice to Deceive" - Sir Walter ScottThis book follows through her entire "pregnancy" along with all of the physical problems that pregnant women have but which she only lies about. A lot of her antics are hysterical but, for me, the whole farce became boring rather quickly.The ending was a bit of a surprise because the reader certainly wants to know what's going to happen at the end of the nine months. However, even that was a bit contrived and abrupt.If you're looking for a light read with lots of humor, then by all means read this novel. There are lots of characters who keep the story going well. Just don't expect too much from it.
—Connie Fischer
I'm sorry, but I can't even give this book one star. Jane Taylor is a self-centered, whiny bitch. Not to mention delusional and sick. And the book doesn't even really address this. She is an almost-thirty, single woman who wants to be pregnant. Does she go about it in the conventional way? No. She fakes it. Amazing to think that a thirty-year-old woman would do this and think that it's okay. Not only was this the worst book I have ever read, but I actually got it on my Kindle, and there were tons of typos, and the book was assembled out of order in spots. All of a sudden, there would be a paragraph that had nothing to do with what was going on. Then back to the (quasi) story. I don't know whether I should contact the publisher or Kindle, but have decided I will only mention it on this forum, because I don't feel like spending any more time on this ridiculous book.
—Janet Pawelek
