|
It's enough to scare anyone, but chatty Lizzie Nichols is speechless. Clad in her beloved vintage togs, she heads to London to spend a month with her boyfriend, Andrew. Unfortunately, she only actually met Andrew one dark, smoky night when her dorm caught fire and he rescued her. So she can't quite remember what he looks like. She's stunned when the airport stalker in the awful red leather jacket (with epaulets!) and the strange haircut turns out to be her intended. Oops --- maybe she shouldn't have tried to turn him in to airport security.
That's just the first of her shocking revelations and open-mouth-insert-retro-kitten-heeled-pump incidents. Lizzie soon discovers that Andrew lives with his parents and younger brothers (not in his own flat as he'd suggested during their correspondence). Oh, and they don't actually have a room for her, but a bed rigged over the laundry facilities and dog dishes. It also turns out that Andrew described Lizzie to his family as a "fatty." Grr. Lizzie hears this last bit of information from Andrew's brother since Andrew is gone 12 hours at his job, which, oh yes, is actually waiting tables instead of teaching young children, as Lizzie had thought.
Lizzie's mood improves when Andrew comes home from his shift, and hormones come into giddy play. Unfortunately, the rigged bed is not ideal for amour. Chemistry and invention save the day, as Lizzie gives Andrew a "present" --- the first she has given any lover.
The good times last…until the next morning when Lizzie blurts out in front of a government official that Andrew does SO have a job, just as he is renewing his unemployment status. Major oops. Can Andrew, Lizzie's knight in shining armor (or red leather with epaulets), actually be cheating the government by receiving a paycheck while being on the dole? Well, yes. And then Andrew's financial revelations reach a dreadful new low, which spurs Lizzie to drastic action.
Soon she is alone in Europe --- and heartbroken. Most of all, she wants that love gift she bestowed on Andy returned. But back to her predicament: Lizzie refuses to call her parents and let her sisters gloat over her terrible mistake. So where will she turn? What will she do? Wherever and whatever, you can bet it will be hilarious and fascinating. Lizzie definitely can leave her own sassy mark, even in a world of fabulous old vineyard estates, family intrigues, manipulative fiancées, damaged Givenchy evening gowns, and impossible love interests.
Lizzie's story is interspersed with snippets of her unintentionally hilarious master thesis on the history of fashion (did you know the Crusades were all about style?) and quotations on one of Lizzie's own talents, the gift of gab. QUEEN OF BABBLE is a charming, rollicking read, written in Meg Cabot's signature ebullient and side-splitting style. Lizzie's eager participation in some incredibly hot love scenes not withstanding, she shines as an endearing innocent abroad. There's plenty of froth to the tale, but there is no lack of substantial plot and luscious description. I absolutely loved this madcap adventure, which is the equivalent of taking the most enjoyable literary vacation ever. Highest recommendation.
--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
 Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.
© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
