An audio book. Amy tells us about her life with Jamie. She's 32 and even after going steady for 2 years all she has is Jamie's key. She's into social media and her friends have kids. Amy doesn't conjecture in the abstract. Instead she imagines discussions with friends.
Jamie blindfolds her. They are driven somewhere - to a surprise engagement party? She finds herself on a reality show with 5 other women, all of whom have been dumped as well. What began as Chicklit takes on a darker aspect now. Satire? Analysis of social stereotypes? Each contestant is summarised in a word by their ex-spouses. Amy is "desperate". The others are "boring", "selfish", "easy", "bitter", and "distant".
The women consider exhibiting feminist solidarity when they see the #TheShelf Tweets on the big screen in the common room, but the million pound first prize complicates matters. There are life-coaching sessions and therapy sessions which some of them laugh off, though there are more serious under-currents. The sessions might be useful to them. And the make-up sessions make them feel good about themselves.
After a week Flick arrives - a childless doctor who's chosen to become a housewife. She says she's happy (she hasn't been dumped) though she's caught crying.
Dates with other's ex's are arranged. People often evict themselves before the vote comes in.
In a 2 hour window of internet access, Amy starts a blog - an ambition of hers. It's about early warning signs in relationships. It takes off. She has a meeting with Flick's partner, Simon, and discovers that Flick is in her 40s - 10 years older than she said or looks. Amy becomes the person that the rest of them turn to. She feels she's benefiting from the stay.
She wins, and uses some of her money to futher the ambitions of the other competitors. She (and many others) has learnt that being single isn't a sign of failure.
There are some funny one-liners. I thought that, unknown to the women, there was going to be a parallel show with jilted men.
No comments:
Post a Comment