Maggie Darling by James Howard Kunstler (2004)

This "modern romance" was given to me by my friend Sniedze - just for the fun of it. Maggie Darling (yes, that is her last name) is a Martha Stewart type, whose world starts falling apart, but whenever she needs to calm herself, she starts making lists. She has a perfect house, impeccable parties, glorious garden - it's just her relationships with people that leave a lot to be desired. It was kind of fun. I was totally bored by the details about food - none of it sounded tasty to me. She drank a lot, mostly expensive rare wines and scotch - one way to deal with problems. I never liked Martha Stewart until she went to jail - then she became more human and likable. I never really got to like Maggie Darling, but I did like the man she finally ends up with. I also liked some of the settings - the over the top 747 that used to belong to an Arab sheik, the film set in Vienna - where there is so much waiting around, that people get bored. I didn't mind her fling with the rock & movie star, and liked it when she knew when to call it quits. The calamities were definitely contrived - husband, son, best friend, etc. but it was basically a fun read. The interesting thing about the author Kunstler, is that he writes for the New York Times Sunday Magazine and op-ed page, and has written much more serious books.