Customer Reviews

Ask Again Later: A Novel

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Jill A. Davis somehow manages to write hysterically funny stories about the oddest people in a manner so smart and lucid that the reader is left chuckling with every page - while at the same time falling in love with the zany heroine of her latest book, Emily Rhode ('or Road' or 'Rowed' or even 'Rode', depending on the state of mind and at times acerbic patter of this marvelously created character). This is a book that sparkles with witty prose, high and low humor, and surprisingly a sensitive degree of philosophy about the current condition of life we are all living. The balance between funny and touching keeps the scales even, making the reader laugh at situations that in themselves are not at all funny - unless you have the perspective of Emily 'whatever'.

Emily is a trained lawyer whose career is put on hold with the sudden hyper-dramatic news of her mother Joanie's lump. No, cancer isn't funny, but Joanie is such a wildly entertaining character that when Emily moves in to care for her, all goes slightly bizarre. We meet the father Jim who left the family when Emily was very young and for whom she has no concern, the spendthrift airhead sister Marjorie who treats the world like a shopping party, Rick the boyfriend of Emily to whom she cannot commit, Perry her gay therapeutic friend, and Paul her therapist whose sessions contain some of the most hilarious (and most insightful) moments in the book. Divided into very short, titled 'chapters', Davis ably lets us get close to Emily by exploring her foibles and her perception of the world and her family by means of what could be stand-up comedy routines - until the sadness peaks through. Marriage, therapy, death, fatal illnesses, fidelity, menial jobs for overeducated people, failed relationships - all are grist for Davis' keen mind and wit.

An example of Davis' writing: 'As she's lying there waiting for surgery, I imagine a cancerous Pac-Man - or Lady Pac-Man - running through her body eating up her healthy tissues, her life, expanding its mass and taking over. Devouring the flesh that nurtured me, or longed to. I want to scream. And I'm mad that I'm of a generation that can best relate to parent's cancer to a video game.' And that is only a short tidbit of the superb writing by Jill A. Davis. This is a smart book, exceedingly well written, and one of the most entertaining reads of the year! Now in paperback... Grady Harp, January 08

While I am not a fan of Chick-Lit, I can confess to enjoying the occasional girls'-night-out-novel. Jill Davis is a young, savvy writer who has the pulse of the American young woman. This is not fluff (I'm thinking Shopaholics, for example, pure candy) but neither is this E. Annie Proulx. Davis' work is about real life, real situations with an overlay of humor that is a welcome seasoning.

Her prose hits all kinds of marks--my favorite passage happens to be a tart summary of how all soap operas are constructed ("The two-faced nurse", "the former stripper turned nurse" and my personal favorite "the hot but altruistic doctor who spends his vacations fixing the cleft palates of orphans in South America.") This got my attention. The scenes are tightly written--no excess of words and the descriptions make you feel as if you are right there with the characters.

The plot revolves around Emily, who goes to support her mother when she is diagosed with breast cancer. Emily has to cure monsters of her own back under the bed of her childhood bedroom. For anyone who wonders what "closure" actually means and also wonders if you can go home again, Davis creates an interesting novel around this situation. It reads like a clever television series, and is not a heavy book despite the subject matter. It's full of life and humor, sure to be a favorite with women's book groups.

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed. I wanted so badly to like Ask Again Later because I seem to remember liking Girls Poker Night so much when I read it a few years ago. Apparently it was not to be.

I read a lot, and even though I sometimes read on a rush hour bus, I'd like to think I'm not incapable of keeping track of a book's plot and sequence of events. But I found the book to be very disjointed, as I believe another reviewer mentioned. I was not sure in the beginning whether it was taking place in present day or in looking back, especially in terms of her father and where she was working. I figured it out soon enough, but why should that have been so difficult. The transitions just seemed to be lacking, especially from the start, which I guess put me in the wrong mindset to enjoy the rest of the book.

The characters - I didn't love them. Didn't really like them very much in fact. I can understand lack of commitment and wanting to escape, surely -- (I read and love Anne Tyler's books, after all) -- but Emily didn't really do anything to make me like her, in spite of her faults. And honestly, aside from a few, funny oddities and quirks about her "new" place of employment, I wasn't really laughing.

I will admit, though, that my opinion of the book greatly changed during the final third of the book. I think Davis found her voice, as Emily began to find herself. Transitions were clearer. The plot flowed more easily. In fact, if the first two parts of the book were any more like the third, I think I would have enjoyed this book quite a lot. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

I picked up Ask Again Later without reading reviews on it because I had liked Davis' previous book and that was good enough for me. This book wasn't horrible. There was nothing particularly bad; there just wasn't anything that made me stand up and say "wow" either. Regardless, I probably will pick up her next novel when she writes one in the future and give it a try.

Emily is the friend we all have or the person we are deep down inside. What I loved and admired most about Emily is that she was brave and strong enough to put her life on hold to come to terms with her family situation. Although her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and her dad was absent from her life since she was five years old, Emily was able to approach them with wit, humor and an open heart. Even though Emily was not outwardly emotional, and tried to make light of the situation with humor, you could feel her pain. I laughed and cried at the same time. Jill Davis is a genius!

When our bookclub member picked this book, I was disappointed. It's clearly chic-lite, and that's not the stuff our book club is made of. While I'm still not sure if this is prime book club material (I shall see after our next meeting!) I do know that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I had expected to. The author is witty and smart and her reflections on life warranted little stickies throughout the book so that I could return to them later. While the story line is simple and predictable, the main character has surprising depth and, given her multitudinous problems, she is not at all a drag to "get to know." I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a fun, fast read!

I could not put this book down. Jill writes in a fashion that is accessible, and the story has moments that every reader could easily call their own. This is a story that you'll be eager to finish. I was sad to see it end. It's complex, funny and at times sad - all at once. You SHOULD BUY THIS BOOK!

The book is an excellent and witty account of the life in New York and its idiosyncrasies. It draws the reader quickly into the thoughts and concerns of the protagonist. The prose is elegant and effortless. Another excellent book by Jill D. You must read it.

Ask Again Later's author Jill Davis defines smart & sassy chick lit. A breezy read with sharp wit. Definitely recommend this book. Perfect for the train commuter who likes to start their day off with a good laugh.

I just finished ASK AGAIN LATER and it is a must read. It's a story about love, family and relationships. You will immediately be drawn into Emily's life with her wacky parents (we all have them!). It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. The characters are interesting and the writing is excellent. Jill Davis is a talented writer.

DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

This is now one of my favorite novels. It follows the journey of a young woman who is constantly running away from problems and circumstances that cannot be outrun. The writing is clever and heartfelt at the same time. Coping with loss is a major theme in this book. Despite the heavy nature of the subject matter, the book is a very entertaining and quick read. If you're looking for an enjoyable book with some substance, this is the book for you.