Customer Reviews

Crossing Washington Square (Nal Accent Novels)

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Once I started reading Joanne Rendell's new novel, Crossing Washington Square, I had a hard time putting it down. This gripping book tells the story of two strong women, both of them faculty in the English Literature Department of Manhattan U. The story takes the protagonists--polar opposites in personality, style and in their academic orientations--through unexpected twists and turns from New York to London and back. Over time, the two archenemies find that they have more in common than they first realized.

This is intelligent chick lit, an engaging story beautifully told with multiple layers that touch some of the major issues relevant to the experience of women: relationships between friends, family, colleagues and lovers. So I was delighted to have the opportunity to interview Joanne Rendell, who also wrote The Professors' Wives Club:

How do your novels draw upon your own life experiences as a professor's wife living on the campus of NYU?

Both my books are set at Manhattan U., a university that resembles very closely NYU where my husband is a professor and where we live in faculty housing. Characters and storylines, although sometimes loosely based on things I've heard and seen, are largely fictional. I draw inspiration from other books, movies, philosophical ideas, and cultural concepts more than I do from real events and people.

With Crossing Washington Square one of my main inspirations was other novels about university life. I've always enjoyed these kinds of books (think Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys or Richard Russo's The Straight Man). But what I noticed about such "campus fiction" was the lack of female professors in leading roles. Furthermore, most of the male professors in campus novels are disillusioned drunks who quite often sleep with their students, or at least consider sleeping with their students or are accused of it. I wanted to write a novel with women professors at the forefront and I wanted these women to be strong, smart, and interesting - instead of drunk, despondent, and preoccupied with questionable romantic liaisons.

In what ways are you like Professor Diana Monroe, one of the lead characters in Crossing Washington Square?

Out of the two characters, Diana is the more established and esteemed professor. She's also very cool, calm, controlled, and aloof. She is the kind of uber-professor every academic wants to be with her grace, poise, and razor sharp mind. But she's also a little scary too. Although I'm pretty cool and calm and I was born in England, just like Diana was, I share little else with her.

In what ways are you like Professor Rachel Grey?

I'm a lot more like Rachel, although without the tempestuous side. As a grad student, I was always caught in a conundrum. By day I would be reading classical literature and poetry, but at night I loved to read women's popular fiction. Bridget Jones' Diary, I have to say, is one of my all time favorite books. Rachel is like this too. She loves women's fiction across the board - from Jane Austen and Edith Wharton to contemporary popular authors like Jennifer Weiner or Emily Giffin. She's a passionate woman who's especially passionate about the books she likes.

Did you set out to tell the tale of a friendship between two women or did it evolve more organically?

Initially, I thought I would have just one protagonist. But as I started mulling over plot ideas, I happened to reread Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. I always loved Austen's portrayal of the two very different Dashwood sisters - Elinor led by her sense and Marianne led by her irrepressible sensibilities - and how Austen explores their strengths and weaknesses, how they clash but also how they learn from each other. I enjoyed putting these two kinds of women in a modern context and asking whether they could ever overcome their differences and become friends.

How much competition is there between women who study, teach or live on
college campuses?

There are competitive women in all walks of life. But there is a particular kind of competitiveness within academe. Even though there are many more female professors than there used to be, it is still a tough world for women. Most people in academia go up for tenure (in other words, attempt to secure their job at the university) in their thirties and that's usually a very busy time for women. The demands of pregnancy, motherhood, or being married to a husband who must move for his work put additional pressures on female academics. If women want to get tenure and get to the top of the ivory tower, they need to be tough - and yes, probably a little competitive too.

With a doctorate in English literature, are you comfortable with your novels being cast in the genre of "chick lit"?

I'm more than happy for my book to be called "chick lit" - or "commercial women's fiction" as it is now called in the publishing industry. In many circles, chick lit is synonymous with trashy, badly written, neon-pink books about women searching for Mr. Right and shopping for Jimmy Choos. There are a few books out there that hold to this stereotype, but not many. A lot of the books which have been given the chick lit moniker are much more nuanced, self-consciously ironic, and interesting than detractors allow. They are also novels which deal with real women's lives, real issues, and they also have a very big audience. I find it sad, yet predictable, that a group of books which are by women, for women, and about women have become demeaned in such a way. In fact, this is a central topic within Crossing Washington Square. Professor Rachel Grey is not scared to stand up for chick lit and popular writing for women. She not only enjoys these books but she also sees that they are important objects of study. If we want to know about our world, as many academics claim to do, it is important to study the forms of culture that matter to the people in that world.

What is the most exciting thing about seeing your book in a bookstore?

Knowing that is finally done and "out there" and that people are hopefully going to buy it and enjoy it...and maybe feel passionately about it, just like my characters feel passionately about books.

How do you balance the roles of author, mother and wife? Any tricks?

When I'm not writing, I'm homeschooling my six-year-old son, Benny. It makes for a busy life which has to be scheduled pretty tightly. "Homeschool" is somewhat a misnomer, though, as we spend a relatively small amount of time schooling at "home." We live in New York so are lucky enough to have an amazing array of fun and educational places on our doorstep. Benny and I, together with his friends, are always out on trips to the Met, the Natural History Museum, aquariums, zoos, galleries, libraries, and parks. We've combined relevant story and picture books, with many trips to museums. Benny has learnt a lot, but it's amazing how much I've learned too. I feel my mind - and my writing - expanding because of these studies.

Do you read novels characterized as chick-lit or romance? Do you ever feel like you have to defend them as a "guilty indulgence"? Or perhaps you look down your reading spectacles at those who choose to indulge in that kind of "trash"?

If you can answer yes to any of those questions, you would probably enjoy Crossing Washington Square.

The author Joanne Rendell sets her novel within the English lit department of fictional Manhattan U. Rachel Grey gained a few minutes of fame on Oprah discussing her book about women's bookclubs and the validity of popular fiction within the canon of women's literature. That attention got her recruited to the prestigious Manhattan U. faculty, but now she wonders if that decision was a bad one. Although she doesn't miss running into her ex (from whom she was escaping when she moved cross-country to take the job), she doesn't feel as if she's connecting with the students, and especially not with the old-guard mostly-male faculty.

I have to admit that I tend to classify books such as these as "lighter reads" and therefore put them in a sort of lesser class in my mind. But this novel has it all -- the tension between Rachel and frosty senior professor Diana; a romance with a dreamy visiting professor, and yes -- issues that make me think, both about my life and culture in general. Isn't that one purpose of literature?

Add to that fact that I truly enjoyed reading it, as the close of each chapter begged me not to stop but to read "just one more" and this is definitely a book I can recommend. I enjoyed this author's earlier work The Professor's Wives Club as well.

There are discussion questions included, as well as an interview with the author, and I think that this would be a great book to discuss with a bookclub to examine the role of women and even our reading choices.

I couldn't make myself finish this book, but I gave it a fair chance, laboring through more than a hundred pages. I tried it because of its jacket copy mentioning Sylvia Plath and academia, but there's really precious little of either here. This is pure unadulterated chick lit, and not much more. It's Betty (Rachel) and Veronica (Diana) with Ph.D.'s, competing for the attention of an old-money Harvard-educated playboy-prof Reggie (Carson). Archie's probably in there somewhere too, maybe in the university computer geek, Mikey. The plot is just so high school Harlequin, however, that I couldn't stick with it.

Here's a sample of its chickie purple prose, from a passage where Diana has tried unsucessfully to end her friends with benefits relationship with Mikey -

"Diana looked into Mikey's face and scanned his dark eyes, which were somehow both lost and puppylike yet also reassuring and fearless, and couldn't bring herself to say the words. Each time, her desire took over. Her body yearned to be close to his, and inside she ached to have his soft voice near her ear and his lilting laugh in her bed."

And Diana is the one presented as the aloof sort, an "ice princess." Rachel's inner thoughts and roiling emotions are even purpler and blechh-ier than the above.

I don't think I'm a complete snob about popular women's fiction, because I have enjoyed numerous books by LaVyrle Spencer, Elizabeth Berg and others of their ilk in years past. But maybe I'm past that phase of my reading life. In any case, CROSSING WASHINGTON SQUARE is the stuff of Lifetime TV movies, and I'm sure plenty of women would/do love this book. As for me, despite its supposed trappings of academia and books, I just couldn't handle it. It's just too damn, well, high school all over again. - Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir BOOKLOVER

Joanne Rendell, author of The Professors' Wives Club takes readers back to the fictional university of Manhattan U in her second novel Crossing Washington Square. This is not a sequel but a stand alone novel that follows two strong, independent and highly different professors, Rachel and Diana. Diana is highly respected, serious, and gives off an air of superiority but poise and grace to those around her. Her main scholarly interest is in Sylvia Path's writings and she has a comfort and ease with students. Rachel is young, passionate, emotional and less experienced as a professor. Her scholarly interests are in contemporary women's fiction and how they relate to classics such as how Jane Austen's books relates to Bridget Jones Diary and The Devil Wears Prada. The two women have differing viewpoints as to the relevance and importance of popular women's fiction compared to literary fiction. I found this theme of contention between Rachel and Diana's views of literature relevant today as there are differing viewpoints among many readers as to the value of "chick lit" vs. "women's fiction" vs. "literary fiction" and "classics". Ms. Rendell's writing challenges the reader to analyze these differences and points out that there is much more substance and relevance to the lighter chick lit or women's fiction novels than what appears in a title or a cover.


As a reader, we get a glimpse into academic life among the departmental politics and relationships between professors as peers and between professors and their students. We get to see two strong female academic professors grow and develop and challenge their own core beliefs about literature and how to present their differing views in an academic setting with respect. There's also a little spice added to the story as Diana and Rachel are both attracted to the same man who appears quite handsome and alluring to them both. This adds some fun twists to the storyline.


Crossing Washington Square was an enjoyable novel to read that truly exemplifies women's fiction. It has strong characters, a story that challenges you to think about popular vs. literary fiction in a way that is fun and entertaining. I found these discussions some of the most enjoyable parts of the book as they made me think about differing viewpoints about literature and preconceived notions about genres. As readers, we can miss out on a vast amount of worthwhile books if we write off a whole genre (such as chick lit) without judging it for ourselves and being open minded.


Crossing Washington Square would be a fabulous choice for a book club as it would facilitate great discussions about popular vs. literary fiction, academics, women's dynamics and relationships in the work environment, college students, life as a professor etc. There is a list of discussion questions at the back of the book as well as a conversation with the author.

Joanne Rendell struck gold with her first novel The Professors' Wives Club, and she returns to the familiar territory of fictional university Manhattan U (likely based on New York University) in her second novel Crossing Washington Square. In it, Rendell proves that her first novel was not just a fluke; Crossing Washington Square is a charming novel that you won't want to put down.

The most appealing part of Crossing Washington Square was the discussion of literature versus popular fiction within its pages. More and more these days, "serious" critics slam genres such as women's fiction and chick lit, dismissing them as fluff and therefore having no value. Using Rachel as a conduit, Rendell shows that these lighter genres can still have valuable information for readers; they shouldn't be looked over simply because of the images on their covers. She has very specific discussions in this novel which are great to read and really prove her point. Just because a book is light doesn't mean it doesn't have substance.

The academic setting within Crossing Washington Square works very well within this novel. It was interesting to see the departmental politics; Rendell describes the feelings of professors very well. She makes Rachel's frustrations with her students palpable.

Both Rachel and Diana are extremely well-written characters. While readers won't necessarily be able to identify with both because they are so different, they will sympathize with them. Rendell really makes both of these women come alive within the pages of Crossing Washington Square. Additionally, it is very satisfying to watch each of them influence each other and grow as people. It's really nice to see Rachel finding strength within herself and Diana begin to open up to people as the book progresses.

Crossing Washington Square was a thoroughly enjoyable novel that was a delight to read. The discussion of popular fiction versus literature alone makes the book worth reading, but the fact that it's a wonderful women's fiction novel is icing on the cake. This is a book that's not to be missed!

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

STORY BRIEF:
The main characters are literature professors. Rachel is 31. Her specialty is contemporary fiction including romance novels and chick lit. She has just been hired to teach at (fictional) Manhattan University. She is frustrated with apathetic students and lack of friendship and respect from her peers (other professors). Rachel broke up with her boyfriend before coming to New York. She is energetic, passionate, and shows her feelings.

Diana is 41. Her husband Graham left her five years ago for a younger woman. She has been seeing Mikey who is a computer technician at the university. Mikey adores her. Diana is embarrassed to have a relationship with him. She is a tenured professor specializing in the poet Sylvia Plath. She looks down her nose at romance novels calling them "soft porn for desperate housewives, poorly written, littered with adverbs, and recycled trite stories about heroines swooning over devilishly handsome men." From the beginning she dislikes Rachel who reminds her of the woman who stole her husband. Diana criticizes Rachel in front of others. Diana is rigid and respected by her peers. She is also loved by her students.

Carson is a visiting professor from Harvard, spending one term at Manhattan University. He is extremely handsome and independently wealthy. He is a big flirt - with both Diana and Rachel. Rachel would love to have a relationship with him. He and Diana were friends years ago when they were students together.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I'm a lover of romance novels, so my opinion comes from that angle. This was a good story. The characters were well done. I enjoyed the debates and discussions about romance novels vs. classic literature. I liked Rachel's definition of chick lit as "popular women's fiction...fiction by women, about women, and for women." The best part was seeing how the conflicts and dislike between the two women changed. I liked the happy endings for both Diana and Rachel. There were a few books mentioned by the characters that I plan to read. The author writes well which makes sense since she has a PhD in English literature. Whether you like the plot or not, she brings the characters to life and tells the story in an engaging way.

At the end of the book is a four-page "Conversation With Joanne Rendell" - very worthwhile. She talks more about the debate between the study of the classics and "high" literature vs. popular fiction. She talks about other things as well.

REVIEWER'S OPINION ABOUT ADVERBS:
The character Diana criticized romance novels as being "littered with adverbs." A few times I've heard other fiction authors talk about cutting adverbs from their writing which mystifies me. I didn't notice many adverbs in this book, so I'm guessing the author made an effort to avoid them or to remove them. By cutting adverbs she ends up with something that feels more cerebral and less emotionally engaging. Three top selling authors come to mind who use adverbs "a lot." The number one selling fiction author "in the world" is JK Rowling. John Grisham is a top selling author for legal/crime suspense. Georgette Heyer is a top selling romance author. Following are some examples from their novels that show how engaging and descriptive adverbs can be.

From Rowling's first Harry Potter book: whispering excitedly, eyed them angrily, acting oddly today, fell asleep quickly, appeared so suddenly and silently.

From Grishams "The Client:" the passenger door suddenly flew open, slowly looked at Ricky, he exhaled calmly, Mark carefully picked a cigarette from his shirt pocket, Mark suddenly remembered.

From Heyer's "Venetia:" she added shyly smiling, clasping her hands loosely in her lap, fanned herself idly, he surveyed his youthful foe sardonically, an oddly disquieting smile in his eyes, he was still smiling but not pleasantly.

I don't know who is telling authors to cut adverbs, but I wish they would stop. The public obviously loves adverbs because that's what they buy. I wonder what this author would be like if she used more adverbs the way these other authors do.

OTHER BOOKS:
To date this author has written three books. My ratings are:
4 stars. The Professors' Wives' Club. Copyright 2008
4 stars. Crossing Washington Square. Copyright 2009
(to read soon) Out of the Shadows. Copyright: 2010

DATA:
Story length: 308 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: maybe two or three, but they are referred to not shown. Setting: current day New York City, NY, London and a small town in England. Copyright: 2009. Genre: women's relationship fiction, chick lit.

I thoroughly enjoyed Joanne Rendell's first book, The Professors Wives Club, and I loved this one just as much, or perhaps even a little more. The tension between the two main characters, Diana and Rachel, drives this book and kept me glued to the page. Jealousy, betrayal, bitchiness, romance, and a dash of literary theory - all delivered in a fun and clever package. Highly recommended.

Joanne Rendell has done it again. I devoured this book on recent plane trip and loved every moment of it. As an NYU alum, I loved all the Washington Sq references. But even more than that, I love how Rendell manages to craft story that both educates and entertains at the same time. The theme of opposing views of women's literature which runs throughout the novel is fascinating. True to its theme, CROSSING WASHINGTON SQUARE proves that sometimes women's literature - and in this case, it's author - are powerhouse forces to be reckoned with.

CROSSING WASHINGTON SQUARE is an interesting book about work and friend relationships. The characters are developed in a way that makes the reader feel their thoughts and emotions and travel with them through the time depicted in the book.
It gives an insight into the higher academic world; helps to better understand that professors and people "just like us".
In addition, the reader is taken to interesting places in New York and London.

I have eagerly been waiting for Rendell's second novel. I loved her first book and was not disappointed by CROSSING WASHINGTON SQUARE. The plot moved easily and quickly as the author developed the characters. The politics of life,especially among college educators, is harsh to say the least. The author portrayed this perfectly. I love the way the author always teaches me something or motivates me to do some research. I loved the book and look forward to the next one.