Jack Townsend attempts to rekindle his romance with Nina Lawrence, a relationship that turned sour en route to the altar, in a debut novel about modern love, the Church, opera, basketball, and landscaping. A first novel.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Readers after a wholesome, feel-good love story need look no further than this debut novel chronicling a couple's stormy yet meant-to-be relationship. In Washington, D.C., narrator Jack Townshend, a landscaper, and his fiancee, artist Nina Lawrence, break off their engagement just three months before the scheduled wedding. Jack is heartbroken, as is Nina's Italian Catholic family, some of whom meet with the young man on the sly to keep him informed of Nina's post-engagement progress. But Nina takes up with one of Jack's amateur-basketball teammates, and Jack, determined to get on with his life, also begins seeing someone else. Thus does Jack stew and Nina remain uncommunicative--until their momentous meeting (helped along by Nina's family) at an exhibition of Nina's paintings. Ackerman deftly indicates the undying spark of passion between his principals; the question all along is not if, but how and when, they'll patch things up. A somewhat misleading title notwithstanding, this irreverent modern romance blends equal parts soap opera and sitcom into a frothy read.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Ackerman's first novel is a witty modern romance, written from the male perspective. Landscape architect Jack Townsend and aspiring artist Nina Lawrence form the couple of the romance in question. The reader picks up the story soon after their breakup, ending a three-year, four-month, ten-day affair, including one failed attempt at a wedding. Jack's "family" is his dog, Dan. Nina's family is the complete opposite: a large Catholic clan, complete with a mother who regularly prays to St. Anne-the patron saint of unmarried women-in the hope of rejuvenating Jack and Nina's relationship. The ending is easily anticipated, but the pathways to it make a very entertaining story. Recommended for larger fiction collections.
Betsy Larson, Brennemann Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Betsy Larson, Brennemann Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Patron Saint of Unmarried Women (Hardcover)
This novel really surprised me. I was just browsing in the library one day, and the title and jacket description were intriguing, so I picked it up on a whim. I was amazed at how well-written it was, but that aspect of it is overshadowed by the wonderfully wry humor and very endearingly flawed characters, not to mention the many surprising insightful observations about everything from Catholicism, lawyers, therapy, Washington, opera, how to most successfully promote a landscaping business- all the sorts of things people often think, but put in Ackerman's very able hands, made laughing out loud funny. The most surprising part is the fact that this novel didn't receive more attention, and that Ackerman hasn't published anything else- but when he does, I'll be waiting in line to buy it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fresh, witty modern love story.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Patron Saint of Unmarried Women (Paperback)
This breezy, fresh novel explores a modern day love story with charm and style. It's witty and full of feeling, with a laugh-out-loud moment on every page. Great fun! Loved this book, and can't wait to see more from this writer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
HILARIOUS AND TOUCHING,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Patron Saint of Unmarried Women (Hardcover)
The emotions between Jack and Nina are so real I feel as if I have had their relationship myself. I have read this book three times and each time it is laugh out loud funny. The characters are truly characters, unique and hilarious. You feel Jack's angst and Nina's uncertainty and yet you can laugh at their heartache. A wonderful book!
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