Book Review: Sunday at Tiffany's

This is the story of Jane. A little girl growing up in a predominately adult world. She is the only daughter of a successful Broadway producer, who has been married three times and is working on husband number four. Her mind is on the business twenty -four hours a day, so she doesn't find a lot of time for Jane. She comes across as a hard core, my way is the right way, type of boss and mother.

Vivienne, Jane's mother, does find time on Sundays to take Jane to Astor Court at the St. Regis Hotel for dessert. She also takes along business partners or potential clients. Jane is then left to find her own amusement while the adults talk business. The one time a week that Vivienne finds time to spend with Jane is when they leave the Astor Court and just the two of them spend time together shopping at Tiffany's, thus the name of the book, Sunday at Tiffany's.

It is on one of these trips to Astor Court that we are introduced to Michael, Jane's imaginary friend. When we think of an eight year old child having an imaginary friend we usually think of another child about the same age. Jane's imaginary friend is a 35 year old man. Michael helps Jane learn to cope with the loneliness of growing up with parents who find very little time for her in their busy world.

The next time we see Jane and Michael it is Jane's ninth birthday. Though this should be a happy time for a child, Jane is, once again, disappointed by her parents. Michael finds Jane crying in her room because nothing has gone as she had hoped for on her birthday. She always hopes for a little piece of her parents' time but it never seems to happen. This is what Michael has been there to help her through. Now the very one who has help her through all the neglect and heartache is telling her that it is time for him to leave her. It's the rule, he says, but she mustn't worry because tomorrow she won't even remember him. None of his charges ever do. But as Michael fades away, Jane knows that she is different and that she will never forget him.

Part II of the book takes us to 23 years later, when Jane is an adult. We see Jane making the best of her life, but still not happy, as she remains unmarried and working with her mother. The only time we see a little spark of life come into Jane is when she is talking about the upcoming movie she is going to produce based on a play named "Thank Heaven" that she helped produce, under the watchful eye of her mother. It is a play about a little girl and her imaginary friend. Sound familiar? Even after 23 years, Jane has never forgotten Michael.

Finally, we learn that Michael is back in New York. As he waits on his next assignment, he spends time getting reaquainted with the city. One day he see a woman that looks familiar and he follows her to her apartment building. Once there, he hears the doorman speak her name and he realizes why she looks familiar...it's his Jane!

The story continues with Jane and Michael finding each other again, the time they spend together and then a little unexpected twist. I could go on and on with what happens but then you wouldn't need to read the book and it is definitely a book worth reading.

For those of you, who are James Patterson fans you might be surprised by his more sensitive side. Instead of the usual torture and murder you have come to expect from a Patterson novel, he leads you into a world of unforgetable love. A love so strong that it survives time and distance. It is nice to see that James Patterson can write a softer, less violent story line. This goes a long way in demonstrating his great versatility.

Without a doubt, this is written with the female reader in mind. If this were a movie it would definitely be what we call a "chick flick." I can't see many men rushing to read this novel, but maybe they should.. It might help them get in touch with their more sensitive side.

This particular book is in paperback format with 336 pages. It was published by Grand Central Publishing in January, 2009. James Patterson wrote this book in collaboration with Gabrielle Charbonnet.