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Tantrums and Tiaras
Linda Francis LeeThis is a cool book full of moneyed families, social confines, balls and would-be-socialites trying to be modern debutantes. Lee has produced a great read. It’s an eye-opener for those outside the US social sphere and the world of balls, family honour and old-money. American old-world values clash with the modern-day, loud, cool, would-be-but don’t-want-to-conform girls. This book is a delightful hum-dinger of a read that kept those pages turning and the bedside lamp firmly on. Ms Carlisle Wainright Cushing had escaped her multi-divorced mom and first-love Jack Blair to a serene newly-invented life as a going-somewhere, engaged Boston lawyer. Until, called home by her mother, in the throes of yet another divorce and a letter from her deceased grandmother bind her to her home town of willow creek for longer than she wanted. Or than she though she wanted. Pressured into taking the divorce case and hosting her home towns 100th annual debutante ball, that as yet has no debutantes, Cushing throws herself into it all with gusto. In doing so, she relives her own coming-out, giving-in, begins to understand her mother, loses her fiancé and resumes an affair. It’s loud, yet real, catty yet not far off the mark and Cushing, well she turns the reader into a cheerleader for her alone and makes you want to hug her on every page. Lee creates such huge characters and social dynamics that you know she’s been there herself. A great and fulfilling journey that I couldn’t-wait-to-get-to-the-end but at the same time didn’t-want-to book.
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