Melancholy BabyRobert B. ParkerPublished 2004 |
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Reviewed and Researched by Lisa Shea
In Sunny's fourth outing, she's finally finding a walk and a talk that seems to strike a chord. Her ex husband has moved on and married another. She heads into therapy with ... yes, Susan Silverman of the Spenser series. She runs into various characters from Spenser as she gets involved in finding a young woman's real parents. Of course, things get more complicated as they go, Sunny's therapy draws out information about why she is the way she is, and in the end, things are less tangled than when they began. Perhaps not perfect - but better.
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Lisa Says:
I am finally starting to begin to like Sunny and her characterization. The first two books REALLY bothered me a lot - and the third book was better, but still not great. This was the first book that really made Sunny seem like a believable woman that you could be symathetic towards.
There are still some rough edges here that give me twinges. At this point I just have to accept that Sunny is a bit of a status-conscious, shallow woman who, even in her mid-30s, just doesn't get what's important in life. She says she doesn't know ANY woman who doesn't solely want marriage and children as a primary driving force. As if. When she meets Dr. Silverman in a long, drawn out siutation which was broadcast so clearly it was painful, the first thing she notices is "how good looking she was". I had to laugh out loud at that. Sunny says she is "uneasy about women who don't wear makeup". Ahhh, because those women are comfortable with how they look naturally? She picks on her sister for getting straight As and is proud that she got Bs and Cs without even trying. Where I come from, to say you didn't bother with school but scoff at those who did is rather basking in mediocrity. At least be proud that you did the best you could, rather than be proud you coasted into average. But like I said, at this point I have to just accept that the character of Sunny Randall is one I'm not overly fond of, because she at least now is living in a world, plot and characterization I can appreciate. I do admit that things are still a bit cardboardy. The girl she has to find the parents of is a jerk, but a realistic jerk. The mom is also a self-centered jerk. The girl's real mom? A jerk. But at least Spike is trying to be more reasonable to his patrons, rather than being overly abusive and laughing while he does it. There is 'movement' happening. Richie, as mentioned, has finally moved on and married another, even though he still loves Sunny. Her therapy is actually helping quite a bit, helping her realize what her issues are. She talks with her dad, and learns a great deal about her family situation. Her previous boyfriend, Brian, has been promoted and is getting married as well. Spike has gone from manager to actual owner of the restaurant and is showing some responsibility. Unlike previous books where everything was wildly falling apart and nothing felt "real", this book is more involved with people learning about themselves and growing - even if the direction people grow in is sometimes unexpected. Sunny is finally becoming more settled with her self, less jumpy about "calling on guys" (which I always found ironic since all she did was let guys solve her issues for her). Now she actually DOES try to take the lead on situations and have guys as 'compatriots' which is quite reasonable. As the previous book might have caused many of its readers to think about their own passive / submissive aspects, this book will probably make many readers to think about their childhood and relationships with their parents, to think about them in a different light. Which is a good thing, it's amazing how long some of those early stresses can last and affect you. Even the ending of the book was nice, contemplative. I suppose I still wish Sunny was less stuck up with body and image. With all of the trillions of messages being hammered into womens' brains about "you need to look good" and "you need to be pretty", to have a "smart savvy" PI like Sunny falling for it all hook, line and sinker is pretty sad. Maybe therapy can help her with that. |
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Traveling in Sunny's Footprints apartment on Atlantic Ave - can walk to Spike's Place Spike's Place - Marshall Street near Quincy Market Andover - old Musgrove buildling - Barbara Stein School Street off Main Street - Sarah Dr. Silverman's - large white 19th c with wrap-around prch on Linnaean Street in Cambridge Taft - Sarah Richie's new house - Marblehead, big house on rocks, view of the ocean Motel - Moline, IL Starbucks - Main Street in Andocver Middlesex Fells - Border Road 92nd Street - Brownstone for Ike Rosen 57th Penthouse by Carnegie Hall - lawyers 4 Seasons Restaurant - 52nd Street with Peter Peter's apt on 5th Ave coffee shop on Washington Street in Brighton the castle on Park Square - guy shot there - w/Frank Belson Life Form Lab on Albany Street St Regis Hotel in NY with Corsetti old theater near river on West Side with Lolly Moline - coctail lounge in Holiday Inn at airport West Village - 12th Street with July Harvey Delk naer Canal Street Viand coffee shop - Madison Ave Richie's Saloon - alley off School Street past old City Hall |
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Sunny's Menu and Drinks Irish Whiskey in apartment OJ and coffee in morning coffee w/milk and Splenda and roll at Spikes. Coffee - milk & 2 sugars at Taft apt - coffee, then wine Coffee and cinnamon bun white wine Martini - Grey Goose L'Orange Pretzel with yellow mustard tuna salad on whole wheet, coffee croissant with coffee i napartment iced tea coffee shop on Summer street - tuna salad, coffee coffee - oatmeal maple scones in apt Tuna salad sandwich and iced tea at Spikes coffee at apartment twice |
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