My mother reviews 'The Stepsister Scheme.'

[seanan_mcguire]

I went holiday shopping with my mother yesterday. Always an entertaining experience, since she's essentially tireless, shameless, and the only person I know willing to go through the entire bottom-of-the-barrel clearance section at Rasputin's with me. As we were driving to the mall, the following exchange took place. (I started transcribing as we talked, and I take good shorthand, so this really is close to verbatim.)

Mom: "I finished that book you gave me. I really liked it."
Me: "You mean The Stepsister Scheme?"
Mom: "Yeah."
Me: "Good! Did you bring it back?"
Mom: "No, I forgot. I just can't believe a guy wrote it. Is he a little light in the loafers maybe?"

(We pause while I giggle hysterically. Then:)

Me: "No, Jim's married. He has kids."
Mom: "Oh. Well, it was really good. He describes things really well."
Me: "Well, I'll tell him."
Mom: "You tell him your mother gives it a thumbs up. Now he just has to write another one."
Me: "He has. It's called The Mermaid's Madness. It'll probably be out next year."
Mom: "Good! Because I want to know--"

(There is a longer pause while my mother gives opinions on the book that would count as spoilers if they were posted here. Also, because I spent half of her diatribe laughing too hard to write.)

Me: "I'll let him know."
Mom: "I couldn't put it down. It's one of those books you can't put down. I got home at three in the morning and I was reading the damn thing. I was like you in your bed with the flashlight when you were a kid."
Me: "That's awesome."
Mom: "I really liked how he handled--"

(Another long pause while Mom goes on about the book. Also, more laughter.)

Mom: "So I figure people will like it."
Me: "Good."
Mom: "On second thought, maybe you shouldn't tell him I read his book if it's not out yet."
Me: "That's what ARCs are for. They help build word of mouth, and that sells more copies."
Mom: "Oh. Well, I'll tell everybody they should buy it."

There you have it. The Stepsister Scheme: it kept my crazy mother up all night. (Also, she would pause for the rest of the day, say 'Cinderwench,' and just start giggling.)

Comments

[bkwrrm-tx.livejournal.com]

This sounds like my mom and me when we would geek out over books. I miss that, but I can't *wait* for this book.

Cinderwench? Could become a new catch phrase. *g*

[antonstrout.livejournal.com]

And you just know this is going to go to Jim's head... after all this time I've spent trying to crush his fragile ego...sigh

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

OK, I already wanted to read it, but now I really want to read it. Also, I want to read more book reviews by your mom :D

[mariadkins.livejournal.com]

I like your mom! :)

[brainstormfront.livejournal.com]

After a review like that, I had to come from jim's blog and say hello and add you to my Friends list. I'm not here as often as I used to be, as I'm blogging at my own website. Still, your (and your mom's) review are priceless.

Steven
www.steveneschend.com

[opheliastorn.livejournal.com]

Over from Jim's blog - no chance we could get a spoiler-ful version of the review, I suppose?