Do ALL of the bullying cliques she uses as vehicular plot conveyences for her stories HAVE to be redeemed? Does adolescent behavior among groups of 30 year old women have to be a mainstay in so many of her stories? Don’t some of us that age get to evolve into tolerant acceptance of difference and be portrayed in the actions of some characters. More directly, I hate, loathe, abhor Wynette, Texas, and its cadre of wealthy, spoiled, hateful, self-obsessed, whining, jealous, know-nothing, spiteful, malicious social leaders who are written simply as classic small town eccentrics. What is worse is that Wynette(I’ll bet we can guess whose nasal cavity that name came from) takes a cunning swipe at the small town Texas woman, as a cartoon costumed in left overs from the “Steel Magnolias” set with a head on her shoulders that has no use except to hold her over teased bouffant–except for one or two “bad girls” whose stunning faces and bodies allow them sway over all else–the coldcocked men in particular.

I WANT to be charmed by all this in the name of “quirkiness”. I swear I do. I generally like the work ethic and grit of the main characters as well as their willingness to be honest about their personal issues– such as they are. Most are intellectually and physically elite and perhaps honesty about issues is easier with those two givens onboard. Yeah, I know some of the heroines are clumsy, but in suuuuch a cuuuute way.

I also know this is “romance”, chick lit, literary carbs. Still, a little moral fiber among the masses might add a little fibre to the diet. Even spoiled, snotty kids don’t usually get off scott free, so why the free pass to cliques of bullies? Only puppies and kittens should get chuckled at when they rip up the drapes and soil the rugs. When an entire town tries to pimp a person just because they see it as the greater good, don’t let this reader down without giving them something to gig self-awareness–if nothing more than just a good “French Taunting.”

i love Susan`s books!!!!!!