Patience is the name of the woman the book is about, she starts her story off at boarding school, high school basically. She seems to be about the same age as me, what with talking about Duran Duran and other things she was into during those years. What really stood out to me and made me smile knowingly as I read this book, was how any interaction with any guy made her start thinking of him in her future. What would their life be like, would they get married? What would their married life be like? I did all that, and still occasionally do when I get crushes on people. She did this all throughout her life, up until a certain point, when she was about the age I am now. I feel that I'm kind of moving to the direction of just realizing nothing will probably happen from meeting guys, just to let things go where they may, but I know that I'm not quite there.
She did a lot of online dating, while she lived in New York City, and while I didn't read anything that she had the same issues I have with even getting started with it, I will let her experience guide me in how I do or do not choose to participate in that. I love that she has a job I would love to have, her final career, after teaching and being a secretary, was to work for Harlequin Romances, first reading the "slush" pile manuscripts, and then moving on and getting to have specific authors that she edited for each month or as they finished writing. I was a teacher, and finally this year moved on to be a high school librarian. Eventually I want to get back to the middle school level, but I'm almost positive this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I mean if there was any chance I could go work for a publisher like she does, I would be in heaven, but at my age, I think that's not a possibility. Especially with living in Missouri.
I don't feel like I'm doing justice to the book with this review. But there were so many things I just loved! In fact, there was one quote at the beginning of a section from a Sex and the City episode that I had just watched earlier on the day I read that bit!! Although she did get one thing wrong about the Sex and the City movie towards the end, it wasn't a peacock feather that Carrie wore to her wedding, it was a bird. That's even a funny line from the movie! This author sounds so much like me, and her love of authors, so much like me. I hope that maybe one day I can meet Patience Bloom, maybe I can even get my novel, (if I ever get it finished), into her slush pile at Harlequin. I wonder if she ever tried to publish the "Teacher's Pet" novel she wrote, and I wonder if this book was the NaNoWriMo novel that she talks about in the memoir.
I don't know what else to say, other than this was a memoir that probably many women my age can relate to. As a single 41 year old woman, it also gave me hope that maybe my Prince Charming is still out there. I can even think of one "popular" guy from my past that I would love to run into again. Believe me, I've done the googling and Facebook looking, but his name is such a common one that I have yet to find him. However I am now interested in looking once again. When I first read about the Sam guy at the dance who came over and kind of rescued Patience in high school, it reminded me of one guy I went to high school with. A great, sweet guy. One who passed away probably 10 years ago from cancer. It made me happy to read that there were probably many guys like that out there who could make a difference in other women's lives.
So now, must decide, while I've rejoined Match.com, unlike Patience, I haven't done anything other than the free site. Should I pay in order to actually have a chance to meet someone? This book leads me to think about it, even if it isn't what worked out in the end for Patience. And also, I may end up buying this book, as I'd love to add it to my memoir shelf, as a book that I just love, and want to recommend and share with others.
