Sometimes I receive unsolicited review copies of books from publishers. A few weeks ago, I got one in the mail called Beginner’s Greek, by James Collins – I must be on Little, Brown’s mailing list. I glanced at it and thought it looked interesting, but then put it away and didn’t think about it until I saw a short review of it in yesterday’s New York Times. Here’s what it says:
James Collins’s chick lit-esque first novel takes its title from a James Merrill poem about those who fear to feel intensely (“What is/Beyond analysis/Is perilous”). Mr. Collins’s protagonist, Peter Russell, a good-looking young banker, feels but has trouble acting. When he meets Holly, the love of his life, on a plane trip from New York to Los Angeles, he gets — and loses — her number. And when she turns up, years later, as the girlfriend, then wife, of his less-than-faithful best friend, he doesn’t let on that his passion for her is as strong as ever. Many coincidences later he … well, you know what happens.
Here is an interview with the author at the Literature Chick blog, which calls it "a kind of Greek comedy with a bit of tragedy thrown in [that] showcases the talent of a honest, sardonic writer who delivers a truly rewarding, entertaining read."
This book may be a little lightweight, but it still sounds kind of good. I will add it to the pile.