WOMEN IN HATS

Author: Judy Sheehan ISBN: 9780345480088 5/2008 FICTION Publisher: BALLANTINE

A successful theater director in New York, Leigh Majors has worked hard to become more than just "the daughter of the famous Bridie Hart." But Leigh's orderly world is turned upside down when she receives a very special birthday gift form her husband: a Broadway-ready play entitled Women in Hats... and her overbearing mother demands to play the starring role. Bridie ruled the red carpet during the golden age of Hollywood, but off-camera, she loved the highball (and her own way) a little too much. Now, as Bridie tries to reinsert herself into Leigh's life, the estranged pair must work together amid the crazy cast of characters to create what could be Broadway's next major hit, even as they unearth painful memories from their troubled past. But before the curtain rises, Leigh will discover that the biggest drama of all just may be her own life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

There are times when coming from a well-known family can be a good thing. Other times, when its effects are almost disastrous. WOMEN IN HATS shows both sides of this coin. It is a story about women making their own way in the world in spite of their family connections.

Leigh comes from a family whose fame and tragedy have, in a way, put their mark on her. Still, she struggles to find herself, become her own person, and pretty much succeeds in doing just that. She becomes a decent director, and her husband gives her a birthday gift that will, hopefully, make her star shine even brighter. Michael gives her a play, in a three-ring binder, that he's written called Women in Hats. I wondered if the play was meant to showcase Michael's talent or Leigh's, but that really turned out not to matter much. Of course, Leigh's actress mother demands to play the lead and that's where things begin to get even dicier.

I say dicier because this book begins with a tense, heartbreaking prologue. Lilly, Leigh's sister, is the victim of a horrific traffic accident and the book opens with this point. Scenes from the funeral, where Leigh silently curses her mother, set the tone for the rest of the story. Leigh continues focusing on her mother's shortfalls until nearly the end of the book.

While I wondered whether or not these two would find even ground or kill each other, the story is entertaining, in a train-wreck sort of way. It was like watching a slow-motion collision. I knew there was going to be sparks and fire, but I had no idea what would follow. The ending is satisfying but honestly, I was emotionally drained by the time it came.

Still, the storytelling is excellent in that the dialogue is realistic, the plot dramatic and well-told, and the writing is crisp and clear. Although the subject matter is oftentimes uncomfortable, it isn't dealt with in a casual manner. All of Bridie and Leigh's dirty laundry is washed and hung to dry for all to see; they make no attempt to hide any of it. And even though Leigh does certain things (like have an affair) that I personally felt were counter-productive, I could see why Leigh would do them. Watching her scream at her mother was tough, but again, I was so emotionally invested in the story it seemed necessary.

A happy ending to this? Of sorts, yes. Each party learns and grows and finds a better place for themselves. But is it one of those funny, joyful stories? No, it's not. The bottom line, though, is that WOMEN IN HATS is good, solid storytelling. It makes the reader care about the characters and what happens to them. I will look for more by Judy Sheehan because, quite frankly, I loved this story.

Kay James