Coming Out

As attorney, Olympia Crawford-Rubinstein juggles motherhood, her husband, her ex-husband and a challenging job, her life begins to unravel. It all revolves around an invitation to a ball, not any old ball this is prestigious, a high society ball with debutantes. Chauncey the ex-hubby and new wife Felicia who are never slow to put in their opinions to stir everyone up insist his daughters go. Chauncey is a polo playing lay about who hates work; this confuses his children making Olympia’s mothering a lot harder.

Harry Rubinstein is against the idea, he’s a liberal who challenges the idea on racial terms and social injustice. Add twins, poles apart in ideals, an elder brother with problems of his own and the youngest Max, who doesn’t want his sisters to go out and find husbands. On the peripheral is Frieda, Harry’s mother, a holocaust survivor and the best mother-in-law ever.

High society stories with the rich and famous, is what Ms. Steel does best. Teen angst, growing up and a small boy’s confusion over the family dilemma made it a worthwhile story. The plot centers on the invitation to the ball, and the differences in how and where holidays are spent. The idea of sticking up for social injustices, when the family tours Europe and takes a skiing holiday at Aspen, during the period of the story. The resolution was interesting, but left this reader wondering if the characters learnt anything from the experience. The story winds around each character and their problems and how they deal with them. The social injustice ideals fall a little flat, when the diamonds drip and expensive gowns and shoes are bought from only the most exclusive stores.

COMING OUT is an interesting concept with more than one connotation, so enjoy.

August 2007