Miss Understanding

MISS UNDERSTANDING is the second book by Stephanie Lessing, and while this book is a little bit "darker" than the first, SHE'S GOT ISSUES, it certainly was just as fun. MISS UNDERSTANDING picks up where SHE'S GOT ISSUES left off, but the focus is no longer on Chloe the "shoe editor", but is now on Chloe's older sister, Zoe. Zoe is the anti-Chloe. While Chloe didn’t seem to have much in the brain compartment (but was prone to say the most profound things once in a while) and was obsessed with shoes and fashion, Zoe is pro-feminist, hates fashion and is very very smart. Unfortunately, she is so wrapped up with fixing the world as she'd like it to be that she doesn't realize how she alienates others and has done so nearly all her life. Because of that, she's a loner, marching to her own drummer.

Chloe's husband Dan had hired Zoe to be the editor at ISSUES magazine, a woman's fashion magazine that Dan's decided can use some changes. In the opening chapter, Zoe has just taken her billionth pregnancy test (her worst nightmare is to become pregnant) and Chloe has come over to Zoe's apartment to find something for Zoe to wear to work. Zoe's wardrobe doesn't consist of any thing appropriate to wear at a fashion magazine. As Chloe tries to put together something decent (readers will laugh out loud at what Zoe finally ends up wearing to work that first day, with some awfully embarrassing results!), Zoe is trying to make a list of possible editorial titles for upcoming magazines ("Why Your Girl Boss Hates You Way More Than You Hate Any of Those Other People!", and "Why Some Girls Eat Their Makeup!", are just two examples).

Chloe takes second billing in this novel, as she requests a sabbatical from work and makes appearances via phone calls and faxes, and thus Zoe is on her own, trying to get a handle on her new position. It seems like everyone is against her, but she does find some co-workers that come to support her cause, including Alex, the advertising director. In fact, Alex reacts in such a favorable way to a letter that Zoe has composed for the first editorial, that the two bond. Dan also tries to support Zoe, as he watches the readership of ISSUES slowly erode away. There also seems to be some sabotage going on, with some of the employees trying to ruin Zoe's work and hoping she gets fired.

Readers will love MISS UNDERSTANDING for its smart and witty writing, and the standout characters that drive this book to its conclusion. The author paints a vivid picture of what it’s like to work for a high-end fashion magazine, throwing at the readers all sorts of characters that are not necessarily stereotypical. Zoe is totally clueless when it comes to making friends, dressing for success, or just being plain normal (she is so obsessive compulsive it will boggle the mind), but there is one thing that the reader will pick up on. She has a heart. The once ostracized girl on the playground, Zoe's mission in life is to help those girls like her who suffered at the hands of the majority, being laughed at for dressing a certain way and not trying to fit in.

A key character, while not always front and center, is Alex, who finds that she may be the little girl that Zoe was writing about in her editorial. Alex adds a more sentimental tone to the book as a whole, and also helps display this side of Zoe, the girl that wants to save the world.

Humor is helped along with Ruth, Chloe’s ex-boss who seems totally out of sorts throughout the book. Then there are Sloane and Blaire, two catty women who are definitely out to get Zoe fired. There are a slew of other minor characters that are as important to the book as Zoe and Chloe are, just too many to name!

While this reviewer laughed throughout the novel, it was the last page that will bring a sniffle or tear, a conclusion that was fitting for Zoe's story. MISS UNDERSTANDING is highly recommended and readers will look forward to book number three from Stephanie Lessing!

November 2006