THE JOURNAL OF MORTIFYING MOMENTS

Author: Robyn Harding ISBN: 0345476271 11/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: BALLANTINE

Kerry Spence is unfulfilled by her soulless career in advertising, disappointed by her dysfunctional relationship, and horrified by the ever-increasing size of her ass. Ever since her gorgeous, self-absorbed boyfriend Sam demoted her to late night hook-up status, she has fortified herself with prime-time TV and blissful binges on cream cheese frosting, awaiting an epiphany that will reveal her next move. Of course, everybody in her life is full of advice. Her free-spirited divorcee mother–when not necking furiously with her much younger boyfriend– sagely counsels her daughter to do whatever it takes to snag Sam back, since, quite frankly, he is the best she can do. Her friends ply her with fruity cocktails and dispense bits of ‘Cosmo’ wisdom like “Divide your age in half and add seven–that’s the youngest man you are allowed to date” and “Scotch tape can eliminate forehead wrinkles.” And then there is Kerry’s shrink, the calm, unflappable therapist who suggests she start “a diary of past encounters with men that may be contributing to her negative and dysfunctional quasi-relationship.” Or, as Kerry sees it, a journal of mortifying moments. Beginning with a kissing game gone bad in grade school, the journal jump-starts Kerry’s stroll down memory lane of man troubles. But just as Kerry decides her poorly dressed therapist is as crazy as everybody else in her orbit, she begins to realize the journal may actually make some sense–as she plumbs the depths of her most embarrassing experiences on a quest for personal awareness that will give her the strength to turn her life around–and just maybe find love again.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I knew I was going to like Robyn Harding's THE JOURNAL OF MORTIFYING MOMENTS right from page one. That's when I burst out laughing. I pretty much kept laughing throughout the book.

Thirty-one-year-old Kerry Spence is at a point in her life where she needs to make changes. She really hates her job (the descriptions of her co-workers are hilarious). She hates the way her mom is constantly making out with her younger boyfriend in front of her all the time. She needs to figure out why her love life is the way it is. Her therapist suggests that she start a diary about the times in her life, whether good or bad, that may give some insight as to why she's still holding on to some hope that there is a future with her on again/off again boyfriend Sam.

Kerry calls it her journal of mortifying moments. Mortifying they are, but they are really, really funny.

THE JOURNAL OF MORTIFYING MOMENTS was a really fun, light-hearted book to read. I loved Kerry; she's like an old friend from high school that you love to get a cup of coffee with and just chat. Robyn Harding has a great sense of humor and it shines in this book. Between Kerry's journal entries and her experiences in her life, she can poke fun at what normally would be to devastating to anyone else.

Don't get me wrong, though. THE JOURNAL OF MORTIFYING MOMENTS is also about a woman trying to find her way in life. She acknowledges the fact that her job is going nowhere, she wants to be appreciated more by her family, and she really wants to be in a relationship where she's loved and respected. Kerry knows that the relationship she's in now is dying. Taking the step to go to a therapist was the best decision she could make. In the end, though, she's the one who has to take the initiative and change.

If you are in the mood for a good laugh and a good book to read, I would recommend Robyn Harding's THE JOURNAL OF MORTIFYING MOMENTS.

Julie Kornhausl