#3 Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

[rcloenen-ruiz.livejournal.com]

I decided to purchase this book on the basis of it being touted on a list for Filipino-American authors. The author, Marisa de los Santos was born in The Philippines and moved to the US when she was ten years old. I don't normally read chicklit, but people were quite excited about this book being picked up for filming and by it being promoted by Sarah Jessica Parker. That was enough to rouse my curiousity. Also, SJP wanted to play the lead lady, so I was wondering if the lead lady was Filipino or white. Turns out she's white.

Short summary: In the first chapter we meet Cornelia Brown, a college graduate who's studied medieval texts and all that stuff. Cornelia works as a waitress in Cafe Dora, and her real passion is the silver screen. Her conversation is peppered with references to films and filmstars of a bygone age (Audrey Hepburn and such. Anyway, our author waxes poetic about sunshine and light and flowers when in walks Cary Grant. No, not the Cary Grant, but the leading man who looks exactly like Cary Grant. (at this point I was wondering why I'd bought the book).

Anyway, it turns out that the leading man is the estranged father of a little girl named Clare. Clare's mom suffers from depression. Where Cornelia's story is utterly cliche and boring, Clare's story is moving and heartbreaking. That for me is what redeemed this book from being a total waste. I was very much moved by Clare's struggle to maintain a normal life while her true home life is falling apart. I guess it's typical of chicklit books that the reader wants to scream at the lead lady that her leading man is total crap. At least, that's how I felt. Anyway, Cornelia doesn't end up with the leading man, she ends up with her best friend and she does forge a strong bond with Clare and Clare's mom.

Overall, I was rather disappointed. I had hoped to see more people of color in this book, but the only reference to Marisa de los Santos's Filipino roots seemed like a token nod. The guy Cornelia ends up with is half Filipino. There's mention of some Filipino dishes, but nothing really satisfyingly Filipino. I suppose I understand how authors have to cater to their audience, but this was pretty frustrating and I wound up having mixed feelings. Proud that this was written by a Filipino, but disappointed because I had hoped it would involve more than the token stuff about Filipinos.

Then again, I'm not very fond of chicklit. So, that's my bias speaking.