Piece of Work
by Laura Zigman
Published by Grand Central Publishing
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Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart
One of the best things about reviewing books (right behind getting free books and getting free books by my favorite authors) is that I am introduced to authors and works that I may not have ever picked up in the bookstore if I was left to my own devices.
Such is the case with Piece of Work by Laura Zigman. The cover art would have generated a pass-over in addition to one of the selling points is that it is ‘hilarious.’ I don’t have a sense of humor and haven gotten ‘hilarious’ since James Herriott. All that aside, Laura Zigman’s new novel Piece of Work is a well-written novel that makes for easy and light reading.
Julia Einstein left the high-stress world of celebrity PR in Manhattan after a three-month maternity leave resulted in her falling irrevocably in love with her son, Leo. It’s three years later and while the Einsteins have moved to the ‘burbs, Julia still isn’t a fabulous housekeeper or cook. She is a devoted mother who adores her son and answers his every demand.
Then her organizational-expert husband gets fired. It’s never clear why, but Peter is the only casualty in the corporate re-organization. As the months roll by and Peter has little interest in finding a new job, Julia realizes she must go back to work. Forget the fact that she can no longer fit into those size 6 tailored suits she has in the back closet, she’s been out of the loop for too long so she winds up at the John Glom Public Relations, a firm for celebrity has-beens.
Julia is given the assignment, “The Return of a Legend,” where she is to promote a new fragrance, Legend, and then create the comeback of a long-forgotten movie star, Mary Ford. It sounds easy until Julia learns that none of the top-tier department stores will carry the fragrance; the manufacturer cut corners on the production, and Legend truly stinks; her boss has leaked bad press (like telling PETA that the manufacturer uses animals for testing), and everyone is trying to get as far as possible from the mere association of Legend and Mary Ford. Then there is Mary, a total witch who has a little larceny in her, like not returning clothes on loan for a photo shoot.
Julia manages to learn the art of home, family, and kids. It’s helpful that Peter has become the best stay-at-home dad ever. Piece of Work did elicit a chuckle or two from me, an old PR hound. I’m looking forward to reading more from Laura Zigman.
Armchair Interviews says: Always nice to be surprised with a new author’s work.