San Diego’s two-year drought serves as a metaphor for the life of the main character, Andy Dunne. Author Shawn Klomparens is a master at dialogue. He is able to delve into suppressed feelings and expectations through the exchanges between the characters that populate Andy’s world. An underlying theme of betrayal and loss is also woven throughout the fast-paced story.
There are many types of love, friendship and respect that Andy demonstrates in his interactions with his sister Leigh Anne, niece Hannah, best friend Rich and most of all with Hillary Hsing, his two-year (married) infatuation. The story takes place in the context of satellite radio weathercasts and a children’s TV show complete with a magic flying carpet.
The book is nearly the male counterpart of Easy on the Eyes, the story of a TV news magazine host who is urged to undergo plastic surgery to keep her career alive. Redundancy and the economy rather than aging beauty provide the impetus that launches our hero on his quest to become New Andy, as Hillary calls him, or finally Real Andy, as he describes himself.
This book is ideal as a vacation read with equal parts of humor and soul-searching.
Delta, $15.00, 370 pages
Reprinted courtesy of Sacramento Book Review.
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