The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’ve got this problem where I don’t read enough books by non-white non-mail authors. This, despite the fact that two of my all-time favorites are Percival Everett and Hillary Mantel. However, when it comes to (so-called) genre fiction, I don’t wander enough. But can you blame me? A friend loaned me The Spellman Files, and this is what it says on the back of the book: “She’s part Bridget Jones, part Columbo.” Another blurb gushes: “Isabel Spellman… the love child of Dirty Harry and Harriet the Spy.” Those quotes come from USA Today and People, by the way.
You see, that’s my complaint a(my lame-ass excuse if you’re being critical). A few blurbs clearly written to intrigue what the publishers feel are female readers. That’s an insult to women, if you ask me, but let’s move on. This is supposed to be a review. I’m here to tel you that The Spellman Files is nothing like Bridget Jones, Columbo, Dirty Harry, or Harriet the Spy. “Jason Bourne is part James Bond, part Good Will Hunting.” You see how ridiculous that sounds.
I read the book anyway. Thank goodness. A lot of fun, but pretty tense in places. I think it’s supposed to be considered funny, and while there are some characters that make you grin, for the most part it’s sort of dark. The Spellman Files takes the whole dysfunctional family trope and exploits it to the nth degree. But it doesn’t come across as cliché’d or trite. If anything, this is a coming-of-age novel for character who comes-of-age in her late 20s.
I say “novel” but it’s not really a novel. There’s a loose over-arching plot, but it’s stop-gapped with what amounts to short stories, which themselves are sometimes not plotted at all, but are just long character studies. The book’s title has “Files” in it afterall, which sets the right tone. Me, I like that sort of thing. I’d read more of that sort of thing if it became it’s own subgenre.
Altogether, this is a good read, and I’ll be reading the sequels, which I think is praise enough. As for non-white non-male “genre” authors, I’ve learned my lesson. Don’t read blurbs.