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While the plot is not new --- man divorces wife for younger model, ex-wife seeks revenge --- it's just the beginning of THE BULGARI CONNECTION. In her new novel, Fay Weldon, a pro at female revenge, delves into the intricacies of insecure women and men and the complicated webs they weave in this short, comical novel.
Despite a few trite passages and an overcrowded playing field, THE BULGARI CONNECTION showcases Weldon's razor-sharp wit and her clean, engaging writing style. Those who enjoyed her wicked tale of marriage gone awry in THE LIFE AND LOVES OF A SHE-DEVIL are in for another treat. This 190-page novel provides readers with a welcome respite from heavier topics at hand and offers an entertaining account of a woman once scorned and well recovered.
Grace Salt, a middle aged divorcee fresh from prison, is the focal point of the story, though she shares the limelight graciously with ex-husband Barley, his new love Doris, son Carmichael, and a promising painter who discovers her fountain of youth. True to form, Weldon dishes up great society circle dirt and --- in the end --- she serves each character his or her well-deserved dessert. It is at heart a simple story about good versus evil, which is a comfort in an everyday world where frustrations over trivial --- as well as significant --- injustices mount.
Playing on the ever popular human fears of betrayal and personal failure, Weldon pushes every button imaginable. Among the highlights is a mother's estranged relationship with her son, the realization that a true love is none other than a philandering husband, and the age-old question of age reversal. When all is said and done, THE BULGARI CONNECTION offers readers a unique and satirical look at high society, marriage, professional ambition, and the ultimate question of karma.
--- Reviewed by Heather Grimshaw, freelance writer and editor for Many Mountains Moving, a literary journal of diverse contemporary voices.
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