Helen of Pasadena - Softcover

Dolan, Lian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0984410228 ISBN 13: 9780984410224

Publisher: Prospect Park Books, 2010

Synopsis

Helen Fairchild is leading a privileged Pasadena existence: married to a pillar of the community; raising a water polo-playing son destined for the most select high school; volunteering her time on the most fashionable committees. It only bothers Helen a tiny bit the she has never quite fit in with the proper Pasadena crowd, never finished that graduate degree in Classics, and never had that second baby. But the rigid rules of society in Pasadena appeal to Helen, the daughter of Oregon "fiber artists," even if she'll never be on the inside.

And then along comes a Rose Parade float, killing her philandering husband and leaving Helen broke, out of her "forever' house and scrambling to salvage her once-rarefied existence.

Enter Dr. Patrick O'Neill, noted archaeologist, excavator of Troy and wearer of nubby sweaters. A job as Dr. O'Neill's research assistant is the lifeline Helen needs to reinvent herself, both personally and professionally. Ancient mysteries to solve! Charity events to plan! School admissions advisors to charm! If Helen wasn't so distracted by her incredibly attractive boss, she might be able to pull off this new life.

Helen's world widens to include a Hollywood star, a local gossip columnist, an old college nemesis, a high-powered Neutron Mom, an unforgiving school headmistress , the best Armenian real state agent in the biz, and, of course, the intriguing Patrick O'Neill. While uncovering secrets about ancient Troy alongside her archaeologist boss, Helen discovers something much more: a new sense of self and a new love.

With it's keen social observations, laugh-out-loud scenes and whip-smart dialogue, Helen of Pasadena reads like a roman à clef and unfolds like a romantic comedy. Along the way, this novel delivers humor, insight and wisdom on reinventing yourself.

About this title

About the Author:

Lian Dolan is a writer, broadcaster, and the co-creator and host of Satellite Sisters, the award-winning, top-rated podcast talk show she produces with her four real sisters. She also created the popular podcast about modern motherhood, The Chaos Chronicles, which was developed by Nick at Nite for TV. She's the author of two best-selling novels, Helen of Pasadena and Elizabeth the First Wife, as well as the editor of the Satellite Sisters' book You're the Best: A Celebration of Friendship. A regular columnist for Pasadena Magazine, Lian has written for a variety of media, including television, radio, websites and print. A graduate of Pomona College, she lives in Pasadena, California with her family.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Now I knew: I'd get a full church at my funeral. What a relief. It was the kind of thing I lost sleep over at night, being a planner and all. How many times had I sat at funerals, counting the hundreds (or, more depressingly, dozens) of mourners in the pews and thought, (continued)

About this edition

• Publisher: Prospect Park Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0984410228
• ISBN 13: 9780984410224
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288