I *love* chick lit. It's my favorite genre. It's what I chase most on the site (hey, check out my bookshelf hee hee)!

But I just have to grumble about something. And honestly, it's not just chick lit. You might come across it everywhere. It just so happens that I'm reading "Cyber Cinderella" now, a chick lit book (very good so far except what I'll be yapping about).

Anyway, in it, the main character doesn't know what a web site is, is unable to check her email, says things like "I see colors on the computer and I can go somewhere on it?" etc. Her boyfriend just said, "The internet will never replace the newspaper." Both of them are written as college-educated and working, she in PR, he in journalism.

OK? Whenever this happens, I check the date of the book. Maybe it was published in the 90s or before. Maybe it's SUPPOSED to take place then. Nope, not in this case. Published in 2004. It just takes me completely out of the book. She's 35, right around my age. We GREW UP basically on the computer, or if not, have spent at least half our lives on it. Are we supposed to believe that the character is like "Oh my god! I'm going to, wait, oh my god, I can push this button and woweee! I can write on the screen and SEND IT TO YOU?"

I don't buy it. (But obviously, I AM buying it, judging from the bookshelves in my home.) Let me stop ranting here though, and just wish everyone, happy reading,

Heather

Maybe it takes place in the early 90's?

I read a book recently and the woman is pregnant at the end. In a book written shortly after the unborn child is 25.  I had to think back and it occurred to me that there was no mention of cell phones, internet or anything in the book to give it a specific time frame.  So I figure it had to have taken place in the early 80's but was published around 2000, I think. At the time I was reading it, I just assumed it was taking place in 2000.

Nope, it takes place in common day. (2004 or so.) It's just infuriating to me. But I am picky!

Hey Heather. Another chic lit lover here. Just wanted to say, I love the pic of your kitty. I have a photo almost identical of my mother's cat.

Thank you. It's one of my favorite ones of her. Sometimes, when I am at work and missing her, it's ALMOST like she is right there, looking up at me.

I hate that too, Heather. I also hate when people don't have cell phones, or when they do and they answer it and don't know who it is....because what cell phone doesn't come with caller id nowadays??? It makes me think it's these authors that dont have internet and cell phones, and even if they don't, hello, it's called research!!

I think that would bother me quite a lot too. I'm a double PR/Journalism major and I work in print journalism. We're watching the Internet slowly eat at the advertising etc ... of the print media. I can't tell you how many people have been laid off in the last couple of years. But I don't think it will ever completely replace print either but it's certainly going to give it a run for it's money. I see all the changes we've made to stay a float (and watched our Web site grow  ... and can atest to that fact.

And someone who works in PR not knowing what a computer is is completely ludicrous. Most of our work (presentations, research, communication, Web sites etc ... ) is all done via a computer.

I love chick lit too but that is one book I would have put down because the author plainly did not do her research to know that it is physically impossible in this day and age for anyone in professional PR  to not know how to use a computer rather extensively.

That's my .02! :)

Oh, I had to add: The cell phone thing is almost understandable but even that's getting to be a tough card to play. All reporters have them, photographers too ... anyone out in the field in PR. But believe it or not we have a couple of editors that do not use cell phones regularly.  They're older (like me!! lol). But  some older people who did not grow up with cell phones are just not intune to them. Until my mom passed away she kept hers locked in the truck of her car - the only she knew how to do was dial 911 or AAA. lol  She was a professional career woman too.  It's a generational thing - also a socio-economic thing.

I run across that in novels from time to time too.  It bugs me because I think any decent writer can plot in a dead phone battery, downed power line or disabling computer virus if they need to get the parties incommunicado. 

As far as not knowing the technology - isn't the first rule of writing to write what you know?  How can you realistically write about a contemporary PR professional and a journalist without familiarizing yourself with some essential tools of thier trade?  I think it's part of keeping your skills updated as an author.

Hi everyone,

I emailed Heather but she never replied.  Any suggestions for chick lit books dealing with online relationships/romances??  Thanks!!

I liked Love at First Site by Jane Moore...also Jemima J by Jane Green. Happy reading!

Jemima J by Jane Green is fabulous! Also, The Boy Next Door and Boy Meets Girl (both by Meg Cabot) are written entirely in emails, IMs and memos. They are both really cute!

Maybe you clicked another Heather? There are a few of us around here. I never got your email, sorry. :-) Anyway, I agree, I liked "Love @ First Site" (check my bookshelf).