September 12, 2005
Can a novel consisting entirely of e-mails be enjoyable faith fiction? Efken's charming, light debut offers a resounding and surprising "yes." Several stay-at-home moms (the "SAHM" of the title) from across the country become friends and confidantes through an e-mail chat group. Rosalyn Ebberly is the self-righteous moderator (her prov31woman@ home.com e-mail address is a tip-off) who, although exaggerated, will be recognizable to anyone who has ever regularly attended church. Some mothers rebel against her judgmental and self-glorifying e-mails by starting a subversive alternative e-mail loop, humorously dubbed "Green Eggs and Ham." The problems they chat about are familiar: the unfortunately named Dulcie Huckleberry is frustrated by her husband's long absences on business; Zelia Muzuwa is an artist whose creative home-schooling isn't going over well with her more structured husband; Phyllis Lorimer is a pastor's wife dealing with a demanding congregation. The flow between e-mails is surprisingly smooth, and the characters well developed through their correspondence. Efken keeps the mood light, although she's not afraid to tackle serious topics such as infertility, marital difficulties and chronic illness. Christian readers will savor this fresh entrée and likely want to start e-mail loops of their own.
November 1, 2005
Mom lit meets the Internet in this story of stay-at-home women who communicate through an email discussion group. Members include Dulcie Huckleberry, who feels neglected by her husband; the free-spirited Zelia Muzuwa; Brenna Lindberg, a transplanted farmer's wife; and Phyllis Lorimer, the outspoken minister's wife. The group is moderated by overly perky Rosalyn Ebberly, who recommends her family tradition of greeting the man of the house every evening with fresh clothes and hairdos while singing the badly written -Daddy's Song. - The women support one other through their shared struggles and experiences with infertility, embryo adoption, and marriage while never forgetting to keep a sense of humor. Written in the tradition of Erma Bombeck, this fine first novel is recommended for CF and women's fiction collections. Efkein lives in Nebraska.
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