Fashionably Late launched at District 6
Resonating with the lusty sounds of salsa and merengue, chic nightclub District 6 was the scene of a Cuban-themed celebration last Thursday.
The reason? The Mojito and champagne-sipping guests, appropriately dressed to the nines, were feting the launch of Cayman resident Nadine Dajani’s first novel, Fashionably Late.
Over 70 copies of the novel were sold at the elegant event, raising almost $400 for Cayman Libraries.
The book, with its Prada-shod feet firmly planted in the realm of the ever-popular chick-lit genre, is a clever romp through the trials and tribulations of young love, the pressures of family life and finding out what it is you really want.
Telling the tale of the twenty-something Aline Hallaby, Fashionably Late chronicles the events that ensue after she receives the results of the dreaded uniform evaluation for Canadian accountants known as the UFE.
Born into a strict Lebanese family, on the surface it seems the fashion-loving, glamorous Aline has it all – a high-flying, although ultra-boring, job at one of Montreal’s most prestigious accounting firms, and a loving boyfriend who has just proposed.
But things aren’t always as they seem and a last-minute, alcohol-fuelled, holiday to sun-drenched Cuba with best friends Sophie and Jasmin helps give Aline a fresh perspective.
While there are no new groundbreaking themes explored in Fashionably Late, the heady mix of relationship disasters, career woes, shopping and general girlie banter on the obligatory ‘girls gone wild holiday’ is tried and tested chick-lit, offering a guaranteed good read and a fascinating insight into Cuban life.
Unlike some other chick-lit tomes (Sopie Kinsella’s Shopaholic and Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’ Diary spring to mind) Fashionably Late might not leave the reader guffawing out loud.
Perhaps it’s because the 394-pager attempts, and perhaps rightly so, to address some more serious issues – the struggles between different generations and cultures – than simply tell the tale of over zealous shoppers and relationship-doomed, mid-life crisis women. But it doesn’t suffer for it, and Fashionably Late still offers a delightful and light-hearted girlie read.
There aren’t many downsides to this novel, although it takes the author a few chapters to find a comfortable pace. It’s definitely worth sticking with it.
It looks like this grown-up, girlie novel is bound to become a mandatory beach-novel favourite.
Fashionably Late is available at Book Nook, priced at $16, and Tropical Trader later this month. Visit www.nadinedanjani.com or newbienovelist.blogspot.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in Lebanon, Nadine grew up in Montreal, moving to Cayman in 2003 where she’ll be working as an accountant until she moves back to Montreal to begin work on her second novel this summer. When not penning her novel, she enjoys island-hopping to nearby Cuba whenever the travel bug bites.
FYI
Nadine Dajani will be signing copies of Fashionably Late at Galleria Plaza, this Saturday, 11am to 1pm.
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