Shelley Civkin Richmond Public Library

Loving Chick Lit lite

For many people, summer is a time for mindless, light reading, and well...it couldn't get any lighter than Dating without novocaine by Lisa Cach.

Personally, I think I'd rather date with novocaine, given my luck dating without it. But never mind.

This frothy, easygoing contemporary novel about young singles looking for love in all the wrong places, offers lots of laughs for those who demand little more than light entertainment from their summer reading.

The story is simple-it's about four single friends and their antics out there in the wild weird dating world. This close circle of friends includes self-employed seamstress Hannah O'Dowd, who is on the verge of turning 30 and desperate to meet the man of her dreams; her hippy-dippy roommate Cassie; Louise, a crisis line phone counselor; and Scott, a successful, handsome dentist and the ex-boyfriend of Louise.

Hannah is the most rabidly desperate of the group, and convinces them all to try Internet dating. She throws herself into the dating fray body and soul (mostly body), which results in some hilarious, and dare I say surprising, dates. They even rival some of the doozies I've had, and that's saying something!

Her friend Louise, who sees no reason not to ask for exactly what she wants, spares nothing in her Internet ad. It reads: "Wanted: over 5' 10"; master's degree or higher; aged 28-34; fit; omnivorous; reads fiction; can ballroom dance; knows how to cook at least three dishes worthy of being served to company; owns a car less than five years old; has traveled outside the county."

Yeah, like a guy like that exists. And to think, some of us are just looking for a mammal with a day job.

Reading about the fictional world of singles, sexuality and dating protocol might make some people's hair curl. But if you can watch Sex and the City and read Bridget Jones's Diary without going into apoplexy, then you should be okay.

Be forewarned though, there's lots of open and unabashed talk about sex-and well...actual sex, too. What am I saying? You'll probably be flocking to the library for books like this to get your libido kick-started!

In case you don't know, this is what's affectionately referred to as Chick Lit. It's not high literature or anything even close-it's just plain fun. And funny.

Describing the disappointing outcome of a date with a handsome wildlife biologist, Hannah says: "I tramped through the rain and looked at owl vomit for this?" Who, among us, cannot relate to this scenario?

Other titles in the highly popular Chick Lit genre are: How to Meet Cute Boys; Vivian: the V Spot; Slave to Love; Spitting Feathers; What a Girl Wants; The Royal Treatment; and Waking Beauty. There are lots more at the library, so come on in and load up for your summer vacation or just a day at the beach.

Shelley J. Civkin is the Communications Officer at the Richmond Public Library. For other popular reading suggestions, check out Richmond Public Library's Web site at www.yourlibrary.ca/goodbooks.