Culture January 27, 2010

Jami Attenberg’s new novel, The Melting Season, begins with a familiar premise: a small-town girl leaves her problems (a broken marriage, a dysfunctional family, and a pregnant teenage sister) behind and sets out for Vegas with a suitcase full of cash. There she makes fast friends with another injured woman who becomes her metaphorical partner in crime à la Thelma and Louise, bolstering her with endless support and encouraging her on the road to recovery. In this sense, the book is a smooth, easy read with breezy dialogue and a seemingly recognizable story, smartly interrupted by the jolt that comes