Even though it sounds kind of like a piece of gum, “Chick Lit” is a type of literature.  Written mainly by women, these books tend to have a light and humorous tone and deal primarily with women experiencing life’s issues.  Chick Lit differs from regular women’s fiction in that the tone of the books is more personal and confiding, but it is really the humor that separates the two genres. Some snootier reviewers consider Chick Lit vapid and just a step above trash; however, the quality has improved over the years. It runs the gamut from light and fluffy to deep and meaningful.   Some excellent authors write Chick Lit these days. 

                Meg Cabot writes for tweens, teens and adults.  She is probably most famous for “The Princess Diaries”, which was made into a Walt Disney film.  She also writes Romance novels.  She is a popular and prolific author.  Some of her more recent books include “Allie Finkel’s Rules for Girls”(September release), “Being Nikki: An Airhead Novel”, “Avalon High Coronation” (September release), and “Ransome My Heart” by Her Royal Highness Mia Thermopolis, Crown Princess of Genovia. Any Meg Cabot fan knows that Mia Thermopolis is the heroine of “The Princess Diaries”.

            Sophie Kinsella, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, is English.  In fact, the English invented the Chick Lit genre. Although she has written several books under her real name, she is best known as Sophie Kinsella. Her Shopaholic novels about a young American woman, who lives in London and has a shopping additction, are her best known books.  Her latest book is the stand alone, “Twenties Girl”.

            Helen Fielding is also English.  Ms. Fielding wrote the quintessential Chick Lit novel “Bridget Jones Diary”.  The movie adaptation starred Renee Zwellinger.

            Lauren Weisberger is the author of “The Devil Wears Prada”, which is at least loosely based upon her experience at “Vogue” magazine.  As with many Chick Lit books, this too was made into a movie starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep.  Other books by Lauren Weisberger are “Everyone Worth Knowing” and “Chasing Harry Winston”.

            Marian Keyes is from Ireland.  The library has two of her novels, “This Charming Man” and “Watermelon: A Novel”.  Although her novels are humorous, they center on serious themes such as domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, and divorce.  They are loosely based upon Keyes own life.

            Jennifer Weiner is a well-respected author who frequently speaks out in defense of Chick Lit. In "Gray Ladies Up", a March 9, 2005, article for beatrice.com she says,

“The best chick-lit books deal with race and class, gender wars and workplace dynamics, not just shoes and shopping…and they do it adroitly, with warmth and wit, for readers young and old, in blue states and red states.”  She says that her latest book “Best Friends Forever”, is in part an answer to the question, “What if Thelma and Louise didn’t have to die.”  

            Not all Chick Lit is written by women.  Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer are collaborators on several Chick Lit books.  According to their website, they met in Maui when Bob sat down beside Jenny and asked her what she wrote. Jenny said, “Well, basically, in my books, people have sex and get married.” Bob said, “In my books, people have sex and die.”  They have collaborated on two novels “Don’t Look Down” and “Agnes and the Hitman”.  Their website is a hoot and provides a taste of their humor and insight into their approach to writing together.  She writes from the heroine point-of view, and he writes from the heroes point-of-view.  I listened to their books and the switch from one to the other is quite funny and noticeable. These novels include enough testosterone that men can enjoy them too.  So fellas and ladies visit the library and give Chick Lit a try.

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