Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
Jane and Dan at the End of the World is a fun romp with substance. Colleen Oakley has the ability to write novels that feature quirky characters engaging in zany behavior that seems reasonable in the moment, while experiencing core human emotions (love, fear, frustration, etc.).
The story takes place entirely in a remote upscale restaurant; Dan thinks they're celebrating their 20th anniversary, but Jane plans to ask him for a divorce. When armed climate activists storm the building and take hostages, the evening gets more exciting. Then the identity of one of the activists completely stuns the couple. It would be wiser to keep quiet, but both Jane and Dan put themselves in precarious situations as events unfold.
I enjoyed learning about the couple's history as current events play out in reverse chronological order. Plenty of jabs at their professions are in the plot; Dan is a podiatrist and Jane's a less-than-successful novelist. The audiobook is narrated by Hillary Huber who perfectly conveys the dry humor and other nuances of the dialog and added to my enjoyment of this novel.
The story takes place entirely in a remote upscale restaurant; Dan thinks they're celebrating their 20th anniversary, but Jane plans to ask him for a divorce. When armed climate activists storm the building and take hostages, the evening gets more exciting. Then the identity of one of the activists completely stuns the couple. It would be wiser to keep quiet, but both Jane and Dan put themselves in precarious situations as events unfold.
I enjoyed learning about the couple's history as current events play out in reverse chronological order. Plenty of jabs at their professions are in the plot; Dan is a podiatrist and Jane's a less-than-successful novelist. The audiobook is narrated by Hillary Huber who perfectly conveys the dry humor and other nuances of the dialog and added to my enjoyment of this novel.
This book has a lot of parallels to the 2022 Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy movie, The Menu, crossed with Steve Carell and Tina Fey's 2010 Date Night.
SLIGHT SPOILERS::
This is a thriller farce with a happy ending. Totally Hollywood style. Unhappy midlife marital tropes. Too many coincidences. Dufus local cops. Dissention in the ranks of the bad guys. Carpool mom trying to be the hero.
But look at the cover. This wasn't meant to be gritty. There is enough conflict to give the story legs, but a tidy finish riding into the sunset, or in this case, sunrise.
SLIGHT SPOILERS::
This is a thriller farce with a happy ending. Totally Hollywood style. Unhappy midlife marital tropes. Too many coincidences. Dufus local cops. Dissention in the ranks of the bad guys. Carpool mom trying to be the hero.
But look at the cover. This wasn't meant to be gritty. There is enough conflict to give the story legs, but a tidy finish riding into the sunset, or in this case, sunrise.
