Fair-Weather Friend by Patricia Scanlan
A Chick-Lit Style Short Novel in the Open Door Series
Feb 7, 2009
Romantic fiction is tackled here, in Patricia Scanlan's Fair Weather Friend (New Island 2004, ISBN 1904301479) in a chick-lit style, by the series editor of the Open Door book series. This set of books caters for adults who have reading difficulties, or who have not read for some time and prefer their literature of a novella length to increase confidence.
This does not mean, however, that the plotline or the characters are simplistic. Indeed, it is the main protagonist, Sophie Mason, whose thoughts and feelings the reader is able to track and sympathise with as she struggles with the insensitive nature and over-exubant love life of her part-time friend, Melissa Harris. But this is a story of new-found backbone, freedom and love, and Sophie has to progress through the tortuous relationship she has with Melissa in order to come out of it a better, and more content person.
A Romantic Tale of Love and Self-Discovery
Nurse Sophie is far too easy-going for her own good and everyone else, including her sister, Denise, can see she is constantly being used by her supposed best friend whenever it suits her. And Melissa Harris is a superb choice of antagonist for this story. The repetition of "s" in her name suggests a snake-like character, just like the snake in the grass that she is. She only ever wants Sophie to run around after her and be a convenient shoulder to cry on in-between quite unsuitable men.
This book sees Melissa about to use Sophie all over again. Having been dumped by her most recent, two-timing boyfriend, she invites Sophie, at short notice, on holiday with her. Of course, in reality, Melissa should have been going with her boyfriend, who has chosen to take his new conquest with him on holiday instead - but who is she to care, when reliable pushover, Sophie, is there to ease the blow?
Melissa's main objective throughout the holiday, Sophie quickly realises, is to find herself a rich man, preferably one who might offer her a marriage proposal. In doing so, Sophie is left to her own devices for the bulk of the holiday, as Melissa swans around with her new, tanned loverboy, completely at the expense of Sophie's feelings.
And it takes this holiday, and a surprise encounter with an injured child, while she wanders around alone, for her to realise that she has been used by Melissa for years, and that she can make her own enjoyment. Her nursing skills from her job back in London come in very useful, too, and ultimately over time these skills and her own kindness and selflessness bring about a happy resolution. She finds love - real love - and the ultimate attainment in Spain, as far as Melissa is concerned - marriage to rich guy!
True to Life - the Character Who Never Learns
Melissa gets her just desserts in the end, when she finally left to fend for herself as her latest tanned beautiful man uses and loses her. But true to reality, the author does not allow someone as selfish as Melissa to stay down for long. She very quickly finds another fool to pander to her every whim.
But Patricia Scanlan leaves a message for the reader in this romantic fiction. As with all users, Melissa is destined for a life of friendlessness. It is moralistic to a degree, yes, but not overtly so. The book, in fact, does not dwell on the scheming side of Melissa at the end. Instead, it leaves the characters, and the reader, with hope for the future and faith in kindliness, real companionship and true love.
A Short Novel with Strong Reader Allegiances
Fair Weather Friend is a well-written, entertaining chick-lit style story. It is true that the sentences are short, being part of the Open Door series. This, likewise, explains the short length of the book. But even so, the characters are well-developed in such a short space, and in a similar vein to a short story, does not contain too many characters. The focus on the main two protagonists allows the reader to form an alliance with the one and a repulsion of the other to such an extent that, when the denouement finally comes, it is gratifying for Sophie, but the reader is still left with annoyance that people such as Melissa never seem to learn their lesson. Such is the real world.
This is an entertaining quick read, especially for those who enjoy chick-lit style stories and also prefer their literature to have something which is paramount in romantic fiction - a happy ending.
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