Book – Pretty in Plaid, by Jen Lancaster

I bought this book in Vancouver. I’ve always loved the book shop on Davie Street around the corner from my hotel but today, I find it’s closing down. However, far from it losing out to the big boys, I am told the owner is just retiring so not all that sad. But shame they couldn’t sell it as a going concern. I’ll see what it’s turned into next time I go.‘Pretty in Plaid’ turns out to be the perfect pick for a heavy week when I needed some light reading. The story starts when the author is eight and so already inspiring as here’s someone else who has written about parts of her life in a funny and irreverent way, much like how I plan my book to be. When it reaches its 8^th draft I suspect.The book takes Jen through school where we learn of her genius way to earn cash by asking sweetly for money to buy drinks at family weddings and parties. Asking each person for a few dollars resulted in profit of $80 and our heroine didn’t bother with the soda. She wasn’t discreet enough to hide this fact from her mother though who confiscated (spent) it when she saw it on her bedside table.There is much to say when Jen reaches college age, how she drops out of one then has to work to get her through college when she re-enlists at a local one the following year. It’s not that her parents are short of cash but they are instilling the value of it to their children.I don’t really understand sobriety clubs and all that goes with the American education system that is nothing to do with education but that doesn’t stop me enjoying this book. It lives up again when Jen reaches graduation and moves to the windy city for work, following her boyfriend to Chicago. Here she learns the world of work; she’s at the bottom of the corporate chain, it’s boring and worst of all she has to pay tax on her graduate salary.But she learns the rules of corporate at play, starts winning the game albeit working more hours than she’d like and the book goes all the way until life changes with writing. I already want to read another one.7½/10Inspiration factor 8½/10