Liv struggles to adjust to life as a divorced woman living in NYC. She deals with issues like being alone, missing her life of luxury, trying to find a job, a crazy and married boyfriend, and unsatisfied customers in the real estate business. Although she breaks down and cries in moments, her amazing wit and comedy gets her through everything. She decides that as long as she has NYC, she's never alone.
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The review of this Book prepared by Catie Walker
Riverhead, May 2001, 24.95, 400 pp.
ISBN: 1573221856
After five years of marriage to Jack, Liv Kellerman decides to end the farce and leave him. Jack makes it clear that he keeps the apartment that he will only leave in a pine box. Knowing she could not afford it anyway, Liv moves to a crummy spot in the Village.
She obtains employment with a blind judge, but cannot pay the rent for the dump she now resides in. Liv prefers not to ask for alimony from her spouse or any money from her wealthy father if she can help it. Instead, she attends a real estate trainee session. Soon Liv is earning commissions selling property to the rich, the famous, and the weird, some of whom have all three traits. Her personal life remains in loserville as her lover retains his main squeeze who turns out not to be Liv. He also loves to bite her during sex. What's an earlobe or two – just ask Holyfield?
HIGH MAINTENANCE is an amusing romp through the Manhattan real estate jungle where predators roam every corner. The story line is weird, humorous and often insightful into the human urban comedy. Though quite entertaining, Liv at times in her desperate search for a good apartment in a nice neighborhood and a good man in a nice apartment seems pathetic. Though not quite on the level of GOING DOWN, Jennifer Belle's latest tale still provides satirical laughs with the goings on of that island whose real estate once sold for $24 (is that zillions in present value?).
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
