Carolyn Savage lacks the ruthlessness and ambition needed to make it as a yuppie in 1980s America. Finding herself with neither job nor boyfriend, she decides to establish herself as a saint, thinking that this new career option will pay the bills. Carolyn is not the most spiritual person, she certainly isn't a Christian, and her choice is initially an entirely cynical one.
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As Carolyn advances along her chosen path, suported by image consultant Keke she finds that the world does seem to need a spiritual leader who can relate to the yuppy mind and the materialism of the age. Aided by a long dead French Monk, she styles herself as patron saint of fallen yuppies, and a minor dental ailment. The media love her as she makes programs about 'shopping for saints' 'Where Saints eat" and the like. She wears the best clothing - after all, being a saint shouldn't be about having to suffer, she reasons. In spite of herself, Carolyn is on a spiritual journey, and while at heart she remains a bit of a valley girl, there are times when she inadvertantly talks good sense.
Elizabeth Kingsbury has written a gem of a novel, with some impressive satire and some extremely funny moments . She has a keen sense of the bizarre and can carry off the most unlikely of senarios. "St Carolyn" is a very entertaining read.
The review of this Book prepared by Bryn Pearson