Virginia's heirs

It's a strange phenomenon: someone who was not born to write, but nonetheless thinks she is. Australian readers can sample the species by buying this first novel, which a friend recently gave me when I was passing through Melbourne. I couldn't finish it. But if you liked Yann Martel . . . . . .

PS: That's now two women I went to law school with (one I also worked with at AGs) who have recently come out with first fictions (actually, one is faction) in their early to mid 30s, and on both occasions the results leave something to be desired. This one gave up a very promising law career (MULR editor and all) to pursue her passion. Say what you like about the intellectual demands of legal training, to top your year at least requires lots of hard work for four years; that is, precious formative years not spent reading (as a true writer would) everything you can get your hands on.

PPS: The faction in fact is not so bad - it just would have been much better with the author's ego uninserted, ie, as non-fiction.