Carlisle Wainright Cushing, the protagonist of Linda Francis Leeยs The Ex–Debutante, left Texas just as soon as she could. As the novel opens, sheยs engaged to be married and happily practicing law in Boston. But after she reluctantly comes home to Texas to take care of her motherยs latest divorce (there have been several), her mother wrangles Cushing into directing the annual debutante ball. Somewhere between filing her motherยs divorce papers and teaching a gaggle of girls how to balance a book on their heads, Cushing runs into an old flame who makes her wonder if sheยs marrying the right man. Poor Cushing ย sheยs in for a hell of a time.
Here are some hints for you wannabe debs: Stay away from the ยPย chemicals such as peels, peroxide and polyester, and avoid glitter, tiaras and men with records ย either criminal or rap. Get more hints on proper deb decorum from Lee at todayยs reading. 7 p.m. Blue Willow Bookshop, 14532 Memorial Drive. For information, call 281-497-8675 or visitwww.blue-willow-bookshop.com. Free.
Tue., April 8, 7 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2008.