BC-KRTEENS-BLUEJEAN:KRT - youth, lifestyle

BC-KRTEENS-BLUEJEAN:KRT - youth, lifestyle
Book review: 'God-Shaped Hole'
(PHOTO)
(EDITORS: Credit & quot;Blue Jean Online, & quot; not KRT or Knight Ridder Newspapers.)
By Kristin Elizabeth Purdy
Blue Jean Online
(KRT)
- & quot;God-Shaped Hole, & quot; by Tiffany DeBartolo; Sourcebooks Trade (329 pages, $12)
---
Trixie Jordan is a compelling character, a piece of the modern woman who searches for true love with skepticism. Cautiously, she tiptoes through her relationships in her life, afraid of desertion and the capability to allow herself to fall in love.
Tiffanie DeBartolo's first novel, & quot;God-Shaped Hole, & quot; captures the essence of two free-spirited souls who are drawn to each other like moths to a light. DeBartolo weaves into the novel uncertainty ranging from Trixie's dysfunctional family to her personal insecurity to the threat of a fortune teller's prediction.
At age 12, Trixie was told by a fortune-teller, & quot;You will lose your soulmate to tragedy. & quot; From that moment on, that fear stuck in the corner of her mind, steering her away from serious relationships. That is, until she met Jacob.
The novel has a straightforward Romeo and Juliet-esque plot, revealing the outcome in the prelude. Yet even with that knowledge, the intrigue and interaction of the characters keeps the book engaging.
Trixie's character rings out with her blunt and frank personality, as she surprises readers with inner thoughts meant to be unvoiced and a thriving sexuality. At first, I found her character shocking, but later addictive and honest. After responding to an unusual personal ad, she meets Jacob Grace. From that moment on, the sparks fly as their relationship develops and they move away from city life in L.A.
Don't judge this book by its cover because although it looks like a juvenile diary, the content is attention-grabbing as well as reflective of life as a 20-something woman. The novel's refreshing humor and wit will leave you turning the pages for more insight into the cynical world of Trixie Jordan.
---
Kristin Elizabeth Purdy, 22, of Rochester, N.Y., is a senior correspondent for Blue Jean Online. Read more articles and reviews by young women at http://www.bluejeanonline.com, or check out the book & quot;Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying and Doing. & quot;