Betty
Conley (editor for IGW) continues her reviews withThree Fortunies in One Cookie by Cochrane Lambert
See Betty's other reviews this issue, page 3
Three Fortunes in One Cookie by Cochrane Lambert
ISBN: 155583910X
Alyson/ 2005/$14.95/308 pages
Almost five years to the day after leaving home and escaping his domineering grandfather, Phillip Powell, an artist, arrived home to his Manhattan apartment to find him waiting on his doorstep. He had an important request: would Phillip return to look after his unstable mother while his grandfather was in China on business? Timing was everything, and though Phillip had just met a man who could possibly be a part of his future, he agreed to his grandfather’s request. Phillip left his New York life, temporarily he hoped, and returned to the coastal Mississippi town where he grew up. So begins Cochrane Lambert’s second novel, Three Fortunes in One Cookie.
Once back in the family homestead, Phillip was waylaid by his aunts who had no idea their father had manipulated him into returning. They felt his homecoming was unnecessary because his mother was under control, and they feared Phillip’s presence might unsettle her. Phillip was committed; he had promised his grandfather he’d look after her and planned to do just that. Determined to make the best of his situation, Phillip moved into a nearby artist’s apartment on the third floor of a charming, stately old home in the midst of restoration. His housemates quickly became his good friends, and he seized the opportunity of his return to clear up an unresolved issue with his best friend from school, Chad.
Resettled into his new old home, he visited his mother who greeted him with, “Welcome to Elavil, population one.” His mother’s unpredictable words and moods had long been a source of personal torment and embarrassment, so when his new friends started to visit her, he felt like a bystander watching the different factions of his life come together on a collision course.
Three Fortunes in One Cookie has a well thought out, intricate plot, replete with richly developed characters, and a warm, interesting location. Though written in the third person, Cochrane Lambert’s story is always seen through Phillip’s eyes, making for an easy flowing read, never mired down in unnecessary detail. The plot moves along at a quick pace making the book hard to put down. Many interesting, perhaps trivial, facts are peppered throughout its pages, including some valuable life lessons, making Three Fortunes in One Cookie an educational experience, as well as a wonderfully enjoyable read. A very highly recommended book.