Lost and Found

by Carolyn Parkhurst

First, let me tell you that this is not a serious and/or depressing novel like Parkhurst's Dogs of Babel. If you were turned off by her first novel, the second one is nothing like it. It is quite fun and easy to read.

Lost and Found is the name of a new reality show ala The Amazing Race. The tagline says it all: "You've lost the game, but what have you found?" It's brilliant. It makes fun of reality shows by presenting us with the following teams: the troubled mother & daughter, the brothers, the has-been child stars looking to rejuvenate their careers, the married couple (both of whom have previously been homosexual), and a few more. Throughout the course of the game, we meet the teams (each chapter is told from a different contestant's view) and find out why the producers chose each team (secrets, secrets, secrets).

This is an enjoyable novel to read on the train. Or the beach. I recommend it highly.

7/5/06