SAHM I Am

by Meredith Efken Reviewed by Vennessa Ng To order: Any bookstore or Meredith's Web site Are you a stay-at-home mom? Do you often feel lonely, discouraged, driven crazy? Then pick up a copy of Meredith Efken's debut novel and lose yourself in the lives of the women who belong to the SAHM I Am e-mail loop. Scattered across America, these women share their joys and tears through e-mail, drawing support and encouragement from one another. There's Dulcie, who struggles with a husband who is constantly on out-of-town job assignments and a mother-in-law whose wedding is turning into a stage show; there's artistic Zelia, whose desire for her children to express themselves is threatened by her husband's decision for them to attend school; there's Jocelyn, heartbroken when her son can't seem to shake normal childhood pains; there's Brenna, trying to come to grips with farm life and her husband's desire for children; there's Phyllis, the pastor's wife, whose youthful mistakes resurface to threaten her family's security; and finally there's loop moderator Rosalyn and her sister, Veronica, with their insufferable relationship that prompts many of Rosalyn's weekly topics for the e-mail loop. SAHM I Am is a laugh a minute. I found Meredith's e-mail message format refreshing. It effectively pulled me into the lives of the characters, cutting away use of description and narrative. The clever dialogue gives the story a more intimate feel. The lack of chapter breaks makes the book hard to put down. As a stay-at-home mom myself, I would recommend this book to any woman who chooses to remain home with her young children. The issues these women face ring true. Their stories will touch your heart to reveal the power of friendship via cyberspace. But beware: This book will leave you longing for your own SAHM I Am e-mail loop.