There's a reason why it took me nearly three and a half months to read something that would normally take 4-5 days. So let's start with the only positive thing I have to say. Ms. Jenkins can write. The story was easy to follow and there was nothing wrong or awkward with her language usage.
As for the story itself, the three central characters were a bunch of doormats. As all the dirty laundry aired (and there were some whoppers!), no one had a meltdown or breakdown. No one screamed, raged or carried on. They all just took it in their stride, as if it were perfectly normal. There was absolutely nothing normal about these circumstances, and while some people might be able to cope as was depicted in Pam of Babylon, it just didn't seem believable.
A woman, Pam, rushes to the hospital when she finds out her husband has had a fatal heartattack, only to find that his body has already been identified by his mistress, Sandra. So Pam decides they should be friends. And Sandra goes along with it. Throw into the mix Pam's selfish, clingy, jealous and whiny younger sister Marie, and I was left wondering how hard it would have been for the deceased, Jack, to convince these three to be sister-wives and all live under the same roof.
Sadly, the most interesting character, in my opinion, was the dead one. The glimpses into his youth were fascinating and helped explain (not excuse) his behavior. I know a sequel has been written, and I would like to learn more about Jack, but I just can't bring myself to read more about these simpering females. I really had to force myself to finish reading it, and even as I did so, I kept asking myself why. I guess I kept hoping something spectacular would come at the end that would make it all worth it. Although the sudden turn of events that occurred with only about 10% of the book to go did make it better, it wasn't enough to overcome the feeling that I wasted my time reading Pam of Babylon.
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