Sunday's at Tiffany's

Author: James Patterson with Gabrielle Charbonnet

Other books by Author: Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, The Lake House, Double Cross, London Bridges, The Women’s Murder club (7 books), and many others.

General Summary and Plot
Jane, an eight year old girl, has an imaginary friend, Michael. He is a man in his 30’s who is kind and compassionate; only she can see him. Michael is her one comfort in life, her mother is self engrossed and busy, her father is far away, involved in a life of his own. On Jane’s ninth birthday she becomes too old for an imaginary and Michael says he needs to leave and help someone else. Jane was not going to remember her by the next morning.
Twenty-three years later Jane is not any happier than when Michael left. She has an apartment, a career in her mother’s play production company. Jane wrote and published a play about an eight year old girl and her imaginary friend named Michael. She obviously has not forgotten about Michael as she was supposed to. The man who played Michael in the play is Jane’s hot-shot, arrogant, and egocentric boyfriend.
Michael is in between “assignments” and is resting in New York; he sees Jane and literally stalks her. Jane spots Michael but cannot believe it is him because he is imaginary. He is confused because she remembers him and that was not supposed to happen.
They fall in love but- he is only imaginary, right?

Positive Elements
Sundays is a slightly quirky love story that is well written and mesmerizing (if you are the sappy type.) Jane battles with her weight and with her mother’s opinion of her throughout the book. In the end, Jane realizes she likes the way she is and her mother (as she learns on her mother’s death bed) only wanted Jane not to grow up as hard and as selfish as her mother had become.
Jane stands up to Hugh (her boyfriend) and does not put up with his “sincere” apologies for his behavior. (Remember, he is an actor.)
Michael and Jane are very happy together and complete each other.

Spiritual Content
*There is a discussion between Jane and Michael about whether God is real. Michael determines He is real though He may be a man, woman, beast, or etc.
*Michael wonders why he never hears answers to his prayers.
*Michael ducks into a cathedral to kneel and get guidance about why he has met Jane again.
*In the end, Michael reflects on everything and concludes, all of his prayers were answered, and someone must have been listening.

Negative Elements
Flawed Spiritual views.

Profanity
The cursing is mild except "h..." and "d..." and "s..."
Hugh uses F--- and F—ing once each.
The Lords name is taken in vain

Sexual Content
Hugh and Jane were obviously sleeping together.
A man whom Michael befriends admits women are only sex objects to him.
Chapter 66-67 are way too graphically detailed. Love between Jane and Michael. These Chapters could (and should) have been omitted.

Violence
Jane punches Hugh in the eye. (He deserved it)
Michael punches the “women are a sex-object” man then goes on to punch Hugh in the stomach after Hugh charges at him.

Alcohol and Drugs
There are several “social-drinking” situations.

Overall Theme
Love wins out.
It’s ok to sleep with someone if you are both truly in love.
Be good to yourself, do not let someone determine who and what you should be.
Selfless and kind is what everyone should be.
Make yourself happy and do not take time for granted.

Conclusion
They do get married (we suppose.) Michael becomes real. They are both insanely happy and blessed. It is an odd twist on a timeless story. A shy insecure woman falls in love with a man whose confidence in her inspires her to stand up for herself. This man just happens to be imaginary.

Suggested age group: Adult (if chapters 66-68 are left out as well as the cursing it would be right for teens on up.)