Lori, I Love You, But . . .
by Gary Davis
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Covenant Communications (American Fork, Utah): 1993. Trade paperback: 106 pages. ISBN-10: 1-55503-579-5 ISBN-13: 978-1555035792 Suggested retail price: $7.95 (US) Tags: Comedy; pregnancy; relationships; Religious; Young Adult Tactical strength: [2/10] |
When I read this as a manuscript, it still didn't have a title, and probably for a good reason. Nothing really noteworthy happens in the story that you could use as the basis for the title. Okay, a quick plot summary: Jared, the Mormon construction worker, meets Lori, the Jew from New York attending UCLA. They fall in love, but decide they can't continue seeing each other since they can never get married in the temple. Lori then discovers she is pregnant with the child of her old boyfriend from New York. She gets really depressed and drops out of school. Meanwhile Jared also gets really depressed and takes on a job in Hawaii. Jared decides he cannot live without Lori and discovers by accident that she is pregnant. He decides that in spite of her pregnancy, he still cannot live without her, and they get married in the temple and live happily ever after. (Oh, while Lori was away from Jared, she had the missionary discussions and converted to the Church.)
Now this is just a summary of events, and one could tell this story in any number of modes. Davis chose comedy. In fact, all of his characters seem to be sharpening their wit for a comedy club audition. I don't mind humor now and then, but if my wedding engagement were one constant stream of jokes, I don't think I would take the relationship too seriously.
In all fairness, this is supposed to be a young adult novel, so the lighter handling of these very serious subjects is in order. But there still wasn't much body to the story. Davis spends so much time being funny, that he forgets that he needs to give these characters emotions or build suspense. Even the final scene where Lori decides that she really does love Jared and wants to live the rest of eternity with him is laden with comedy. So much comedy that no single plot element can build up enough interest in these characters who seem to hide their deepest emotions by covering them with their wit, by telling a joke instead of telling how they really feel.
Because of all the humor, we never really feel how much Jared is in love with Lori, never understand how bad Lori feels about what she has done or the decisions she has made. In short, we never really feel much at all. Yes, there are several funny lines that made me chuckle, but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, adult or child.
