A review by lindak0412
The Queen of Tuesday by Darin Strauss

3.0

The unique thing about this book is that it is a crosses genres. It is part memoir and part fiction. The bulk of the story is fictional, but the author explains that this book is based on a "what if" scenario - what if his grandfather had been in an affair with Lucille Ball? After all, there were real rumors for many years, none confirmed, that Isodore had strayed from his wife's side here and there (although not necessarily with Lucille Ball). And he had loved watching "I Love Lucy" every Tuesday night. He might have even met her. So why not write a "what-if" story? I didn't love this book unfortunately. The premise is interesting enough, non-fiction mixed with fiction. You don't see that very often. And it is humorous which you could expect in a story about a comedienne. But I didn't connect with any of the characters. Not Lucille, not Desi, not Isodore. There are several appearances by other names we know - Vivian Vance and William Frawley, Nanette Fabray, and even Fred Trump. I did enjoy some of those interactions. The opening scene, based on a real event, sent me to Google to find out that it really did have it's place in history (although it was fictionalized) which was something I didn't know. So there are some good things (hence the three stars). Thank you to Town Crier for the advance copy. Pub date is August 18.