BT-Air

Upchurch (Jamboree traces the political metamorphosis of a young woman from Southern hick to conservative Republican. Eighteen-year-old Arleen, who is not referred to by a surname, has moved to Washington, D.C., from North Carolina, and works for Mrs. Nardelli in the library of a scientific journals publisher. Neither Arleen nor her boss has many interests, ideas (Arleen has never heard of Watergate) or friends, although Arleen disapproves of drugs and ""men who like men'' and voraciously pursues news of the Jonestown massacre, which occurs in the course of the novel. At the Cafe Deja Vu (sans accents) she meets Andrew Clement, who sings right-wing political songs; she marries him and his cause. Upchurch's intentions remain up in the air and murky: has he crafted a self-conscious satire or a serious novel? Are Arleen and Andrew supposed to inspire or frighten? Whatever the reasons, he has written woodenly about sterile, unappealing people. Arleen tells Mrs. Nardelli that ``she really didn't mind being bored,'' but most readers will be far less tolerant. (July)