The Baby Lottery

Despite its whimsical title, the tone of Trueblood's debut novel is anything but lighthearted. Rapidly approaching 40, five college friends find their bonds sorely tested when Charlotte, an alcoholic, opts for an abortion rather than facing the wrath of her happily child-free husband. Jean, a former social worker whose infertility has resulted in the end of her marriage, offers to adopt, to no avail. As the reactions of all are registered in turn (including proudly single Tasi), there are revelations of past abortions. But Charlotte is a cipher, as are the secondary male characters. And when OB nurse Nan, a married mother of two, reflects on women's reproductive history, or when Virginia muses at length about the difficulties of being a mother-writer, the book borders on Women's Studies 101.