| The IHOP Papers | |
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The IHOP Papers cover, first edition |
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| Author(s) | Ali Liebegott |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | Lesbianism |
| Genre(s) | Novel, Romance |
| Publisher | Carroll & Graf Publishers |
| Publication date | December 13, 2006 |
| Pages | 256 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-7867-1794-7 ISBN 978-0-7867-1794-1 |
| OCLC Number | 77218088 |
| Dewey Decimal | 813/.6 22 |
| LC Classification | PS3612.I327 I36 2007 |
The IHOP Papers is the debut novel of American author Ali Liebegott first published on December 13, 2006 by Carroll & Graf Publishers. The story revolves around a twenty-year-old lesbian named Francesca who falls in love with her female philosophy professor from her junior-college and ends up moving to San Francisco, California to be with her. A common theme throughout the novel are the many lesbian relationships Francesca finds herself in after she moves to San Francisco and how difficult it can be to be in love with someone. The title of the book alludes to the fact that Francesca gets a job at IHOP after her move.
Contents |
The IHOP Papers follows the life of Francesca, a disgrunted twenty-year-old lesbian virgin initially from Southern California who falls in love with her female junior-college professor Irene. After spending some time together, Irene informs Francesca that she is going to take a sabbatical and move to San Francisco, California to move in with two of her former students — a woman named Jenny and a man Gustavo — who just happen to be both her lovers. Not wanting to have to live with the pain of living without spending time with Irene, Francesca ends up moving to San Francisco after she confesses to Irene via a letter that she is in love with her.
Once in San Francisco, Francesca moved in with Irene, Jenny, and Gustavo in an apartment they nicknamed Simplicity House, where everyone was meant to live simply and non-violently. With no job, Francesca goes job searching and eventually lands a job at IHOP as a hostess, though is quickly promoted to waitress. After a month in San Francisco, Francesca moves out of Simplicity House to live in her own apartment. The rest of the story follows Francesca and her intense love for Irene. Along the way, Francesca falls in love with other women while still in love with Irene, who include Jenny, and Francesca's Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor Maria, among at least two other women. A good portion of the book is devoted to Francesca's loathing of having to work at IHOP and wear the uniform she hates.
The novel is told from a first-person point of view and it is shown that Francesca is writing the novel as the story progresses in her apartment after she moved to San Francisco.
The IHOP Papers was given a positive review in the news magazine Publishers Weekly on February 13 commenting, "Liebegott's debut novel is a coming-of-age coming-out in the tradition of Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle, but here, the portrait of an artist as punk waitress is more a celebration of sexuality than humanity. Liebegott...offers strikingly lyrical moments in an otherwise frank narrative of a writer teetering between adolescence and adulthood."[1] Whitney Scott from Booklist commented, "Despite coming-of-age issues heavily laced with substance abuse, depression and angst, not to mention self-mutilation, Liebegott's smart and funny debut boasts an easy charm sure to win her fans. Peppered with heartbreaking flashbacks to a breakdown, with anxious phone calls from Mom, and with hilarious encounters and insights, this is a stirring portrait of the artist as a young goat taking possession of her creativity and of readers' hearts."[1] In a review by Entertainment Weekly by Katia Hetter, the reviewer commented, "Francesca's reminders that she's "writing" the book can get annoying, but her story is a vivid reminder of how painful diner meals and coming out can be."[2] In a review by Jackie Jones in The San Diego Union-Tribune, Jones wrote, "The strength of The IHOP Papers lies in the beautiful but heartbreaking humor of Liebegott's heroine....This isn't Bridget Jones's Diary, or any nanny's. This is for everyone who's been a struggling, syrup-stained, chain-smoking, journal-writing, romantic fool, lesbian or otherwise."[3]
On the novel's front and back covers, there are three positive comments on The IHOP Papers from three fellow authors. Michelle Tea, author of Rose of No Man's Land, wrote, "Goddamn, has Ali Liebegott written a spectacular novel. Francesca is the surly, lost waitress of your dreams, and her narration — earnest, tragic, absurd, and hilarious — carries you along like a perfectly balanced plate in the crook of her arm." Eileen Myles, author of Cool for You a School of Fish, said, "With even switfness Liebegott makes the darkness grow and then it starts to get really light at last. Oh, just pick up the check and read it. That's no waitress, that's a poet." The last comment by Sarah Shun-lien, author of Madeline is Sleeping, wrote, "Ali Liebegott's writing is tender, frank, hilarious, and devastating. It will kick you right in the heart."