Piece of Work

by Laura Zigman

Julia Einstein knew that being a stay-at-home mom had a lot in common with her former job as a celebrity publicist - endless, irrational demands, little to no appreciation, and constant hustle. But it isn't until her husband is laid off from his job and she's forced to go back to work and resurrect screen legend Mary Ford's career that Julia realizes how very much she prefers an actual child to a formerly famous client. "For example, her child doesn't steal ten-thousand-dollar leather coats from photo shoots. Nor does he require a constant, fresh supply of a soda that is no longer in production. He doesn't curse at Julia, pronounce her name "Einstein" with a thick layer of disdainful irony, or incessantly poke at her with his index finger while reciting odd variations on childlike rhymes like a psych patient on day pass. With a mortgage looming and three years out of the business, however, Julia knows she has no choice but to make Mary's comeback a success. Even if it kills her.""Which, at this pace, is a possibility. But if there is one thing Julia has learned from her time off from the office, it's that sheer determination can solve almost everything. After all, if she can get through suburban living with its uncontrolled clutter and playground politics, how hard can it be to resuscitate the career of an aging, desperate has-been? And get over the fact that her husband is a better stay-at-home mom than Julia ever was?"--BOOK JACKET.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction, Audiobook, Womens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Laura Zigman is the author of five novels, including Separation Anxiety (which was optioned by Julianne Nicholson and the production company Wiip (Mare of Easttown) for a limited television series); Animal Husbandry (which was made into the movie Someone Like You, starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd), Dating Big Bird, Her, and Piece of Work. She has ghostwritten/collaborated on several works of non-fiction, including Eddie Izzard's New York Times bestseller, Believe Me; been a contributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Huffington Post; produced a popular online series of animated videos called Annoying Conversations; and was the recipient of a Yaddo residency. Her sixth novel, Small World, will be published in January 2023. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piece of Work (Laura Zigman)

Julia Einstein is a typical stay at home mother of a three year old boy. Her life is filled with preschool, play-dates and cheese-ball stains on her clothing. Then one day her husband Peter comes home and tells her he lost his job.

Julia finds herself back in the workforce as a Publicist for has been actresses/actors. Her boss is a jerk and her client, the aging Mary Ford is demanding, rude, and a big handful. Obstacles along the way at work challenge her, yet she is determined to bring Mary back to stardom status. While back at home she is finding that Peter is doing a good job as homemaker/stay-at-home-Dad, which brings about some mixed emotions as she feels he is doing a better job of it than she has.

Laugh out loud funny, a nice summer read.

[Walid Nasrallah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick pleasant read with no surprises

Like the faded oversized yoga pants that Julia Einstein never did yoga in, this chick-lit novel does not assume to be more than the vicarious feel-good wish-fulfilment vehicle it is. An altogether pleasant read, masterfully done by the reigning mistress of the thinly-disguised semi-autobiographical early-2000's New York City novel.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

did not keep my interest very well so I only read about half the book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is another book about the conflict women face when they have to balance work life and family life, Julia Einstein is a likable protagonist and Zigman does a fine job of introducing some quirky characters. The old-time movie star on the road to a comeback, Mary Ford, is terrifying in her insistence on playing the diva in real life. Julia's boss at the PR form is a weasly guy well worth the readers contempt. Julia's husband evolves as he recovers from being fired and finds his niche at home. A fun, quick read!

[Katherine]

Summer read. Chick lit.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and engaging. 10/10 beach read!

[Daomi Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this audio book. Just what I needed and with a great narrator. It was a light, fun chick-lit with a happily married couple who were forced to change roles due to the husband losing his job. Fun, and refreshing!

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review for Armchair Interviews:

Julia Einstein is gladly a stay at home mom to three year old Leo, more than happy to have left behind her jet setting career as a celebrity publicist. Life is great until her husband loses his job. Julia stresses while watching the savings dwindle and her husband seem less and less interested in finding a job, any job. With much reluctance, Julia throws herself back into the work world, but discovers in the fickle world of publicity, all she is able to get is a second rate job as a publicist to “has-been” celebrities trying for a comeback. She is assigned to re-launch the career of Mary Ford, a screen legend whose fame peaked nearly 50 years before and happens to be demanding, openly nasty and have an ego the size of New Jersey. Julia struggles through the days trying to manage a larger than life has-been, a smarmy boss who creates trouble at every turn and a husband who has become Mr. Mom. To top it all off, she misses her son terribly and questions whether she is being a good mom at all.

Piece of Work examines a woman’s struggle to have it all, to make sacrifices for her family and hold it all together. This chick lit novel is aimed at a slightly older audience, one that is past the shoe-shopping, barring-hopping single’s life to one who is married and starting a family. While Zigman raises many questions about women’s roles and the delicate balance between work and family, her characters fall somewhat flat and lack personality that really bring them to life. Often relying on stereotypes instead of character development, the reader is not compelled to identify with or care about any of the characters deeply at all. While providing some amusing situations, Julia’s career is so outlandish that it seems unbelievable. Piece of Work provides a light way to pass an afternoon on the beach, but lacks the substance to really enter the reader’s heart.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the second book I've read by Zigman, and the same things that bothered me about the first one bothered me about this one. She really needs to find a better editor. The story itself was okay, but the writing style made it hard to follow what was going on in some places. Zigman tends to write in long, rambling sentences that communicate a lot of information and detail, but sometimes need to be read 2 or 3 times to be fully understood. If some of these sentences were split or rearranged, the whole novel would be improved immensely. Zigman also has a tendency to go off on tangents, which doesn't help. If she could stay focused, the story would flow a lot better.

I thought the main characters were well-developed, and the storyline was interesting and humorous. I'm sure there are a lot of mothers out there who can relate to how Julia struggles with her decision to return to work after her husband loses his job. I highly doubt any real-life husband would turn into Martha Stewart like Peter did, though! That part of the story seemed far-fetched, but it did make for some funny moments.

Overall, I thought the book was okay, but Zigman's writing style is not my favorite. I'm not sure if I would read another one of her books because her writing style annoys me so much.

[Gena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was relating to the main character from page one with her own domestic un-goddessness and her completely relatable love for her son, enjoying every moment with him. I even found myself enheartened as Julia is relating the loneliness of being a stay-at-home mom and how hurt she is by the "three bitches" at the park who hate her even though she's never even spoken to them. Sadly, her stay-at-home days are cut short when when her husband Peter, is laid off from his job and she is forced to switch roles with him and go back to another publicity job. From there, the book is a little typical of recent chick-lit (think The Devil Wears Prada) as she is forced into a less than comparable job to where she used to work, and instead of promoting top celebrities, she is now recreating "has beens". And what a b!&$h of a client does she get stuck with!! While she is off in the trenches, I completely experienced Julia's sadness, longing and jealousy as her husband absolutely triumphs in the homemaker capacity.

I don't want to get too much into the juicy plot lines so at to give something away. Unlike my last read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And it reminds me of how I don't ever want to go back into the work force, well, at least not for a long, long time. A fun read.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while I feel the need to read something that affirms my current place in life. Laura Zigman's "Piece of Work" lured me in on page one with

"Toddlers, she remembered hearing someone say, were like big tyrants of tiny countries, and judging from the way Leo had her running around most of the time, she couldn't have agreed more....Demanding, insatiably needy, and all ego and id, he was still by far the best boss she'd ever had."

Personally in the grips of raising the last of my own little "tyrants" above toddlerhood I could feel her pain, and like all good chick lit, see how relevant the subject matter could be. The main character, Julie finds herself unwillingly thrust back into the working world a little sooner than she imagined. It is comforting to know that it can be done even if the proof comes from a fictional story and a totally expected, actually promised happy ending.

This is a witty and loveable book for stay at home moms (stay at home Dad's too since fictional Dad finds his own place in the form of a well organized, detail oriented stay at home Dad), as well as working moms who feel guilty about not staying home.

[Eden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confession time: my low rating for this book has little to do with the writing quality (that was quite good) or Laura Zigman's ability to create a believable image of the world she is writing about. I just disliked pretty much every character in the book. Even the MC, whom it was the clear the reader (me... this book was clearly marketed as a book for moms)should most relate to, irked me with her feelings toward her husband, her parents, her boss, etc... Perhaps I saw too much of myself in her. I just know I read to get away from myself and my life.

Granted, I know virtually nothing about the world of a publicist or whether any of the details of celebrity lives she noted in the books are or are not real.. Those things did give me a "brave new world to explore", but it really doesn't matter. The world is still "here", and I couldn't escape that fact.

The theme of the story, life changing against our wishes and how we eventually must grow and change with it is universal. It was an entirely human story. It just wasn't one for me.

(As to why I picked it up... I was stuck in a doctor's waiting room for a while.)

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book because the premise was so promising. It was too slow moving -- I felt like nothing had happened whatsoever in the first 100 pages -- though it is the kind of book that should have plenty of "happenings" Then everything advances and comes together in the last chapter and there is more action there than the entire book. Anyway, I tried to think of who I could recommend this book to but really it doesn't seem suited to stay-at-home moms or working moms. Maybe it is good fantasy for those dads who think they could do a better job of being a homemaker and stay-at-home dad than their spouse does. Basically, you can tell throughout the entire book that the main character does not like being a homemaker -- she likes her kid and she likes not having to work. She goes back to work and her husband suddenly cooks like Martha Stewart and organizes all the other unorganized pre-school moms. If I was the kind to be offended easily I would be insulted by the implications here.

[Lain · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really disappointing. It had such a great premise -- a stay-at-home mom is forced to return to her previous profession as a celebrity publicist when her husband loses his job, and she has to deal with the challenges of work re-entry, becoming the sole breadwinner, and babysitting a grumpy has-been.

But the story soon peters out. None of the various storylines ever is fully fleshed out. The relationship with her husband -- who is doing a better job of being a stay-at-home mom than she ever did -- suffers little in the way of stress. The guilt she feels as a working mom is glossed over. And the testy has-been actress never gets the dressing-down she so richly deserves.

All in all, this was a well-written, though lukewarm, book. I never felt empathy for Julia, instead I wanted to give her a swift kick for being such a doormat.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved "Animal Husbandry" and so I was happy to see that Laura Zigman had written a new novel. That being said, I think this wasn't her best effort. The characters are somewhat interesting, at times, but she falls into that inevitable trap that most chick-lit writers do of not being able to write men convincingly. It's a puzzle, because she wrote her male characters fairly well in "Animal Husbandry" and in this one, she just seems to have lost her voice. I won't say it's a bad novel, there are some clever parts, but it is a waste of time if you're looking for something with a little substance or memorable moments.

[Matilda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very light. Entertaining. I found her perception of the life of a stay-at-home mom to be very unrealistic. At first I thought the author must not be a mother but then I realized she has only one child. And while the characters from her working life are dynamic and fleshed- out, the other mothers are cardboard caricature stereotypes. Further, her notion that parents who stay home just need someone to swoop in and teach them how to organize their lives is laughable, if not mildly offensive. However, it's just a little fluff read and definitely engaging enough that I kept reading and did not feel like I was wasting my time or wish I was reading something else.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mum goes back to work for a publicity company when her husband loses his job. She misses the little moments at home and is torn when her husband gets the home running smoothly along with files for the members of the PTA with his time management skills. She's given the job of helping a actress from the past get back into the limelight with the launch of a new perfume. Unfortunately she faces some huge problems with the actress, the perfume and her boss attempts to sabotage the comeback for some reason.

I chose this for my A-Z challenge- but it was quite a nice read.

[Fawn Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A women goes back to work after being a stay at home mom for 3 years and her husband loses her job. She works in PR and gets assigned a has-been actress who requires more work than her three year. When she comes home after trying days at the office she learns that her husband is doing a better job than her. It's a bit dry at times and I found the main character annoying, but it wasn't terrible to read while in a plane for 17 hours.

[Gen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Among the many books my sister handed me over my Christmas break, this book was a quick, chick-litty read about a woman who has to go back to work because her husband lost his job. She hates leaving her "Scooby" (her son - blech!) but in the end realizes that she enjoys her job in publicity and her husband is pretty good at taking care of their son and the house. I wanted to smack the main character a few times ... I don't have a kid, so maybe that's why.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia has left the world of celebrities behind to become a full time mom. When her husband is laid off she has to try to pick up where she left off and begins working for a new agency whose major client is an old has been actress (Joan Crawford type) trying to make a comeback. Missing her son, jealous of her husband who gets to stay at home and organize things, and trying to be successful all try to get her down. But once again the powers of a woman win out. Cute.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia is forced to return to work as a celebrity publicist when her husband is laid off. In truth she would like nothing more than to stay at home with her beloved three-year-old son. Instead she finds herself handling the dwindling career of a Hollywood has-been diva hoping to stage a major come-back. This book was a roller coaster ride through the world of fame with plenty of name-dropping and humor. Terrific ending!

[Arielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went with it at the beginning, when Julia's life started to change, but got increasingly fed up as the book went on. Julia was supposed to be awesome at her job, but nothing we saw ever showed that. She whined about her family situation and having to work, but her family was supportive in every way possible and I just didn't buy that she couldn't operate a cell phone or tell when her boss was swindling her. All in all, just not worth the time.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Zigman, fellow alumna of Newton North High School and of the Radcliffe Publishing Course, is as warm and delightful in person as are her books. Many of the situations the heroine experienced while taking this diva on the road rang true to my own publishing experiences.

[Heather B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is definitely a mother of a young child, because she perfectly captures many of the minutiae of stay at home motherhood. I especially liked the reference to Gymboree and how every square inch had been coughed, spit, or vomited on. Ain't that the truth! I may not have liked the book as much before having kids.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't exceptionally well written but it was what I expected . . . enjoyable fluff. Everything was tied up a little too neatly at the end and at times the main character was a PR pro but at other times she was a bit of an idiot when it came to client relations and dealing with her boss. That being said, I didn't mind it. Not one of the author's best books but I read it in a week.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok, not to be mean, but this was a piece of crap. I was so glad to be done with this book. The author went off topic so many times that I would forget what was going on when she finally got back on track. I am surprised though, since she wrote the book that the movie 'Someone Like You' (with Ashley Judd and Hugh Jackman are in)and i like that movie. But basicly, don't waste your time.

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

complete book candy. a quick read (two nights). entertaining, but not a lot more. there were glimpses of some real stuff -- brief sections on the work/motherhood balance that could have been really great, but they were just barely touched. but, a good book to read in between books or on the airplane.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not reading any more books in this particular "genre", the career woman/New Yorker/whatever genre. I couldn't even finish the audio book. And seriously if PR people let their washed up actors who actually need their help physically "poke" them without getting a big slap something is messed up here. just a big "MEH" for this one and I really liked Animal Husbandry.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just didn't click for me. I read the first 50 pages because someone once told me you can't judge a book until you are at least 50 pages in but it just didn't take. I thought the author tended to go off on tangents and when she came back to the point I would just be annoyed at all the extra stuff in between that was just not neccessary. Just my opinion.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! My favorite part about it is that it's chick lit with a happily married husband and wife, and they stay happily married all throughout! It made me laugh and could really feel for the main character. I sort of chose this book on accident, but it ended up being well worth it! :-)