Customs Violation

by Janice Weber, Marta Hryvniak

After a fifteen-year break, fate brings customs agent Floyd Beck and lingerie czarina Viola Flury back together again. Their rekindled romance plays out against the early days of women’s lib, when both sexes were adapting to their brave new world with varying degrees of triumph, bewilderment, and denial. The supporting cast includes canine psychiatrist Portia Clemens, a rabid libber who thinks nothing of sex change operations for her male dogs; the mad Chef Eggli, sausage maker par excellence; flamboyant and volatile Nestor Buffez, who considers silk pajamas his business suit; George Hash, recovering from his divorce in a barrage of singles bars; and Breeze Squawfoot, an unrepentant cougar on the prowl. The action ricochets between JFK Airport, northern New Jersey, and the Swiss Alps in this “wisecracking, irreverent spoof of modern sexual mores” (Kirkus Reviews) with “truly funny repartee” (Publishers Weekly). Customs Violation, originally published in 1987, is a hilarious and heartbreaking account of the ongoing war between the sexes.

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Janice Weber's novels, most of which have something to do with music, have a worldwide following. Her debut novel, The Secret Life of Eva Hathaway, enjoys near cult status and is widely recognized as iconic Chick Lit - though appearing years before the genre was invented. Its colorful characters, verbal virtuosity, wit, and sensuality established the hallmarks of a style that has earned Weber comparison with Mark Twain, Fran Liebowitz, Harold Pinter, and Robert Ludlum.

Reviews

[Karmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a customs officer who flips out after his feminist vet girlfriend dumps him. Finding a recipe for floyd-wurst made in his home of his father, he's determined to make it.
He contacts an old friend of his mother's who conducts a cooking school in Switzerland. There he meets the girlfriend, his ex-lover, some crazy woman who're enrolled in the school. It's a wonderfully funny work. A definite read when you're down or any time at all.

[Melissajmeyahoo.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book - a little dated now, and keeping the big cast of characters straight is a little tough now and then. But overall, a great premise, amazing dialogue, interesting characters. Definitely one of my top 10 faves, highly recommended.