12
WEDNESDAY
The recent popularity of broody fiction can certainly be blamed on Bridget Jones. Helen Fielding’s princess-in-platform-boots is Everygirl, trying to find a balance between being on her own and finding true love. Anna Maxted’s Getting Over It is one of the better titles in the Jones genre, downplaying the weight obsession that makes you want to slap Bridget silly. Maxted’s Helen is much hipper than Bridget ever could be, name-checking British fop-pop act the Divine Comedy and making metaphors out of X-Files references. Helen’s problems, of course, are well-known to the modern girl: She is insecure about her entire existence and needs to put aside her self-absorption long enough to notice that that cute boy really does like her. The book goes on for some 400 pages, and at some point you’re apt to scream, “Get over yourself already!”I didwhich, I guess, is exactly the point. Maxted reads from and signs copies of her new book at 7 p.m. at Olsson’s Books & Records, 1200 F St. NW. Free. (202) 347-3686. (Tina Plottel)