Mimi

A curmudgeonly New Yorker discovers his inner feminist in Ellmann’s incisive, witty sixth novel (after Doctors & Nurses). When noted plastic surgeon Harrison Hanafan slips on an icy patch of Madison Avenue sidewalk and sprains his ankle, he is aided by a “wacko broad” who puts him in a cab and then disappears. Harrison convalesces by listening to classical music, caring for a rescued stray cat, and panicking over the speech he’s been asked to give for his high school alma mater when, suddenly, he encounters his mysterious savior and a quirky romance blooms. Mimi, his new love, proves a catalyst for discovering how much of his world revolves around the women in his life. He finds excitement and challenge with Mimi, a chief confidant in his older sister, Bee, and an adversary in his high-maintenance ex-girlfriend, Gertrude. Even his cat turns out to be female. When tragedy strikes, Harrison’s ideas on women, culture, and society evolve even faster, and his conclusions crystallize into the speech of a lifetime. Ellmann’s biting, absurd wit drives the oddball plot forward, and despite the tale’s slow pace and Harrison’s occasionally ponderous ramblings, at its heart is a memorable character with a unique voice and a provocative message. Agent: David Godwin, DGA, U.K. (Feb.)