I Take You

Shallow and indecisive Connie Carven makes an unsympathetic heroine in Gemmel’s third novel in her trilogy about women finding themselves and their sexuality outside marriage. Intended as a contemporary retelling of Lady Chatterly’s Lover, with unnecessary Virginia Woolf quotes to separate the brief chapters, Connie’s flimsy story founders under the weight of its literary aspirations. A former model, Connie marries charismatic Cliff, embracing his wealth and glamorous lifestyle in Notting Hill. When a skiing accident leaves Cliff paralyzed, the couple finds marital satisfaction through sexual domination, related in clinical detail. But eventually, Connie loses interest and sets her sights on “a bit of rough”: Mel, the new gardener. Mel encourages Connie to gain weight and read Virginia Woolf, whom she sees as a self-help guru. Though Connie’s affair with Mel intensifies and she claims to be “returned to nature,” she continues to enjoy the rarified privileges Cliff’s wealth allows; she even considers having a baby with Mel, but recoils from raising her child as a commoner. Fans of Gemmel’s The Bride Stripped Bare will seek out this conclusion of the trilogy, but newcomers should start elsewhere. (Jan.)