Tears of a Class Clown

by Sara Faith Alterman

Have you ever suffered from FUNNY GIRL SYNDROME? Are you the gal who makes people laugh? Are you considered "a lot of fun" and "a good sport"? Do all your male friends bring you their troubles and ask for your advice--about their girlfriends? If so, you will relate to Nina--a wry, hip, hilarious gal who is sure to make you laugh.

Nina has a roommate who showers with her cat. Nina has a college education she hasn't used. And Nina has waited...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006075592X
• ISBN13: 9780060755928
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Fun read about a class clown

I liked this book a lot, and was surprised by the negative review below. This is the story of a tomboy, Nina, who's a little unsure about the way her life has turned out. She was voted "Class Clown" and "Most Likely to Work at a Comedy Club" in her high school yearbook, but instead of being onstage at a comedy club, she's...behind the bar. Nina's stage fright prevents her from doing her routine for an audience larger than five, but she supplies the jokes for her friend Ben's routine. That's why when there's a contest for newbies, Ben is a little threatened. He's afraid Nina will win. The only problem is, Nina's high school reunion is that night. Should she reconnect with the guy she drifted apart from years ago, or pursue the career she's always dreamed of? She can't go to both, because the reunion is a harbor cruise. I found this book very relatable because whose life is exactly the way they thought it would be in high school? I think reunions arouse these fears and moments of self-assessment in everyone. I also liked the choice she made in the end; it seemed to fit with who she was as a person. Another nice touch was the Boston local color. Like Nina, I grew up in the Boston area, and she nailed the accents, Big Dig, and local personalities with warmth and humor. I'd recommend this book to anyone who's had second thoughts about attending a reunion.

fine character study

She was always known for her wit and comedic barbs culminating in high school when Nina Kurtz was voted "Class Clown". Now almost a decade later, Nina remains the clown on the outside, but inside she is lonely and sad. She has no man and her employment is to tend bar at a comedy club that ironically serves no alcoholic beverages. Nina receives the invitation to attend her tenth anniversary high school reunion, but has no plans of going as she cannot deal with everyone looking at the queen of sass with pity and believing she is a failure. Her high school boyfriend Jacob invites her to be his date at the event. She considers going because her quips never turned him off; instead he enjoyed them. However, her boss plans an improvisation that same night that would allow her a chance to get out from behind the bar as she is positive if she struts she will win. Nina is a fascinating lead character as her insecurities conflict with her skills to rattle quips and her desire to be a stand up comic though she suffers debilitating stage fright. The story line follows her internal skirmish of wanting to see her number one fan vs. performing as she ponders whether she is using Jacob to rationalize not going on stage. Though a fine character study, readers will be disappointed that Sara Faith Alterman didn't dig deeper inside the psyche of her heroine so that we could understand the schizoid of why she wants to perform and why she fears performing. Harriet Klausner