Swallow by Tonya Plank

With such a memorable title, and such a distinctive a name as “Tonya Plank,” Swallow was an irresistible Kindle 99-cent pick-up for me. The novel’s won a bunch of awards and is head-and-shoulders (and, in this case, throat) above most of the romance-novel bargains which Kindle pushes.

That’s because Swallow is really a mature coming-of-age novel masquerading as chick lit. Its protagonist, Sophie Hegel (get the philosophical undertones?) is succumbing to high pressures on all fronts: she’s getting married, she’s starting out as a lawyer in New York, she’s naturally withdrawn and she can’t handle a lot of the people she has to deal with on a regular basis. The title “Swallow” refers to a psychological issue which creates what Sophie colorfully describes as a “fist-ball” in her throat which keeps her from digesting things. Her family and friends naturally mistake this for an eating disorder, and the inability to swallow also interferes with courtroom decorum.

She has constant awkward encounters with family members, co-workers, defendants and shopkeepers, so the fist-ball just keeps clenching. It’s a terrific device, which adds a sort of Stephen King element to the proceedings. The book’s finish is predictable yet satisfying, but the real enjoyment is in the social stress meter provided by that throbbing throat.