Slipsliding by the Bay

Perched on the edge of San Francisco, Lakeside College is experiencing an identity crisis. John Gudewill is recruited as president to save the college from possible closure--but he is flummoxed at every turn. The faculty, led by secretive English professor Eliot Blanc, is determined to unionize. The alumni want Lakeside to return to its former status as a women-only college. Meanwhile, Sister Magdalena, the college's infamous artist, is waging war against corporate America through her art, and the students are engaging in their own warfare through sit-ins and protests. With the college besieged on all sides, what is its new president to do? A hilarious spoof of academic intrigue, Slipsliding by the Bay mirrors the societal turmoil and follies of the seventies.  

My Review

I was born in the 80's but author, Barbara McDonald made the 70's seem like fun times. When I first opened this book, I was greeted to a two page list of characters. That is a lot; especially to try and keep straight in a book. Yet, I had no problems doing so. The author did a good job of introducing everyone at the right moments. Plus, all of the characters were a bit eccentric. This made for entertaining and funny reading.

There is sultry librarian, Lucy; boy toy and con artist Noah; gullible college president, Gudewill; and passionate but a bit crazy Sister Magdalena to name a few. There were times when the situations were a bit outlandish but at the same time, I loved those moments for the exact reason. If you want to get a few hours stolen out of your day, than, you need to treat yourself to a copy of Slipsliding by the Bay.