The Man of My Dreams    by Curtis Sittenfeld Order:  USA  Can Random House, 2006 (2006) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch This witty, wry, coming-of-age novel by the author of Prep follows Hannah Gavener from adolescence as she matures into young womanhood. Throughout her life, Hannah is plagued by self-doubt and low self-esteem. Her issues with men, her idealized notions of love, and her strained relationship with her father define her perceptions of herself over the years. Hannah does not feel that she can measure up to her sister Allison, her cousin Fig, or her college friends. To Hannah, everyone else is the barometer against which beauty and coolness is measured. In one well-written scene, Hannah says that she could never have a boyfriend, and when the man she is dating asks her why not, she simply replies, 'Because I’m Hannah.'   With snappy dialogue and an authentic voice, Sittenfeld has the capacity to create strong female characters. As in her first book, Sittenfeld has a knack for tapping into raw emotions and common insecurities. Though this light novel is not as strong as Prep, it is nevertheless a recommended read. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews