NONFICTION - Dec. 11, 1994

EXCUSE ME FOR ASKING by Janis Arnold. (Algonquin: $18.95; 378 pp.) Two women, Julia and Robin, meet in college and form a passionate, lifelong, somewhat symbiotic friendship. The course of that friendship, its effect on both of them, and others in the small Texas town where they live, is the subject of Janis Arnold’s second novel, “Excuse Me for Asking.”

Arnold’s structure--alternating points of view between Julia, Robin, and their friends and family--gives the whole book an eccentric, syncopated rhythm, which if the characters were stronger, would make it a real pleasure to read. Unfortunately, they are not. Almost everyone in “Excuse Me for Asking” is completely absorbed with Julia, including Julia herself. This might work if she were profound or even funny, but Julia is merely egocentric and doesn’t seem to provide any real goods or services to the world.

Another problems is Arnold’s scope. For some reason, perhaps their solipsism, these characters seem to exist in a glass ball that doesn’t really resonate with the world around us. This may make it difficult for many readers to come away with anything but a vague sense of dissatisfaction.

“Excuse Me for Asking” takes some interesting structural chances, has strong dialogue and nice description. Perhaps, Arnold’s future work will deliver on her obvious potential.