This one will be short because I am posting this from the Salt Lake airport and will be boarding shortly, but I wanted to get something out about at least one of the books I read, before I start getting ridiculously backed up. So, here are the stats:
Title: Nanny Returns
Authors: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
My start date: 3/22/10
My finish date: 3/25/10
This book is the sequel to The Nanny Diaries, which follows the story of Nan as she undertakes nanny responsibilities for the X family, a very upscale New York family. She is to care for their four year old son, Grayer, despite the fact that the mother does not work and spends her time socializing. The book's popularity led to a subsequent film and now we have the sequel.
This novel begins twelve years after the events of the first, when Grayer, now 16, shows up on Nan's doorstep to confront her for leaving him. Thus she becomes once again involved with the X family.
With the exception of some very sharp transitions which were poorly indicated, which may have been due to type set used on my ereader and not really the book's fault, this was a fun read and I could find no faults with it. It was essentially just like the previous book and if you liked the first, you will enjoy the second. However, you really must have read the first book, as otherwise, you will be totally lost. In fact, it had been several years since I had last read the book and felt a little lost in this one. And no, the movie doesn't work as a substitute. Several things had been changed.
My one observation, however, was a comparison between this book and my previously discussed and disliked Chasing Harry Winston. I had to consider the idea that I had such dislike for the later due to my distaste for New York in general. However, this book proves that theory wrong. Yet again I was pulled into a setting in which the downsides of New York life are strenuously highlighted, however in this case I was not so repulsed by the story as a result. So, sorry, it was just the book in the other case.
Ok, boarding now, must run!
Keep reading!
Sarah
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Reading and Writing from th Road...Or Not
Ok, ok, behind again, yep. Hang in there one more day. I have two books to talk about and will hopefully finish a third on the flight tomorrow. But last night I was at a rehearsal and today I was in a wedding all day and then packing, so my deep thoughts have more to do with not tripping on in my heels walking down the aisle and making sure the happy bride has what she needs, and not so much plot highlights and writing appraisals. Back home tomorrow and I will do my best to post literary gold. I better, because the new quarter starts the next day. And here we go again already...
Keep reading!
Sarah
Keep reading!
Sarah
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Multiple Names, Same Idea
Still enjoying the glories of Spring Break. Delightful. And my plan to spend it reading is progressing, although I have not had quite as much reading time as I had anticipated. But definitely more reading has happened than during the school sessions!
Following the Birth of Venus, I wanted to read another light one. I have long been curious about a particular author. Ok, well, not the auther, per se, because I have read and loved her stuff before. However, those were all published under a different name. I am speaking of the best-selling author Sophie Kinsella, whose Shopaholic Series is among my favorite for go to reads. However, this is not her real name and lately she has been putting out works under her real name, Madeleine Wickham. I was curious if I would see any difference between works under the one name and those under the other. So here is what I have come up with. Stats:
Book: The Wedding Girl
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Publisher: Thomas Dunne
Date: 2009
My start date: 3/21/10
My finish date: 3/22/10
For the most part, if you like the books by Kinsella, such as the Shopaholic series, you will like the books published under her real name. They are pretty similar for the most part, although they seem a little less literarily mature, almost as if they were written before she had the experience of the Shopaholics. Which, I suppose, is certainly possible.
My favorite aspect of this books were the stellar plot twists. For the first half I found the story mildly entertaining, but no more. And then, the plot twists started. With as many books as I read, it is hard to really throw me and I always appreciate when a book succeeds. This one did so not only once, not even twice, but there were at least three great twists that really pulled me in. I loved it.
Another great thing here was the handling of certain deep subjects. This book looks like it should be an airy beach read, and indeed it can serve as one. Yet Wickham manages to work in discussion and debate on a number of heavy subjects, and further, to do so without sacrificing the lightness of the book and turning it into political ranting or some sort of morality book. Be prepared to have serious thoughts about divorce, abortion, immigration, and homosexuality without ever leaving the beachy fun that the book promises. The best of both worlds. You can indeed think and have fun simultaneously.
Finally, the characters here are full and engaging. However, there are a lot of them and the perspective switches frequently, which was hard to keep up with, espeically at first. And while I ended up really liking most of the characters, I thought that the character of Alex could have been left out. He was rather flat and seemed superfluous. Also, there were so many characters that at times I would have to stopped for several seconds and cast about trying to remember which names went with which characters. Maybe there were a few too many? However, the abundance of people added to the fun twists I suppose.
So, that is about it for this one. Now that I know that Wickham's books and just as entertaining as those published under her pen name, perhaps we will see some more on this blog.
In the meantime,
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Following the Birth of Venus, I wanted to read another light one. I have long been curious about a particular author. Ok, well, not the auther, per se, because I have read and loved her stuff before. However, those were all published under a different name. I am speaking of the best-selling author Sophie Kinsella, whose Shopaholic Series is among my favorite for go to reads. However, this is not her real name and lately she has been putting out works under her real name, Madeleine Wickham. I was curious if I would see any difference between works under the one name and those under the other. So here is what I have come up with. Stats:
Book: The Wedding Girl
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Publisher: Thomas Dunne
Date: 2009
My start date: 3/21/10
My finish date: 3/22/10
For the most part, if you like the books by Kinsella, such as the Shopaholic series, you will like the books published under her real name. They are pretty similar for the most part, although they seem a little less literarily mature, almost as if they were written before she had the experience of the Shopaholics. Which, I suppose, is certainly possible.
My favorite aspect of this books were the stellar plot twists. For the first half I found the story mildly entertaining, but no more. And then, the plot twists started. With as many books as I read, it is hard to really throw me and I always appreciate when a book succeeds. This one did so not only once, not even twice, but there were at least three great twists that really pulled me in. I loved it.
Another great thing here was the handling of certain deep subjects. This book looks like it should be an airy beach read, and indeed it can serve as one. Yet Wickham manages to work in discussion and debate on a number of heavy subjects, and further, to do so without sacrificing the lightness of the book and turning it into political ranting or some sort of morality book. Be prepared to have serious thoughts about divorce, abortion, immigration, and homosexuality without ever leaving the beachy fun that the book promises. The best of both worlds. You can indeed think and have fun simultaneously.
Finally, the characters here are full and engaging. However, there are a lot of them and the perspective switches frequently, which was hard to keep up with, espeically at first. And while I ended up really liking most of the characters, I thought that the character of Alex could have been left out. He was rather flat and seemed superfluous. Also, there were so many characters that at times I would have to stopped for several seconds and cast about trying to remember which names went with which characters. Maybe there were a few too many? However, the abundance of people added to the fun twists I suppose.
So, that is about it for this one. Now that I know that Wickham's books and just as entertaining as those published under her pen name, perhaps we will see some more on this blog.
In the meantime,
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Monday, March 22, 2010
Renaissance Read
Well, second time through and I still think I like this book, which must mean something, right? I finally finished it, so let's look at the stats:
Title: The Birth of Venus
Author: Sarah Dunant
Publisher: Random House
Date: 2004
My start date: 3-10-10
My finish date: 3-21-10
Dunant's fascinating tale of coming of age in 15th century Florence draws you in and leaves you rivited. As mentioned in yesterday's post, the conditions surrending my read this time around were such that I initially had trouble warming up to the story, but once it really got going, Dunant's writing takes you straight into the story. Her setting is rich. Renaissance Florence was filled with beauty, art, progress, religion and sin and Dunant makes you feel each sensation as if you were there experiencing it yourself. She is not shy in her descriptions and at times the scenes she writes are almost shocking--although not quite to the degree that I described in our previous read, The Gargoyle, but intense and real nonetheless. Although this story is technically about the young Alessandra Cecchi, Dunant almost makes Florence more a character in itself than a setting. If you were ever curious about this period, this is a great way to live vicariously. Her facts seem to mostly check out (although obviously the main character and her family are not real) and the descriptions of art and traditions are exquisite.
Another great aspect of Dunant's story is the depth of her characters. They are truly complex and it is hard to really hate any of them, even the ones that are technically bad guys, because, as in reality, she writes them very multi-faceted. However, I did at times have trouble believing that Alessandra could really act and behave in the way she did. She was technically said to be around 14 or 15 throughout the novel, although at times I think the numbers might not quite have added up, but if she was supposed to be a very young teen, some of the story seemed a bit much for someone so young. That being said, teenhood in the Renaissance would likely have been a very different thing...
If I had any complaints, they were minor and I can't think of any more at the moment. Read this for the imagery and the setting and you won't go wrong. I have just noticed that Sarah Dunant has several other books listed on Amazon, so I might have to add one or more to my read list. We shall see.
In the meantime, I am about thirty pages from done on my next novel, so check back tomorrow!
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Title: The Birth of Venus
Author: Sarah Dunant
Publisher: Random House
Date: 2004
My start date: 3-10-10
My finish date: 3-21-10
Dunant's fascinating tale of coming of age in 15th century Florence draws you in and leaves you rivited. As mentioned in yesterday's post, the conditions surrending my read this time around were such that I initially had trouble warming up to the story, but once it really got going, Dunant's writing takes you straight into the story. Her setting is rich. Renaissance Florence was filled with beauty, art, progress, religion and sin and Dunant makes you feel each sensation as if you were there experiencing it yourself. She is not shy in her descriptions and at times the scenes she writes are almost shocking--although not quite to the degree that I described in our previous read, The Gargoyle, but intense and real nonetheless. Although this story is technically about the young Alessandra Cecchi, Dunant almost makes Florence more a character in itself than a setting. If you were ever curious about this period, this is a great way to live vicariously. Her facts seem to mostly check out (although obviously the main character and her family are not real) and the descriptions of art and traditions are exquisite.
Another great aspect of Dunant's story is the depth of her characters. They are truly complex and it is hard to really hate any of them, even the ones that are technically bad guys, because, as in reality, she writes them very multi-faceted. However, I did at times have trouble believing that Alessandra could really act and behave in the way she did. She was technically said to be around 14 or 15 throughout the novel, although at times I think the numbers might not quite have added up, but if she was supposed to be a very young teen, some of the story seemed a bit much for someone so young. That being said, teenhood in the Renaissance would likely have been a very different thing...
If I had any complaints, they were minor and I can't think of any more at the moment. Read this for the imagery and the setting and you won't go wrong. I have just noticed that Sarah Dunant has several other books listed on Amazon, so I might have to add one or more to my read list. We shall see.
In the meantime, I am about thirty pages from done on my next novel, so check back tomorrow!
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Sunday, March 21, 2010
The Thing About Rereads
Ahhhh. Spring Break. It is a beautiful thing. The first few days have been quite busy, but I am finally getting to a place where I can just read. Being suddenly and unexpectedly snowed in at my sister's certainly doesn't hurt either. I should finish the next book this evening.
However, this one is different from than books I have thus far discussed. I have already read it. It has been several years. I no longer remember almost anything about the plotline. But I have read it before. The only thing I really remember was that I really liked it. Yet this time, the read feels rather different. I can't pinpoint it, but it just doesn't seem like I remember it. Why is that? This difference has led me to really examine the role of the conditions around one while reading.
The first time I read it, it was all in one sitting. I spent the entire day, quite literally, comfortably on the couch, wrapped in soft blankets in front of a crackling fire on a cool autumn evening and read it start to finish. I was enthralled by the book and could not put it down. Fortunately, it was the kind of day when I did not have to.
This go around, however, I started the book under very different circumstances. I picked it up one night during paper writing and only made it through the first chapter before I was overcome by stress related exhaustion and pass out into a deep sleep. Then I could not pick it back up for several more days until I was at a stopping place in writing. Even after the papers were finished, I had packing and trip related errands that needed to be done and so only got to read in bits and pieces over the next many days. It has only been in the last 48 hours or so that I have really had time to get serious with it again.
Unlike the first time, when I found it absolutely a page turner, at first this time I struggled to maintain interest. Until, that is, the last day. Today I have once again found it almost as interesting as the first read and am continuously, even now, thinking about it. So, how much of that is related to the time I am able to dedicate to it and the mood I am in when I read it?
One could assume from this experience that when a book is read in large chunks of time rather than bits and pieces, it is easier to get involved with it. Similarly, reading while stressed makes a book seem less amazing than a book read while calm and comfortable. This all makes sense, but it makes me wonder about all of my other book experiences. I have never before taken notice, let alone recorded, the circumstances of my readings, but now I must wonder how accurately my reviews would read if I tried each book again, potentially under different circumstances. Intriguing.
Anyway, I am enjoying this book again and plan on finishing it this evening. So check back tomorrow for my thoughts on it this time, whatever the circumstances might have been.
In the meantime, happy reading!
Sarah
However, this one is different from than books I have thus far discussed. I have already read it. It has been several years. I no longer remember almost anything about the plotline. But I have read it before. The only thing I really remember was that I really liked it. Yet this time, the read feels rather different. I can't pinpoint it, but it just doesn't seem like I remember it. Why is that? This difference has led me to really examine the role of the conditions around one while reading.
The first time I read it, it was all in one sitting. I spent the entire day, quite literally, comfortably on the couch, wrapped in soft blankets in front of a crackling fire on a cool autumn evening and read it start to finish. I was enthralled by the book and could not put it down. Fortunately, it was the kind of day when I did not have to.
This go around, however, I started the book under very different circumstances. I picked it up one night during paper writing and only made it through the first chapter before I was overcome by stress related exhaustion and pass out into a deep sleep. Then I could not pick it back up for several more days until I was at a stopping place in writing. Even after the papers were finished, I had packing and trip related errands that needed to be done and so only got to read in bits and pieces over the next many days. It has only been in the last 48 hours or so that I have really had time to get serious with it again.
Unlike the first time, when I found it absolutely a page turner, at first this time I struggled to maintain interest. Until, that is, the last day. Today I have once again found it almost as interesting as the first read and am continuously, even now, thinking about it. So, how much of that is related to the time I am able to dedicate to it and the mood I am in when I read it?
One could assume from this experience that when a book is read in large chunks of time rather than bits and pieces, it is easier to get involved with it. Similarly, reading while stressed makes a book seem less amazing than a book read while calm and comfortable. This all makes sense, but it makes me wonder about all of my other book experiences. I have never before taken notice, let alone recorded, the circumstances of my readings, but now I must wonder how accurately my reviews would read if I tried each book again, potentially under different circumstances. Intriguing.
Anyway, I am enjoying this book again and plan on finishing it this evening. So check back tomorrow for my thoughts on it this time, whatever the circumstances might have been.
In the meantime, happy reading!
Sarah
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hit some road bumps, but ready to roll now
Wow....Ok, that was rough. I had no idea when I started this blog and this reading project how my pleasure reading activities would mesh with my very much required academic activities. Now that the winter quarter is over, time to take stock. Through most of the active quarter, this project was very doable. With the exception of a week or two when things got really busy and the reading was exceptionally heavy, I have been able to keep up a good pace. I assumed that during paper writing season, I would be slow, but still able to make some progress. After all, what is more refreshing than time off with a good book? Wrong. Producing multiple 15 to 20 page papers is intense and even when I found a good stopping place, or simply needed to take a break before going insane, the last thing I wanted to do/was able to do was pick up a book of any sort. Most days when I stopped writing it left me starring confusedly at the cieling. Even less appealing than reading was the idea of writing anything at all, even if it was a fun blog. Hmmm, so, that definitely throws a cramp in the project three times a year. I am behind schedule even more now, but as I always must remember, this is supposed to be a project encouraging me to enjoy reading, NOT something that adds more literary stress. Believe me, I have more reading deadlines than anyone really needs. So, I am not worried about being behind. And now, it is time to catch up!
With the quarter over (yay!) and the papers turned in (hallelujah!) I can now turn my attentions to the more enjoyable aspects of the literary world. And I fully intend to do so. While I had initially anticipated having the full two weeks at my disposal to read, the papers ended up dragging over into this week and an unanticipated extension to my travels has kept me running around getting things ready, so that it is already Wednesday and I have had very little time to read. I should have some time tonight, but am also packing. But then I will have several airborne hours in flight that might be able to be used for reading. Fingers crossed.
When we last left off, I had just finished James Patterson's novel, Big Bad Wolf. I had several thoughts on this book, but in the name of full disclosure, I will admit that they are starting to get hazy after all that paper writing. However, Patterson is quite established and this is an older book (relatively speaking, that is) and I am sure there is more information to be found out there. Not to mention that if you ever want to know more about a book than what I have posted, or if you need clarification, you are more than welcome to comment to that effect and I will provide what I can. Anyway, let's see what I do remember. Stats:
Title: The Big Bad Wolf
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Little Brown & Co (which happens to be my favorite)
Date: 2003
My start date: March 2, 2010
My finish date: March 7, 2010
I will start off by pointing out that I am not the target audience for this book, at least not in my opinion. Since the story is written in the first person, I had trouble reading from the perspective of a 40something man. The narrative was slow and too methodical at points, but that is because it builds the character to be that way. However, that did affect the reading for me.
Also, there were occasions where it seemed that maybe Patterson had written the chapters out of order or something to that effect because there were tiny gaps or inconsistencies. Or even more frustrating for me, something would be re-explained as if we were just reading it for the first time. This would happen occasionally when, for example, a character or idea was introduced, but then re-introduced again later, as if he had written the later chapter first and then forgot and introduced it in an earlier chapter. But these are small things.
Patterson is one of the most prolific writers, pretty much ever. So I have to give him credit for that. And he has written some greats. This book is in the Alex Cross series, the same series in which you would find such titles as Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, both of which have been made into movies. This was a typical thriller and while it won't win any prizes for extreme originality, it was mostly fun and just what it wants to be, that is, thrilling. By the end of the book I wanted to know more about the characters and actually looked into picking up another in the series, despite the fact that this is not my usual genre at all. So, I guess that says something, right?
Another tiny little factor that works in this books favor. Some people might not like this, but the chapters were micro-chapters, only spanning at most a dozen or so pages, at times only a page or two. I, however, find this helpful, especially on a busy schedule, which I certainly was that week. I am one of those people who prefers to stop at a chapter break, not just randomly at the end of any old sentance, although the nature of what I do means I am often forced to read this way, snatching whatever moments I can get. This style makes it easy to pick up and put down whenever I had a moment. Big plus for me.
So, that wraps up another book. I tried during that busy time period to work with lighter beach type reads, one traditionally girly and the other traditionally guy-oriented. Surprisingly, I would go with the guy read and could recommend this book to anyone into the thriller genre.
Ok, now, I know in the meantime I have lost and/or bored my loyal readers with my absence, but don't give up on me yet! Over the next nearly two weeks be ready for a ton of new books and updates! I am currently working with a slightly older read that has recently reappeared on the feature shelves, which takes us back to Renaissance Italy. Check back this week for thoughts on The Birth of Venus. Also on the reading list during break: The Lost Symbol, The Art of Racing in the Rain, The Commoner, Mornings in Jenin, The Heretics Daughter, and several more! Check back to see how they turn out!
One last note. I am utterly exhausted from paper writing and packing and the like. Also, I am a horrible speller and also prone to typos. Normally, I proof these posts again shortly after and find tons of mistakes to correct. But I am too tired today. Forgive me. If there are typos today, I will correct them eventually. But not today.
Happy Reading!
Sarah
With the quarter over (yay!) and the papers turned in (hallelujah!) I can now turn my attentions to the more enjoyable aspects of the literary world. And I fully intend to do so. While I had initially anticipated having the full two weeks at my disposal to read, the papers ended up dragging over into this week and an unanticipated extension to my travels has kept me running around getting things ready, so that it is already Wednesday and I have had very little time to read. I should have some time tonight, but am also packing. But then I will have several airborne hours in flight that might be able to be used for reading. Fingers crossed.
When we last left off, I had just finished James Patterson's novel, Big Bad Wolf. I had several thoughts on this book, but in the name of full disclosure, I will admit that they are starting to get hazy after all that paper writing. However, Patterson is quite established and this is an older book (relatively speaking, that is) and I am sure there is more information to be found out there. Not to mention that if you ever want to know more about a book than what I have posted, or if you need clarification, you are more than welcome to comment to that effect and I will provide what I can. Anyway, let's see what I do remember. Stats:
Title: The Big Bad Wolf
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Little Brown & Co (which happens to be my favorite)
Date: 2003
My start date: March 2, 2010
My finish date: March 7, 2010
I will start off by pointing out that I am not the target audience for this book, at least not in my opinion. Since the story is written in the first person, I had trouble reading from the perspective of a 40something man. The narrative was slow and too methodical at points, but that is because it builds the character to be that way. However, that did affect the reading for me.
Also, there were occasions where it seemed that maybe Patterson had written the chapters out of order or something to that effect because there were tiny gaps or inconsistencies. Or even more frustrating for me, something would be re-explained as if we were just reading it for the first time. This would happen occasionally when, for example, a character or idea was introduced, but then re-introduced again later, as if he had written the later chapter first and then forgot and introduced it in an earlier chapter. But these are small things.
Patterson is one of the most prolific writers, pretty much ever. So I have to give him credit for that. And he has written some greats. This book is in the Alex Cross series, the same series in which you would find such titles as Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, both of which have been made into movies. This was a typical thriller and while it won't win any prizes for extreme originality, it was mostly fun and just what it wants to be, that is, thrilling. By the end of the book I wanted to know more about the characters and actually looked into picking up another in the series, despite the fact that this is not my usual genre at all. So, I guess that says something, right?
Another tiny little factor that works in this books favor. Some people might not like this, but the chapters were micro-chapters, only spanning at most a dozen or so pages, at times only a page or two. I, however, find this helpful, especially on a busy schedule, which I certainly was that week. I am one of those people who prefers to stop at a chapter break, not just randomly at the end of any old sentance, although the nature of what I do means I am often forced to read this way, snatching whatever moments I can get. This style makes it easy to pick up and put down whenever I had a moment. Big plus for me.
So, that wraps up another book. I tried during that busy time period to work with lighter beach type reads, one traditionally girly and the other traditionally guy-oriented. Surprisingly, I would go with the guy read and could recommend this book to anyone into the thriller genre.
Ok, now, I know in the meantime I have lost and/or bored my loyal readers with my absence, but don't give up on me yet! Over the next nearly two weeks be ready for a ton of new books and updates! I am currently working with a slightly older read that has recently reappeared on the feature shelves, which takes us back to Renaissance Italy. Check back this week for thoughts on The Birth of Venus. Also on the reading list during break: The Lost Symbol, The Art of Racing in the Rain, The Commoner, Mornings in Jenin, The Heretics Daughter, and several more! Check back to see how they turn out!
One last note. I am utterly exhausted from paper writing and packing and the like. Also, I am a horrible speller and also prone to typos. Normally, I proof these posts again shortly after and find tons of mistakes to correct. But I am too tired today. Forgive me. If there are typos today, I will correct them eventually. But not today.
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Another gap
Yikes, it has been almost a week again! However, being shoulder deep in end of term paper writing, there is very little I can do to remedy that, unfortunately. I will have to come up with a better plan for the end of next quarter so as to avoid this.
I have just finished my next book. Being fed up with serious paper-worthy subjects, I opted for a break and read for an hour or so and that did the trick. However, much as I would love to talk about it, that break was already longer than I really should have allowed myself and instead of giving you the details on my first James Patterson experience, I really must return to the search for truth in the works of G.E. Lessing and Gottfried Leibniz. Which is actually more interesting than it sounds. Just not as interesting and fun fiction. {Sigh} Too bad book reviewing full time doesn't pay very well.
Check back tomorrow for details on the book. And spring break is only days away, so be ready to check often, because I intend to spend the vast majority of it blissfully reading!!
Happy reading!
Sarah
I have just finished my next book. Being fed up with serious paper-worthy subjects, I opted for a break and read for an hour or so and that did the trick. However, much as I would love to talk about it, that break was already longer than I really should have allowed myself and instead of giving you the details on my first James Patterson experience, I really must return to the search for truth in the works of G.E. Lessing and Gottfried Leibniz. Which is actually more interesting than it sounds. Just not as interesting and fun fiction. {Sigh} Too bad book reviewing full time doesn't pay very well.
Check back tomorrow for details on the book. And spring break is only days away, so be ready to check often, because I intend to spend the vast majority of it blissfully reading!!
Happy reading!
Sarah
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Beach read??
Hmmm, so I said I would try not to review the books on here and that I would avoid negative comments. If someone somewhere didn't like the book, it wouldn't have been published, right? Well...I just can't sit here and praise a book that horrified me without at least touching on why I won't be rating this one high on my reread list. {sigh} Sorry, it can't be helped.
With spring break right around the corner, I still have to survive this quarter's "paper season" first and crank out two term papers of decent intelligence in the next two weeks. So I figured I would give some lighter, more vacation style books a chance. And this is what I came up with. Stats:
Title: Chasing Harry Winston
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date: 2008
My start date: 2/28/10
My finish date: 3/1/10
I picked this one up at the grocery store, thinking I would give it a chance because a) I had read Weisberger's previous novel, The Devil Wears Prada, and had absolutely loved it for six months, b)the back cover indicated potential, and perhaps most importantly, c) it was cheap. I only wish I had remembered before the check out line that after those initial six months I reread it and saw the movie and concluded that I hated it. But the fact that I had liked it initially meant something, right?? I should know that those don't necessarily add up to a good recipe.
There are many of you out there who will love this novel. Just because I don't, doesn't mean you won't. It simply isn't my style. I never got into the whole Sex in the City craze and found the whole concept rather disgusting honestly. However, fans of that show may well find a lot to love here. My biggest problem was simply a distaste for, and complete inability to identify with the characters. The story revolves around three best friends who are possibly the most unabashedly pathetic women I have ever read. Now, I apologize to all of you out there who are going to find me "lame", but seriously, when did we decide that caring about ourselves and having a little pride and self-respect made us losers?? When did it become ok to promote disgusting habits as cool?? Come on people!! Let me think back on some of the "fun" here. Well, the main precept is to scorn one of the characters who has, heaven forbid, only slept with three men. Good grief, if you want to sleep around, I certainly won't judge you. However, I do resent the fact that society has deemed it appropriate now to scorn those who do try to maintain some kind of sanctity to their body and have a modicum of respect for themselves by being choosy with the decision of intimacy. This character is having trouble finding herself in life and the solution presented, in all seriousness, is to start a "Tour de Whore" and sleep with as many people as possible. And this isn't some cute little lesson setup, there is no moral at the end in which it is discovered that utter whoredom is not the solution. Continuing on with the list, there are recurring passages in which the delicious wonder (heavy sarcasm on my part) that is smoking is extolled. Again, I won't judge smokers here, but do we really want or need to tempt new and potentially young readers into a habit that is proven to be deadly?? STDs are laughed at, drugs are celebrated and at one point it is concluded that one of the girls is an uptight loser because she uses sunscreen. Sheesh. I was offended again and again, and as previously mentioned in my other posts, I am not easily offended.
My last complaint is more structural. Again, I try to avoid this, because I am not (at least, not yet) an editor or literary agent, so perhaps I don't always know best, but the flow here is lacking, especially as I have read Weisberger's other attempt and know she is capable of better. There are jumps in the plot and between characters that just leave the scenes feeling incomplete and hurried.
Ok, that being said, and considering how much I distained the characters, this book was, admittedly, hard to put down. Obviously, seeing as I finished it in a day and it is nearly four hundred pages. Although, granted, I still have a terrible cold and can't do much else besides read mindless chick lit. The story was cute enough and, horrifying habits and assertions aside, it was kind of fascinating to follow the lives of these New Yorkers living the high life. And I will say that the job Emmy takes sounds infinitely cool. Of the characters, Emmy was the one I came closest to liking. Anyway, if you are heading to the beach or the slopes this spring break (or this spring in general for all of you out there who actually work normal jobs...)and you were, or are a fan of these types of books, you won't be disappointed here. Although not as good as Weisberger's previous novel, she still delivers more or less the same formula here.
Anyway, on to the next. For better or worse, I am sticking to the same formula in continuing on with paper season and choosing another cult popular vacation read, only this time more in the category of a guy read mabye? Anyway, this one is a James Patterson thriller with his Alex Cross character, who I take it has featured in many a book. We will see how much better this one interests me.
Happy reading!
Sarah
With spring break right around the corner, I still have to survive this quarter's "paper season" first and crank out two term papers of decent intelligence in the next two weeks. So I figured I would give some lighter, more vacation style books a chance. And this is what I came up with. Stats:
Title: Chasing Harry Winston
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publisher: Pocket Books
Date: 2008
My start date: 2/28/10
My finish date: 3/1/10
I picked this one up at the grocery store, thinking I would give it a chance because a) I had read Weisberger's previous novel, The Devil Wears Prada, and had absolutely loved it for six months, b)the back cover indicated potential, and perhaps most importantly, c) it was cheap. I only wish I had remembered before the check out line that after those initial six months I reread it and saw the movie and concluded that I hated it. But the fact that I had liked it initially meant something, right?? I should know that those don't necessarily add up to a good recipe.
There are many of you out there who will love this novel. Just because I don't, doesn't mean you won't. It simply isn't my style. I never got into the whole Sex in the City craze and found the whole concept rather disgusting honestly. However, fans of that show may well find a lot to love here. My biggest problem was simply a distaste for, and complete inability to identify with the characters. The story revolves around three best friends who are possibly the most unabashedly pathetic women I have ever read. Now, I apologize to all of you out there who are going to find me "lame", but seriously, when did we decide that caring about ourselves and having a little pride and self-respect made us losers?? When did it become ok to promote disgusting habits as cool?? Come on people!! Let me think back on some of the "fun" here. Well, the main precept is to scorn one of the characters who has, heaven forbid, only slept with three men. Good grief, if you want to sleep around, I certainly won't judge you. However, I do resent the fact that society has deemed it appropriate now to scorn those who do try to maintain some kind of sanctity to their body and have a modicum of respect for themselves by being choosy with the decision of intimacy. This character is having trouble finding herself in life and the solution presented, in all seriousness, is to start a "Tour de Whore" and sleep with as many people as possible. And this isn't some cute little lesson setup, there is no moral at the end in which it is discovered that utter whoredom is not the solution. Continuing on with the list, there are recurring passages in which the delicious wonder (heavy sarcasm on my part) that is smoking is extolled. Again, I won't judge smokers here, but do we really want or need to tempt new and potentially young readers into a habit that is proven to be deadly?? STDs are laughed at, drugs are celebrated and at one point it is concluded that one of the girls is an uptight loser because she uses sunscreen. Sheesh. I was offended again and again, and as previously mentioned in my other posts, I am not easily offended.
My last complaint is more structural. Again, I try to avoid this, because I am not (at least, not yet) an editor or literary agent, so perhaps I don't always know best, but the flow here is lacking, especially as I have read Weisberger's other attempt and know she is capable of better. There are jumps in the plot and between characters that just leave the scenes feeling incomplete and hurried.
Ok, that being said, and considering how much I distained the characters, this book was, admittedly, hard to put down. Obviously, seeing as I finished it in a day and it is nearly four hundred pages. Although, granted, I still have a terrible cold and can't do much else besides read mindless chick lit. The story was cute enough and, horrifying habits and assertions aside, it was kind of fascinating to follow the lives of these New Yorkers living the high life. And I will say that the job Emmy takes sounds infinitely cool. Of the characters, Emmy was the one I came closest to liking. Anyway, if you are heading to the beach or the slopes this spring break (or this spring in general for all of you out there who actually work normal jobs...)and you were, or are a fan of these types of books, you won't be disappointed here. Although not as good as Weisberger's previous novel, she still delivers more or less the same formula here.
Anyway, on to the next. For better or worse, I am sticking to the same formula in continuing on with paper season and choosing another cult popular vacation read, only this time more in the category of a guy read mabye? Anyway, this one is a James Patterson thriller with his Alex Cross character, who I take it has featured in many a book. We will see how much better this one interests me.
Happy reading!
Sarah
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