Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
254 pages
Seriously, I don't want to give ANYTHING away about this book.
I read it in two days because I couldn't put it down. At work. Every free second. Disturbing. Amazing.
Gillian Flynn is phenomenal. I can't wait for Gone Girl to arrive tomorrow. I will devour it.
You need to read Sharp Objects. NOW.
Showing posts with label fiftyfiftyme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiftyfiftyme. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
book 35
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf
337 pages
I read this book because it was recommended based on my rating of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. It was an okay read. I wasn't too into it, but yesterday I picked it up at page 70 or so and plowed through the rest, because I'm getting really behind on my goal here.
These Things Hidden is a thriller - I guess - that centers around three women. Allison was a perfect teenager, a star student and star athlete, well-liked by everyone. That is, until she gets convicted of drowning her newborn baby girl in the Druid River. When we meet her, she is being released from prison for good behavior, ready to start her life over. Brynn is her sister, a fragile young woman with mental problems and a lot of guilt. She lives with her grandmother and several pets, and wants nothing to do with Allison. Charm is another young woman living in the same town the girls grew up in. She is a nursing student, caring for her sick stepfather, Gus, who has lung cancer and is nearing death. Finally, we have Claire, a mid-40s book store owner and adoptive mother of a 5-year-old boy named Joshua. Claire's shop, Bookends, is the centerpiece around which the characters, except for Brynn, revolve. Charm is a regular customer, and Allison works there after her parole.
The story is told chapter-by-chapter through each woman's eyes. Sometimes they are disconnected, and at other times one leaves off and another picks up right there in the same moment. I was not particularly fond of this method, since there were four women and sometimes I had to stop for a second and realize who was narrating. The chapters are labeled, but still. I've read many books with this method, but maybe because the chapters were so short (1-7 pages each) was what irked me. Allison and Brynn tell the story in first person, Charm and Claire are in third person.
I wasn't very surprised by the reveal, or the ending of the story. I would say I was a little disappointed in the ending. It leaves a lot to be wanted, which I guess is a good sign but I just felt flat. Nothing propelled me to keep reading. I had little sympathy for the characters, although I think I was supposed to. I felt for Charm, she was the most real character to me. I did feel sympathy for her, and at times for Brynn. I understood the characters and their choices. I just kind of felt like I was reading chick-lit with a twist or something. I do not think this book would appeal to men, whereas other thrillers would.
I don't know if I would recommend this book. It kept my attention well enough to read it mostly in one day. Nothing was awful. I wasn't bored. I just felt like "Eh." Therefore, I would say that it isn't one to skip, but not a top priority.
337 pages
I read this book because it was recommended based on my rating of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. It was an okay read. I wasn't too into it, but yesterday I picked it up at page 70 or so and plowed through the rest, because I'm getting really behind on my goal here.
These Things Hidden is a thriller - I guess - that centers around three women. Allison was a perfect teenager, a star student and star athlete, well-liked by everyone. That is, until she gets convicted of drowning her newborn baby girl in the Druid River. When we meet her, she is being released from prison for good behavior, ready to start her life over. Brynn is her sister, a fragile young woman with mental problems and a lot of guilt. She lives with her grandmother and several pets, and wants nothing to do with Allison. Charm is another young woman living in the same town the girls grew up in. She is a nursing student, caring for her sick stepfather, Gus, who has lung cancer and is nearing death. Finally, we have Claire, a mid-40s book store owner and adoptive mother of a 5-year-old boy named Joshua. Claire's shop, Bookends, is the centerpiece around which the characters, except for Brynn, revolve. Charm is a regular customer, and Allison works there after her parole.
The story is told chapter-by-chapter through each woman's eyes. Sometimes they are disconnected, and at other times one leaves off and another picks up right there in the same moment. I was not particularly fond of this method, since there were four women and sometimes I had to stop for a second and realize who was narrating. The chapters are labeled, but still. I've read many books with this method, but maybe because the chapters were so short (1-7 pages each) was what irked me. Allison and Brynn tell the story in first person, Charm and Claire are in third person.
I wasn't very surprised by the reveal, or the ending of the story. I would say I was a little disappointed in the ending. It leaves a lot to be wanted, which I guess is a good sign but I just felt flat. Nothing propelled me to keep reading. I had little sympathy for the characters, although I think I was supposed to. I felt for Charm, she was the most real character to me. I did feel sympathy for her, and at times for Brynn. I understood the characters and their choices. I just kind of felt like I was reading chick-lit with a twist or something. I do not think this book would appeal to men, whereas other thrillers would.
I don't know if I would recommend this book. It kept my attention well enough to read it mostly in one day. Nothing was awful. I wasn't bored. I just felt like "Eh." Therefore, I would say that it isn't one to skip, but not a top priority.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
book 34
Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
342 pages
OK, Emily Giffin. I get it. Disloyalty and infidelity are, like, totally your niche. Please leave your niche. Now.
I put off reading this book because I was told it had the SAME THEME as all her other stuff. And it did. But I'm getting low on my book supply here, and I had to suck it up.. As a result, I am now two books behind on my goal. Thanks, Emily.
I gave this book three stars because I think Giffin writes beautifully. The alliteration in her sentences is effortless, flowing, and lovely. Her story-telling prowess is fantastic. Her inability to write about a theme other than infidelity is really annoying. I think Giffen is effortlessly able to tell her tales, and she sucks you in with the inner dialogues of her characters, but is she really a one trick pony? I'm told her latest book FINALLY diverges from her hard worn path of cheaters, but I'm still gonna wait for it to come out in paperback because I'm mad.
Love the One You're With is the story of Ellen, a young married woman living in NYC with her husband Andy. It opens with Ellen crossing paths with an old flame in a NY crosswalk, and goes from there. She must sort out the feelings she never resolved for Leo while moving forward in her marriage to Andy. Giffin explores the dynamic of intense love vs. platonic love in relationships, of worry vs. comfort. She has conflict down pat. Again, the language is beautiful, the sentence structure perfect. I just cannot give this any more stars because I'm so so so so sooooo tired of her hackneyed theme. Although this story is told differently than the others (they are all different), I can't get passed that one detail.. It is not a tiny detail.
Overall, I enjoyed reaping the benefits of Emily Giffin's clear gift for writing, but could not stomach the tale. I'm begging you, lady, just do something different. Skip this one if you've read her other stuff. Nothing new to see here.
342 pages
OK, Emily Giffin. I get it. Disloyalty and infidelity are, like, totally your niche. Please leave your niche. Now.
I put off reading this book because I was told it had the SAME THEME as all her other stuff. And it did. But I'm getting low on my book supply here, and I had to suck it up.. As a result, I am now two books behind on my goal. Thanks, Emily.
I gave this book three stars because I think Giffin writes beautifully. The alliteration in her sentences is effortless, flowing, and lovely. Her story-telling prowess is fantastic. Her inability to write about a theme other than infidelity is really annoying. I think Giffen is effortlessly able to tell her tales, and she sucks you in with the inner dialogues of her characters, but is she really a one trick pony? I'm told her latest book FINALLY diverges from her hard worn path of cheaters, but I'm still gonna wait for it to come out in paperback because I'm mad.
Love the One You're With is the story of Ellen, a young married woman living in NYC with her husband Andy. It opens with Ellen crossing paths with an old flame in a NY crosswalk, and goes from there. She must sort out the feelings she never resolved for Leo while moving forward in her marriage to Andy. Giffin explores the dynamic of intense love vs. platonic love in relationships, of worry vs. comfort. She has conflict down pat. Again, the language is beautiful, the sentence structure perfect. I just cannot give this any more stars because I'm so so so so sooooo tired of her hackneyed theme. Although this story is told differently than the others (they are all different), I can't get passed that one detail.. It is not a tiny detail.
Overall, I enjoyed reaping the benefits of Emily Giffin's clear gift for writing, but could not stomach the tale. I'm begging you, lady, just do something different. Skip this one if you've read her other stuff. Nothing new to see here.
Monday, September 3, 2012
book 33
How to Bake a Perfect Life by Barbara O'Neal
395 pages (copied from my Goodreads review - hence the references to other reviews etc)
I loved How to Bake a Perfect Life. LOVED it. Read it in less than 2 days. Couldn't put it down, couldn't go to bed because I was so into it. I've read a lot of the other reviews that say it's typical chick-lit, but I don't know what kind of chick-lit those people are reading. This has some depth and deals with emotion and growth through generations of women. Sure it was predictable, but whatever. Do we read for surprises, or for the story, how it unfolds, how characters learn and grow? Do we judge a book by the fact that it has a beginning and an end? So what if you can tell what's going to happen - this was not a mystery novel. There was no suspense.
As with most of the books I end up loving, I'd put off reading this after other back covers were more appealing to me. I'm mad at myself for putting it off, though, as it turned out to be utterly fantastic.
Here is a breakdown of the plot without any spoilers:
Ramona is a 40-year-old small business owner. She owns a bakery, or rather a boulangerie, on the first floor of her old Victorian home in Colorado Springs. She is struggling to keep the business afloat when we meet her, as she had not expected the heavy costs associated with the upkeep of a very old home. Ramona got pregnant when she was 15, and has a 25-year-old daughter, Sofia. Sofia is married to a career soldier, deployed in Afghanistan. When we meet these women, they are in Ramona's kitchen when the phone rings. Of course it's the military, reporting that Sofia's husband, Oscar, has been badly wounded in an attack. 8-months pregnant, she rushes to Germany to be by his side, leaving Ramona to care for 13-year-old Katie, Oscars daughter from a previous marriage. Katie's mom is meth addict in rehab, and was due to arrive to live with Sofia for the foreseeable future.
We learn about Ramona at 15, her summer with her aunt Poppy, and her life-changing friendship with a record store clerk named Jonah. Ramona's story is told in first person, Sofia's through journal entries, and Katie's in short third-person chapters. Mainly it is Ramona's story, but the other women have their own sides of what goes on. The women in the story have real feelings and deal with real problems. Don't get me wrong, if you look at my shelves I clearly have NO PROBLEM reading about women who have problems like whether they should purchase the new Prada bag or the new Tori Burch jeans - but those aren't real problems, are they? No, those are CHICK-LIT problems. Grappling with trust issues, learning to love, facing the unexpected - these are real life issues that I wouldn't dare call chick lit.
Do not miss How to Bake a Perfect life! It is gripping and exceedingly well written. Just don't expect a suspense story out of women's fiction.
Friday, August 31, 2012
book 32
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
345 pages
I have zero complaints about this book, not even one little nagging complaint. None.
Dark Places was an amazing read. I could not put it down, and I was mad at bedtime when I literally HAD TO. This morning I awoke thinking I would finish it and, though it took me the greater part of the day, I did.
As I was reading, I was always trying to scan ahead to the next paragraph, desperate to know what was happening. This obviously made it take longer than necessary to read. Although I have a habit of trying to read the end of books first (I'm SO impatient!), and I did here, I was STILL surprised and had to go back and re-read sections to see how I missed that - only to find there was no way to have known. The plot was intricate but not in a way that was forced. No suspension of disbelief needed for even one second. The characters were extremely real, the prose was fantastic, and it is no surprise that this was a bestseller.
As a connoisseur of chick-lit I occasionally tried to shove love into the plot but it wasn't a chick-lit book. That was refreshing to me. Don't get me wrong, I love chick-lit more than any other genre in the world, but I guess maybe I need to broaden my horizons a bit. In fact, I went onto Amazon this morning and ordered Flynn's debut as well.. Her most recent work is not available in paperback, so I'll wait a little to see if it is released in that format before I cave an order it in hardcover.
I highly recommend Dark Places. It's a twisted mystery/suspense novel that would appeal to any gender, race or class. READ IT NOW.
345 pages
I have zero complaints about this book, not even one little nagging complaint. None.
Dark Places was an amazing read. I could not put it down, and I was mad at bedtime when I literally HAD TO. This morning I awoke thinking I would finish it and, though it took me the greater part of the day, I did.
As I was reading, I was always trying to scan ahead to the next paragraph, desperate to know what was happening. This obviously made it take longer than necessary to read. Although I have a habit of trying to read the end of books first (I'm SO impatient!), and I did here, I was STILL surprised and had to go back and re-read sections to see how I missed that - only to find there was no way to have known. The plot was intricate but not in a way that was forced. No suspension of disbelief needed for even one second. The characters were extremely real, the prose was fantastic, and it is no surprise that this was a bestseller.
As a connoisseur of chick-lit I occasionally tried to shove love into the plot but it wasn't a chick-lit book. That was refreshing to me. Don't get me wrong, I love chick-lit more than any other genre in the world, but I guess maybe I need to broaden my horizons a bit. In fact, I went onto Amazon this morning and ordered Flynn's debut as well.. Her most recent work is not available in paperback, so I'll wait a little to see if it is released in that format before I cave an order it in hardcover.
I highly recommend Dark Places. It's a twisted mystery/suspense novel that would appeal to any gender, race or class. READ IT NOW.
Monday, August 27, 2012
movie 18
The Devil Wears Prada
Ok. So I obviously just finished the book and I thought I could watch the movie right away on demand. I was excited. I'm like 30 minutes into the movie right now and I'm already disappointed. I know, that's how the movie always goes.. but seriously. Emily is a huge bitch, which in the book she was bitchy but somewhat sympathetic. Here she is British and very mean. Miranda actually TALKS to Andy, which would never happen in the book. Alex and Andy live together and there hasn't been anything about his job or the fact that they never see each other. Lily is practically non-existant. Andy is mousy and sad instead of being sarcastic and biting. The current scene is one in which Andy and her people are gathered at a bar and she's actually extolling the virtues of Runway. NO.
Where is Jeffy? Why does Nigel have a significant role? Why does Christian have a different last name?
Wait, Alex (is that EVEN his name? Because it's not been said yet) is a chef? Really? No, he's a teacher. UGH. His name is Nate? What was wrong with Alex?
Why is Andy getting things right? That's not supposed to happen - the Harry Potter thing is all wrong.
And now Miranda CHOSE to bring Andy to Paris? Wait. No, Emily gets mono. This makes me mad. It doesn't really capture the essence of the book AT ALL.
None of this is right. Read the book. Skip the movie.
Ok. So I obviously just finished the book and I thought I could watch the movie right away on demand. I was excited. I'm like 30 minutes into the movie right now and I'm already disappointed. I know, that's how the movie always goes.. but seriously. Emily is a huge bitch, which in the book she was bitchy but somewhat sympathetic. Here she is British and very mean. Miranda actually TALKS to Andy, which would never happen in the book. Alex and Andy live together and there hasn't been anything about his job or the fact that they never see each other. Lily is practically non-existant. Andy is mousy and sad instead of being sarcastic and biting. The current scene is one in which Andy and her people are gathered at a bar and she's actually extolling the virtues of Runway. NO.
Where is Jeffy? Why does Nigel have a significant role? Why does Christian have a different last name?
Wait, Alex (is that EVEN his name? Because it's not been said yet) is a chef? Really? No, he's a teacher. UGH. His name is Nate? What was wrong with Alex?
Why is Andy getting things right? That's not supposed to happen - the Harry Potter thing is all wrong.
And now Miranda CHOSE to bring Andy to Paris? Wait. No, Emily gets mono. This makes me mad. It doesn't really capture the essence of the book AT ALL.
None of this is right. Read the book. Skip the movie.
book 31
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
360 pages
Funnily enough, although this was Lauren Weisberger's debut novel, it is the las by her that I read. I've now completed her entire line of novels and I'd started with her most recent (at the time). The last time I reviewed a novel by Weisberger, I'd complained it was too much like another I'd read, so I was a little reluctant to read The Devil Wears Prada. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by TDWP and have the movie all set On Demand to start as soon as I finish this review.
Andrea (Andy) Sachs is a bright-eyed recent college-grad looking to get a job in the magazine industry. Her dream is to work for The New Yorker, but she wanders into a job at Runway, the most "it" fashion magazine around. She ends up as the junior assistant to the editor, an insanely demanding woman named Miranda Priestly. The novel reads like a memoir with little flashbacks and changes in time, but mostly follows along chronologically. Andy has a best friend, Lily, who has a drinking problem, a do-gooder boyfriend, and, of course, an extremely challenging boss and a life-consuming job.
The story is told with wit and humor, and I was always eager to find out what was going to happen next. I wanted to see how long Andy would be able to ut up with Miranda, whether she would eventually come around to the fashion world insanity, or if Miranda would ever soften. The progression was satisfying and not as predictable (although not unbelievable at all) as I would have expected. I truly enjoyed reading this book and, as I've literally JUST finished the book, I'm a little sad that it's over.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone at any time. It isn't pigeon-holed into summer beach read or anything, and I think it would appeal to many ages. Although, as it spend forever on the NYT best-seller list, I'm sure most literate people have already read it! But if you haven't, you should!
360 pages
Funnily enough, although this was Lauren Weisberger's debut novel, it is the las by her that I read. I've now completed her entire line of novels and I'd started with her most recent (at the time). The last time I reviewed a novel by Weisberger, I'd complained it was too much like another I'd read, so I was a little reluctant to read The Devil Wears Prada. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by TDWP and have the movie all set On Demand to start as soon as I finish this review.
Andrea (Andy) Sachs is a bright-eyed recent college-grad looking to get a job in the magazine industry. Her dream is to work for The New Yorker, but she wanders into a job at Runway, the most "it" fashion magazine around. She ends up as the junior assistant to the editor, an insanely demanding woman named Miranda Priestly. The novel reads like a memoir with little flashbacks and changes in time, but mostly follows along chronologically. Andy has a best friend, Lily, who has a drinking problem, a do-gooder boyfriend, and, of course, an extremely challenging boss and a life-consuming job.
The story is told with wit and humor, and I was always eager to find out what was going to happen next. I wanted to see how long Andy would be able to ut up with Miranda, whether she would eventually come around to the fashion world insanity, or if Miranda would ever soften. The progression was satisfying and not as predictable (although not unbelievable at all) as I would have expected. I truly enjoyed reading this book and, as I've literally JUST finished the book, I'm a little sad that it's over.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone at any time. It isn't pigeon-holed into summer beach read or anything, and I think it would appeal to many ages. Although, as it spend forever on the NYT best-seller list, I'm sure most literate people have already read it! But if you haven't, you should!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
book 30
Swapping Lives by Jane Green
416 pages
Unfortunately, I finished this book over a week ago and didn't get around to the review until now so it's not really fresh in my head. I did like it, and I breezed through it like all the other chick-lit books I ever read. I really like Jane Green, and I like her style. This book narrates a little differently, and I enjoyed that. It felt almost like we were watching things unfold, it was a little different than I'm used to and a pleasant change.
One thing really annoyed me: TWO characters named Deborah? Really? At first I thought that the Deborah in the US with a British accent would turn out to be the Same Deborah that does work for Vicky in Poise! magazine, but no. It was somewhat confusing. There are gazillions of girls names, why use the same one twice? UGH.
Otherwise, the premise was actually believable - a mid-30s single London magazine editor swaps lives with a mid-30s American rich housewife to see if the grass is actually greener. This is all for an article in the magazine.. the two women don't magically wake up in another body, there's no funny business, and it progresses as I would imagine it would have in real life. I didn't have much reality suspending to do.
I would definitely recommend this book as a good summer read, something easy, light, and great. Another job well done, Jane Green!!!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
movies 16 & 17
Both of these movies were not anything I would recommend:
The Killer Inside Me - starred Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson. The Blu-ray case said it was "visually stimulating." If by that the quoted reviewer meant bloody and disgusting, making me continually LITERALLY want to vomit, then yes. Visually stimulating. I'm just upset we paid money for it.
Badlands - we Netflixed this because we are going to the Badlands in a week. Steve had seen it before and he wanted it. I did NOT enjoy this. Lots of killing, AGAIN. I like GIRLY things. Romantic comedies. Chick lit. I might ban him from choosing movies anymore, because, seriously, I can't do this killing, blood and guts.
For serious, if you like watching people be beat to death or shot in the face and slowly die, see these. If not, no.
The Killer Inside Me - starred Casey Affleck and Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson. The Blu-ray case said it was "visually stimulating." If by that the quoted reviewer meant bloody and disgusting, making me continually LITERALLY want to vomit, then yes. Visually stimulating. I'm just upset we paid money for it.
Badlands - we Netflixed this because we are going to the Badlands in a week. Steve had seen it before and he wanted it. I did NOT enjoy this. Lots of killing, AGAIN. I like GIRLY things. Romantic comedies. Chick lit. I might ban him from choosing movies anymore, because, seriously, I can't do this killing, blood and guts.
For serious, if you like watching people be beat to death or shot in the face and slowly die, see these. If not, no.
book 29
Honey On Your Mind by Maria Murnane
298 pages
I love the Waverly Bryson series! I'm so happy I stumbled on Perfect on Paper a few months back, and I'm thrilled that this has become a series.. I pre-ordered Honey on Your Mind so I could get it the day it was published, and it came last week, and I'm done. Now I'm a little sad, because I know it will be a minute before the next chapter of Waverly's life begins!!!
I like Waverly because she is real. I feel like I'm hanging out with her and she's recounting her drama. I think I probably said that already when reviewing either of the other two books by Maria Murnane, but it's ok.
In Honey on Your Mind, we start out by finding that Waverly's just accepted a job hosting a segment on a new day-time talk show called Love, Wendy. We already met Wendy Davenport in It's a Waverly Life, so this seemed like a natural progression. So Waverly is moving across the country to start a new life in New York City, ready to begin a TV career and launch her Honey line. Being a lifelong New Yorker, I could identify with a lot of what was happening, the locations of course, and the experience. Although I moved to the city when I was 18 and not 32, it was still a similar experience.
I really love the characters, I love how they've grown, how some of Waverly's annoying quirks have disappeared yet her cute ones remain. Jake is still fantastic, her friends are moving along in their lives, and it's just very real and believable (except that all of her friends are very successful - either in sports or banking or whatever else it is they do - where is the failure friend hahaha).
I would STILL highly recommend this series, and even more so to see now how things have developed and progressed!!!!!!!!!
298 pages
I love the Waverly Bryson series! I'm so happy I stumbled on Perfect on Paper a few months back, and I'm thrilled that this has become a series.. I pre-ordered Honey on Your Mind so I could get it the day it was published, and it came last week, and I'm done. Now I'm a little sad, because I know it will be a minute before the next chapter of Waverly's life begins!!!
I like Waverly because she is real. I feel like I'm hanging out with her and she's recounting her drama. I think I probably said that already when reviewing either of the other two books by Maria Murnane, but it's ok.
In Honey on Your Mind, we start out by finding that Waverly's just accepted a job hosting a segment on a new day-time talk show called Love, Wendy. We already met Wendy Davenport in It's a Waverly Life, so this seemed like a natural progression. So Waverly is moving across the country to start a new life in New York City, ready to begin a TV career and launch her Honey line. Being a lifelong New Yorker, I could identify with a lot of what was happening, the locations of course, and the experience. Although I moved to the city when I was 18 and not 32, it was still a similar experience.
I really love the characters, I love how they've grown, how some of Waverly's annoying quirks have disappeared yet her cute ones remain. Jake is still fantastic, her friends are moving along in their lives, and it's just very real and believable (except that all of her friends are very successful - either in sports or banking or whatever else it is they do - where is the failure friend hahaha).
I would STILL highly recommend this series, and even more so to see now how things have developed and progressed!!!!!!!!!
book 28
Sleeping Arrangements by Madeline Wickham
320 pages
Sleeping Arrangements was what I expected. It is typical Wickham, which I enjoy, so there isn't much to say. It wasn't too obvious, which was nice.
Chloe is a dressmaker in a long-term partnership with her guy Philip. They and their two children are about to embark on a much needed holiday to Spain, they have much stress in their lives and are looking forward to the getaway. Hugh and Amanda are married with two little girls and live a very different lifestyle than Chloe and Philip. Their worlds will collide when they arrive at the villa in Spain to find it double-booked, but that's not the only surprise that will be forthcoming.
I didn't feel like I was constantly predicting what would happen next although it did fit into the genre nicely (which overall is a bit predictable). I read Sleeping Arrangements really quickly, and I wanted to keep going to see what would happen and how things would turn out. The subject matter is adult, full of adult choices and sort of real.
Definitely would recommend for a nice beach read!
320 pages
Sleeping Arrangements was what I expected. It is typical Wickham, which I enjoy, so there isn't much to say. It wasn't too obvious, which was nice.
Chloe is a dressmaker in a long-term partnership with her guy Philip. They and their two children are about to embark on a much needed holiday to Spain, they have much stress in their lives and are looking forward to the getaway. Hugh and Amanda are married with two little girls and live a very different lifestyle than Chloe and Philip. Their worlds will collide when they arrive at the villa in Spain to find it double-booked, but that's not the only surprise that will be forthcoming.
I didn't feel like I was constantly predicting what would happen next although it did fit into the genre nicely (which overall is a bit predictable). I read Sleeping Arrangements really quickly, and I wanted to keep going to see what would happen and how things would turn out. The subject matter is adult, full of adult choices and sort of real.
Definitely would recommend for a nice beach read!
Friday, July 27, 2012
book 27
Faking It by Elisa Lorello
288 pages
I purchased Faking It because I'm a Long Island girl. I was very interested in reading a book that took place in my backyard (although I live in NJ now, I pretty much conduct 95% of my life on LI still). I enjoyed reading about places I've frequented and that was nice. Otherwise I wasn't terribly impressed. I wasn't BORED, and I kept on reading (as always), but nothing about the story really enamored me of the characters or the tale being told. I didn't think the story was especially believable. I don't know if life is really like Andi's. I enjoyed the writing in that it was extremely well-written and the characters were well-developed and generally likable. However, nothing really GRABBED me. I didn't feel for Andi much. She kind of annoyed me. I wasn't compelled to root for her. The Devin character was somewhat believable, but the end result wasn't. I'm trying not to give anything away here so what's happening is I'm being extremely vague.
Overall I would recommend this book to people who are interested in grammatically correct, technical fiction. If you want a lazy, fun read, grab a Kinsella or a Weiner instead.
288 pages
I purchased Faking It because I'm a Long Island girl. I was very interested in reading a book that took place in my backyard (although I live in NJ now, I pretty much conduct 95% of my life on LI still). I enjoyed reading about places I've frequented and that was nice. Otherwise I wasn't terribly impressed. I wasn't BORED, and I kept on reading (as always), but nothing about the story really enamored me of the characters or the tale being told. I didn't think the story was especially believable. I don't know if life is really like Andi's. I enjoyed the writing in that it was extremely well-written and the characters were well-developed and generally likable. However, nothing really GRABBED me. I didn't feel for Andi much. She kind of annoyed me. I wasn't compelled to root for her. The Devin character was somewhat believable, but the end result wasn't. I'm trying not to give anything away here so what's happening is I'm being extremely vague.
Overall I would recommend this book to people who are interested in grammatically correct, technical fiction. If you want a lazy, fun read, grab a Kinsella or a Weiner instead.
Friday, July 13, 2012
book 26
Then Came You: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
338 pages
Then Came You is the story of four VERY different women. Annie is a young housewife and mother. At 24 years old, she had married her high school sweetheart straight out of high school as was the way in the town she grew up in. Annie and her family have very little money and she wants to contribute to the household in order to have a nicer life. Jules is a college senior who has trouble connecting to other human beings. While she has relationships with others, they are all sort of at the surface - she has acquaintances and colleagues, not friends. Jules' father is an addict, and she would do anything to help him get sober. Jules is also a girl of limited means, attending Princeton on full scholarship. India is a very wealthy woman from humble roots. While looking for a rich man to marry, she meets Marcus and they do marry, giving her everything she ever dreamed of - except she cannot have a baby. The worlds of these three women collide at Princeton Fertility Clinic, where Jules' sells her eggs to get her father into rehab, Annie becomes a surrogate to help her family with the much needed cash, and India is the one supplying both women with the money they are looking for. Finally, Bettina is Marcus' daughter, who, upon meeting India, becomes very suspicious that she is a gold-digger and only marrying her dad for the money.
The story is told through each woman in a series of chapters from each perspective. Something I really enjoyed about this book was the very complex relationships established between men and women - not only do the characters struggle within their romantic relationships, they have relationships with each other and must navigate through unchartered waters at times. Each woman discovers something about herself as the story progresses, their layered and complex personalities and histories becoming clearer and more entwined as time passes. Additionally, one finds the theme of class throughout the novel, something that isn't always addressed in "chick lit" (as Weiner notes in the interview at the end of the book). I picked up on this theme prior to reading the interview, and I thought it was refreshing as well as adding another layer to an already complicated story. However, the complications and complexities did not take away from the story - they only served to enhance the tale as it was told.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book to women of all ages, all classes, and all genre-favoring groups. Read it NOW!
338 pages
Then Came You is the story of four VERY different women. Annie is a young housewife and mother. At 24 years old, she had married her high school sweetheart straight out of high school as was the way in the town she grew up in. Annie and her family have very little money and she wants to contribute to the household in order to have a nicer life. Jules is a college senior who has trouble connecting to other human beings. While she has relationships with others, they are all sort of at the surface - she has acquaintances and colleagues, not friends. Jules' father is an addict, and she would do anything to help him get sober. Jules is also a girl of limited means, attending Princeton on full scholarship. India is a very wealthy woman from humble roots. While looking for a rich man to marry, she meets Marcus and they do marry, giving her everything she ever dreamed of - except she cannot have a baby. The worlds of these three women collide at Princeton Fertility Clinic, where Jules' sells her eggs to get her father into rehab, Annie becomes a surrogate to help her family with the much needed cash, and India is the one supplying both women with the money they are looking for. Finally, Bettina is Marcus' daughter, who, upon meeting India, becomes very suspicious that she is a gold-digger and only marrying her dad for the money.
The story is told through each woman in a series of chapters from each perspective. Something I really enjoyed about this book was the very complex relationships established between men and women - not only do the characters struggle within their romantic relationships, they have relationships with each other and must navigate through unchartered waters at times. Each woman discovers something about herself as the story progresses, their layered and complex personalities and histories becoming clearer and more entwined as time passes. Additionally, one finds the theme of class throughout the novel, something that isn't always addressed in "chick lit" (as Weiner notes in the interview at the end of the book). I picked up on this theme prior to reading the interview, and I thought it was refreshing as well as adding another layer to an already complicated story. However, the complications and complexities did not take away from the story - they only served to enhance the tale as it was told.
I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book to women of all ages, all classes, and all genre-favoring groups. Read it NOW!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
movie 15
Marley & Me
Ok, so I totally neglected to update my Netflix queue when I sent back my last movie and this is what came. Now I love Jennifer Aniston, so it wasn't like I dreaded watching it, but I was like "oh, this might be lame." I was wrong wrong wrong!!! I really enjoyed the story, watching this couple from their wedding day, adopting a puppy, and starting/growing a family together all told through this crazy family pet.
As a cat owner I could relate to an animal getting older, how it is so intricately intertwined in your family, and how painful it can be to say goodbye. I've had several cats and my current cat is now almost 7 years old, so the fragility of her life is always on my mind even though I know it's totally premature.
I watched alone, I laughed and I cried. I know there is no way in hell that Steve would have watched this with me even though I don't think he would have hated it.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves animals!
Ok, so I totally neglected to update my Netflix queue when I sent back my last movie and this is what came. Now I love Jennifer Aniston, so it wasn't like I dreaded watching it, but I was like "oh, this might be lame." I was wrong wrong wrong!!! I really enjoyed the story, watching this couple from their wedding day, adopting a puppy, and starting/growing a family together all told through this crazy family pet.
As a cat owner I could relate to an animal getting older, how it is so intricately intertwined in your family, and how painful it can be to say goodbye. I've had several cats and my current cat is now almost 7 years old, so the fragility of her life is always on my mind even though I know it's totally premature.
I watched alone, I laughed and I cried. I know there is no way in hell that Steve would have watched this with me even though I don't think he would have hated it.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves animals!
book 25
Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger
368 pages
I recently read Everyone Worth Knowing and I loved it. Last Night at Chateau Marmont? Not so much. It followed the structure of EWK so closely - a young woman gets thrown into the spotlight and tabloids overnight. Celebrity names abound. Yadda yadda yadda. I felt like yelling "Hey Lauren, you already did this, just a little different!" So that was lame.
Actually, it's kind of a strange coincidence that I read this book randomly right now. My boyfriend is currently in Japan on tour with his band (that broke up in 2003.. apparently Japanese people still dig them) and I'm grappling with some of the same issues that Brooke struggled with while Julian was away. In that way, I could REALLY relate to the story.. Feeling left out, how it feels bad to work so hard and not get to share in the rewards he is reaping.. So there's that, which kept me pretty glued to the book.
A couple of things annoyed me (as usual). Well, I can really only think of one thing besides the above mentioned similarity to another book by the same author.. The book is told in third person, which I sort of enjoyed, but Weiseberger uses the same phrases repeatedly - "it was all Brooke could do not to [insert action]".. '[character] was holding court..." .. "[character] slammed the table with his/her palm".. it happened less as the book progressed, but I don't know, these things bother me. Maybe they don't bother other people. Maybe I'm crazy.
As I got to the last two-thirds of the book, I was anxious to finish and see how it all played out so that was also a redeeming factor. Overall, it was a decent read and I think I'd have liked it much better had it not been a rehashed tale told differently.
368 pages
I recently read Everyone Worth Knowing and I loved it. Last Night at Chateau Marmont? Not so much. It followed the structure of EWK so closely - a young woman gets thrown into the spotlight and tabloids overnight. Celebrity names abound. Yadda yadda yadda. I felt like yelling "Hey Lauren, you already did this, just a little different!" So that was lame.
Actually, it's kind of a strange coincidence that I read this book randomly right now. My boyfriend is currently in Japan on tour with his band (that broke up in 2003.. apparently Japanese people still dig them) and I'm grappling with some of the same issues that Brooke struggled with while Julian was away. In that way, I could REALLY relate to the story.. Feeling left out, how it feels bad to work so hard and not get to share in the rewards he is reaping.. So there's that, which kept me pretty glued to the book.
A couple of things annoyed me (as usual). Well, I can really only think of one thing besides the above mentioned similarity to another book by the same author.. The book is told in third person, which I sort of enjoyed, but Weiseberger uses the same phrases repeatedly - "it was all Brooke could do not to [insert action]".. '[character] was holding court..." .. "[character] slammed the table with his/her palm".. it happened less as the book progressed, but I don't know, these things bother me. Maybe they don't bother other people. Maybe I'm crazy.
As I got to the last two-thirds of the book, I was anxious to finish and see how it all played out so that was also a redeeming factor. Overall, it was a decent read and I think I'd have liked it much better had it not been a rehashed tale told differently.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
movie 14
Friends With Benefits
I really enjoyed this movie!!!!!!!!!!! I looove Mila Kunis, so that worked out for me, and I hadn't seen anything else that Justin Timberlake had done, but I was pleasantly surprised. My cousin Angela and her husband were flipping through channels and this was just starting.. They said they had seen in like five times, but it was great and watched it again. I'm glad they did!
I like how Friends With Benefits consistently points out that movies aren't like real life while also being a movie not like real life.. In some ways it was, but it was definitely a bit satirical in the way it was made. The movie kept my attention throughout and I would even go so far as to say I was sad when it ended!!!!
I would HIGHLY recommend this movie to men and women alike, as it has tons of appeal and even more laughs. Go see it now!!!
I really enjoyed this movie!!!!!!!!!!! I looove Mila Kunis, so that worked out for me, and I hadn't seen anything else that Justin Timberlake had done, but I was pleasantly surprised. My cousin Angela and her husband were flipping through channels and this was just starting.. They said they had seen in like five times, but it was great and watched it again. I'm glad they did!
I like how Friends With Benefits consistently points out that movies aren't like real life while also being a movie not like real life.. In some ways it was, but it was definitely a bit satirical in the way it was made. The movie kept my attention throughout and I would even go so far as to say I was sad when it ended!!!!
I would HIGHLY recommend this movie to men and women alike, as it has tons of appeal and even more laughs. Go see it now!!!
movie 13
That's My Boy
UGH. hahaha. I was in Florida and it was a tropical storm, so we couldn't go to Universal or the beach as we'd planned, so my cousin and I drove to Clermont to see a movie. When we got there, our choices were Prometheus, Men in Black II, or this. We chose That's My Boy since it was a comedy.
I really don't love these movies that were totally made for dudes. I kind of like Adam Sandler, but mostly in his serious funny roles.. It was funny to see Vanilla Ice, though, and I guess it was basically a good movie. The end was WEIRD WEIRD WEIRD and it was totally dreamt up by a VERY SICK mind. That's all I will say about that.
Overall I was satisfied by the movie's intent, which was to pass time on a rainy day. I don't think I would recommend it at all, though.
UGH. hahaha. I was in Florida and it was a tropical storm, so we couldn't go to Universal or the beach as we'd planned, so my cousin and I drove to Clermont to see a movie. When we got there, our choices were Prometheus, Men in Black II, or this. We chose That's My Boy since it was a comedy.
I really don't love these movies that were totally made for dudes. I kind of like Adam Sandler, but mostly in his serious funny roles.. It was funny to see Vanilla Ice, though, and I guess it was basically a good movie. The end was WEIRD WEIRD WEIRD and it was totally dreamt up by a VERY SICK mind. That's all I will say about that.
Overall I was satisfied by the movie's intent, which was to pass time on a rainy day. I don't think I would recommend it at all, though.
book 24
The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
338 pages
Actually, I wasn't too impressed with The Wedding Girl. I mean, it was okay but it was VERY unrealistic. The thought of someone neglecting to admit that she had married someone so he could stay in the country is sort of absurd.. like, if you were getting married, don't you think you might think to yourself "I'd better make sure I'm not still married"????
Milly was an overall likable character (except, of course, for the above mentioned stupidity). You could get in her corner and hope it all works out for her. You wanted her to be happy. Simon was not at all likable, I have no idea what Milly saw in him.. he came across as a brat who would never be happy ever. Also, the Isobel/Milly relationships weird stuff was just that - weird. I won't say anything and give it away, but it was bizarre and I don't think I liked it.
I found this bok to be very readable, I finished it quickly and wasn't bored, it was just unrealistic and weird at times. I hope the other books by Madeleine Wickham have better story lines since I've read all of her work published as Sophie Kinsella already!!!!!!
3 stars
Saturday, June 16, 2012
book 23
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts by Claire LaZebnik
288 pages
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts is a great title. It kind of ends there. The premise is really good - Keats Sedlak is the only average member in her family of intellects and geniuses. She is in a regular relationship with a regular guy, and they've been together for 10 years. Her family is comprised of crazy people who lack social skills. This could have been really funny or really moving or really good. It was none of those things. The chapters were very formulaic - each one ended with a single sentence thought and progressed similarly.
I cannot, cannot, CANNOT STAND when book characters have completely abnormal names. Who would name their kids after the LAST NAMES of their favorite authors? Hopkins, Keats, and Milton. The first two are girls. I found that really hard to get passed. Really hard to read and I'm not one of those people that can just sub in a normal name. I get that it was part of the family quirkiness and how Keats seems to lament her name but I don't go for it. Too weird and annoying. In fact I've had this book for months and I put off reading it because of the names of the characters. That's how much I knew it would bother me. AND when I went to restock and B&N the other day, I purposely avoided all strangely named character books, even if it looked like the story might be good.
I read the whole book because it was tantamount to a train wreck for me. I wanted to see how the gore would unfold. I was not moved at all, I did not feel bad for any characters and I didn't particularly like any of them. Mostly I didn't find them respectable. I didn't see any of the characters as people I would like in life, not even the normal Keats. So i plowed through it with the goal of starting a new book as soon as possible.
I would not recommend this book.
288 pages
Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts is a great title. It kind of ends there. The premise is really good - Keats Sedlak is the only average member in her family of intellects and geniuses. She is in a regular relationship with a regular guy, and they've been together for 10 years. Her family is comprised of crazy people who lack social skills. This could have been really funny or really moving or really good. It was none of those things. The chapters were very formulaic - each one ended with a single sentence thought and progressed similarly.
I cannot, cannot, CANNOT STAND when book characters have completely abnormal names. Who would name their kids after the LAST NAMES of their favorite authors? Hopkins, Keats, and Milton. The first two are girls. I found that really hard to get passed. Really hard to read and I'm not one of those people that can just sub in a normal name. I get that it was part of the family quirkiness and how Keats seems to lament her name but I don't go for it. Too weird and annoying. In fact I've had this book for months and I put off reading it because of the names of the characters. That's how much I knew it would bother me. AND when I went to restock and B&N the other day, I purposely avoided all strangely named character books, even if it looked like the story might be good.
I read the whole book because it was tantamount to a train wreck for me. I wanted to see how the gore would unfold. I was not moved at all, I did not feel bad for any characters and I didn't particularly like any of them. Mostly I didn't find them respectable. I didn't see any of the characters as people I would like in life, not even the normal Keats. So i plowed through it with the goal of starting a new book as soon as possible.
I would not recommend this book.
book 22
Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger
435 pages
Everyone Worth Knowing was a fantastic read. At first I found it a little slow, but once I got a few chapters in, I could not put the book down. I had it on me at all times just looking for a free second to devour even one page if that's all I could. I read Chasing Harry Winston probably two or three years ago and I don't remember being crazy about it, so I had sort of put this book off thinking it wouldn't be my style. I was VERY pleasantly surprised to find that Everyone Worth Knowing is exactly 100% my style of book.
I loved the theme of romance novels throughout the book. I feel like maybe these chick-lit books are the new romance novel for a tamer generation of ladies - not that as a whole we are tamer, but for different groups. Honestly, I couldn't read 50 Shades of Grey - I am way too prudish with my literature and I would feel embarrassed - but these books have just enough sex, yet not too much information to make me feel squeamish. Bette was extremely likable, as were Penelope and Sammy and Will and Simon.. Weisberger created lifelike characters that had real personality and charm. The characters that the reader wasn't supposed to like or trust came off as unlikable and untrustworthy. No one was extremely needy or annoying. None of the characters had stupid personality traits or ridiculous names (my BIGGEST PET PEEVE!!!!)
Overall this was a FANTASTIC read and I'm so glad I picked it up! I think I will be giving the other novels by Lauren Weisberger a chance now and I hope they live up to the same standards set by Everyone Worth Knowing!
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