A Review Or Two
Entertainment Weekly has done another chick lit review round-up. Four titles got some promo. Free promo is good. I’d like some free promo. But I digress… A fifth title showed up as part of the weekly book review section - the same section that seems to get shorter in every issue.
The word on these titles is this, or so says EW:
Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella - This is the latest in the shopaholic series. While I see the Shopaholic books every five seconds (that’s not much of an embellishment either), I’ve never actually read one. No idea why. The EW reviewer says this one is more of the same and just as much fun. The book got an A-.
Because She Can by Bridie Clark - This is written by a former Judith Regan employee, Regan being the publisher most recently known for the O.J. Simpson “confessional” debacle. Doesn’t exactly sound pro-Regan either. The reviewer gave it a B and said: “While Clark’s pacing is brisk, both her rants and romance lack nuance.”**
Lion Eyes by Claire Berlinski - This one sounds like a chick lit mystery. A guy disappears and the CIA plays a role. Yep, mystery. This one got a B. Hard to tell why the grade wasn’t higher, but I think it had something to do with the heard-it-before online dating scenario that’s in this one.
Men May Come and Men May Go, But I’ve Still Got My Little Pink Raincoat by Gigi Anders - That title is long enough to be the entire book. It’s not. This one sounds a bit different in that it’s described as: “Journalist Anders recalls her adventures with men, and the many outfits she’s worn to entice them.” Not something Gloria Steinem might read, but it got an A-.
The title reviewed in the general section is Ask Again Later by Jill A. Davis. This one got an A-. The reviewer said that this one “does not stall in predictable chick-lit terrain.” Davis is a former writer for Letterman so, as you might expect, the book is considered witty and entertaining.
There you go.
**Do rants really have nuance? For some reason I was more obsessed with this idea than by of the titles referenced.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:43 am
I have never read any of the Shopoholic books either. I can’t explain why, I read everything else.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:07 am
I’m with both of you when it comes to the Shopoholic books! I have no idea why I haven’t read them.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:58 am
I read The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. I thought it was a fun read. I know I have one of the shopaholic books somewhere in my TBR pile that I will get to someday! lol
February 21st, 2007 at 11:34 am
I have read all the Shopaholic books and Can you Keep a Secret. Kinsella is one author I always enjoy. If you like “Bridget Jones” type scenarios, you would like Shopaholic.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:11 am
About 4 years ago I saw someone one the bus reading a shopaholic book, and I’ve decided then I should pick up the book when I have the time because I do feel for the title…
But I have yet gotten my hands on the series till now because I was sidetracked by Brava books…
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 am
Fancy - that’s exactly what I like to hear. You need to buy more Brava!
And, my experience has been like yours, Susan and Patty’s in that I keep saying I should pick one up… Angie and Carol like ‘em, so I’m thinking it’s time to try them.
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I read the first shopaholic book about two years ago and man, did that sucker hit the wall a few times in the process of reading it. I couldn’t BELIEVE Becky! But but BUT, I always trotted over and picked it up again. because though she infuriated me, she made me hurt from laughing so hard. And by the end of the book, I loved it. I LOVED to hate Becky, to think she was crazy, to wonder how in the world ANYONE could bear to put up with her.
And whenever I read one I stop going to Starbucks and eating lunch out for a month or so, since Becky’s dilemmas scare the crap out of me.
And now I’ve read them all. They are all so funny, and so outlandish, and so ridiculous. Total over the top satire. Do not read it expecting some sort of realistic scenario. That’s not the kind of books they are. but they are great fun.