"Good in Bed" review
By Kathryn Hamilton
Cannie (short for Candace) Shapiro is a plus size newspaper journalist who has wit in spades and and is not afraid to speak her mind. Professionally, she is confident and self-assured. Personally, she is the complete opposite; filled with self-doubt, she uses her humour as a way to charm those around her. After she discovers that not only has her ex (Bruce, a fellow journalist) written about her in his new magazine column, but that he has divulged intimate details of their relationship, Cannie begins to re-evaluate herself and her decision to "take a break" from her relationship with a man who understands her much more than she gave him credit for. With the support of friends (both old and a few new ones she meets along the way) and family, Cannie is taken on a journey to self-acceptance that is filled with humour, heartache, and raw truth.
Ms. Weiner has the propensity for creating characters that readers can deeply connect with, and writing stories that make her books difficult to put down; "Good In Bed" was no exception (and incidentally, was also her first published novel). I believe this is the best of the three novels I have read so far by Ms. Weiner. As someone who is also plus size, I found Cannie to be a character that was easy to relate to in many ways. However, the beauty of this story is that you need not wear a size 16 to identify with Cannie's insecurities and longing to be loved; this observation is keenly made by one of her friends, which confounds Cannie since she believes thin women are always confident (if only that were true!). I felt her anger, sadness, joy and heart break, and was able to understand how she saw the world without needing to have had similar life experiences. The story was well written and the pace flowed nicely. Although I knew who Cannie would end up being with almost from the first time the character is introduced, I enjoyed seeing how that relationship developed throughout the story.
There were, however, a few things that bothered me about the book, but as a whole, they are minor issues. First, I found it difficult to believe that Cannie would develop a relationship with someone who just happened to be in a position to help her achieve one of her biggest dreams. It is possible that situations like this happen, but for me I had to suspend reality. Secondly, I noticed some errors in the text that were distracting. I will note that I was reading an ebook copy, so the fact that there were a few places where the words ran together may not be the fault of the publisher, but it's still something that took a little bit away from the reading experience. Lastly, I have to say that I wasn't crazy about the cover. I discovered after I had purchased the ebook that I actually had the 10th anniversary copy. Although the differences from the original cover are small, I prefer the original. I'll also mention here that when reading the "Introduction," I didn't realize at first that it wasn't part of the story and ended up skipping over the rather lengthy text.
Jennifer Weiner is one of the most respected and beloved authors in the chick lit genre. After reading Good In Bed, it is clear why this is the case. Any issues I had with the book are minor and I would certainly recommend it as a must read (especially if you haven't read any of Ms. Weiner's other novels).
Showing posts with label associate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label associate. Show all posts
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Winning Associate Entry-Becky Gulc
"Meet Me at the Cupcake Café" review
By Becky Gulc
Narrowing down an extensive wish list of books to just four for a week-long holiday in the sun is never an easy task – Jenny Colgan’s "Meet Me at the Cupcake Café" was however instantly top of my holiday list this year from the title alone (shallow but true), it didn’t disappoint. Prior to spotting this book I had read just one of Jenny’s previous novels – "Looking for Andrew McCarthy" which was just a genius concept for me as someone who had a serious teenage crush on Andrew at the time of "Mannequin."
For anyone who loves to bake and cannot leave the house without gravitating towards the ever-expanding Patisserie Valerie’s and Hummingbird Bakeries on our high streets "Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe" is the perfect book for you. Best still, it won’t affect your waistline…well, unless you act upon the numerous recipes listed quite comically but accurately in this book. You’ll be ensuring your friends hand this book back when they’ve read it!
This book is about new beginnings. In the current climate we all know someone who is facing redundancy if not ourselves – this book explores how 31 year old Issy deals with being made redundant from her mundane but longstanding office job. Possibly the worst thing for Issy is not being made redundant itself, but being made redundant by Graeme, her successful but unworthy boyfriend/secret love.
The book follows Issy as she does what many of us can only dream of – taking what is a fun hobby and making it into something she can make a living from. Her journey is far from easy and there are some great characters built into this book that you feel for, laugh with and swoon over! Whilst being quite a light-hearted read many of the characters in this book haven’t had an easy life and you really do route for them to succeed and find happiness albeit in a variety of forms. Issy’s relationship with her Grandpa is central to the story and is moving and heart-warming throughout – we learn early on that Issy was raised by her grandparents and it is her Grandpa that instilled Issy’s love of baking and his recipes and ethos are an integral part of Issy’s vision for the Cupcake Café.
I do believe that if you love chick-lit and love baking or just eating cakes then you will enjoy this book. The description is rich throughout; you could really picture the café; the surrounding area of Stoke Newington and most importantly the cupcakes. The sense of community, or lack of at some points hangs very true and you will be able to relate some of the characters to people you see but maybe have never spoken to wherever you live. The book may be a tad predictable but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of it one bit. Overall this book is an uplifting read with strong characters and enough twists, turns and recipes to keep your mouth-watering until the very end!
By Becky Gulc
Narrowing down an extensive wish list of books to just four for a week-long holiday in the sun is never an easy task – Jenny Colgan’s "Meet Me at the Cupcake Café" was however instantly top of my holiday list this year from the title alone (shallow but true), it didn’t disappoint. Prior to spotting this book I had read just one of Jenny’s previous novels – "Looking for Andrew McCarthy" which was just a genius concept for me as someone who had a serious teenage crush on Andrew at the time of "Mannequin."
For anyone who loves to bake and cannot leave the house without gravitating towards the ever-expanding Patisserie Valerie’s and Hummingbird Bakeries on our high streets "Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe" is the perfect book for you. Best still, it won’t affect your waistline…well, unless you act upon the numerous recipes listed quite comically but accurately in this book. You’ll be ensuring your friends hand this book back when they’ve read it!
This book is about new beginnings. In the current climate we all know someone who is facing redundancy if not ourselves – this book explores how 31 year old Issy deals with being made redundant from her mundane but longstanding office job. Possibly the worst thing for Issy is not being made redundant itself, but being made redundant by Graeme, her successful but unworthy boyfriend/secret love.
The book follows Issy as she does what many of us can only dream of – taking what is a fun hobby and making it into something she can make a living from. Her journey is far from easy and there are some great characters built into this book that you feel for, laugh with and swoon over! Whilst being quite a light-hearted read many of the characters in this book haven’t had an easy life and you really do route for them to succeed and find happiness albeit in a variety of forms. Issy’s relationship with her Grandpa is central to the story and is moving and heart-warming throughout – we learn early on that Issy was raised by her grandparents and it is her Grandpa that instilled Issy’s love of baking and his recipes and ethos are an integral part of Issy’s vision for the Cupcake Café.
I do believe that if you love chick-lit and love baking or just eating cakes then you will enjoy this book. The description is rich throughout; you could really picture the café; the surrounding area of Stoke Newington and most importantly the cupcakes. The sense of community, or lack of at some points hangs very true and you will be able to relate some of the characters to people you see but maybe have never spoken to wherever you live. The book may be a tad predictable but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment of it one bit. Overall this book is an uplifting read with strong characters and enough twists, turns and recipes to keep your mouth-watering until the very end!
Winning Associate Entry--Gail Allison
"Bright Lights, Big Ass" review
by Gail Allison
Traditional? Nope. Honest? Yes. Just so damn uncontrollably-giggling, mascara-smearingly funny that you should never ever bring this book on public transportation? 100% absolutely for sure. Consider yourself warned.
In Jen Lancaster’s second memoir, “Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?”, she explores life in the big city with her husband. She begins with a scathing letter to Carrie Bradshaw, accusing her of setting unrealistic big-city living expectations and then, through a series of short essays about her life, illustrates exactly why the Sex and The City lifestyle could never be anything but fictional. After losing her high-powered corporate job, Jen had to refine her lifestyle, and this memoir details her life after making the dizzying jump from top-shelf cocktails to boxed wine from Trader Joe’s.
Her experiences around her hometown of Chicago range a whole spectrum of possibilities, from getting into (and losing) a death match with a paper gown at her annual “well-woman” exam, to accidentally reporting her neighbors to Homeland Security. Ms. Lancaster’s writing is so open and real that I would defy you to NOT want to be BFFs with her after finishing this book.
Jen is not afraid to tell you exactly how she’s thinking, why she’s thinking it, and what she’s planning to do about it, which makes for an incredibly engaging and candid book. Her writing style is reminiscent of chatting with a friend (albeit a mouthy, somewhat self-absorbed friend), and her biting sense of humor will be met with everything from a dropped jaw to uncontrollable laughter. Her absolute sincerity is what makes this book a real gem. There is no self-conscious glossing over uncomfortable situations: she dives right in and unapologetically takes you with her.
A word to the wise: if you are offended by inappropriate language, this may not be the volume for you. She is not afraid to season her text with the occasional f-bomb, so perhaps this isn’t the best gift for your precocious 11-year-old niece’s 6th grade graduation, but it makes for a fantastic read on a warm summer day while lounging in your backyard with a nice cold glass (box) of wine beside you.
Overall, this is easily one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read (and will definitely read again). It’s absolutely refreshing to read a memoir that is this hilarious, this honest, and just this much fun.
by Gail Allison
Traditional? Nope. Honest? Yes. Just so damn uncontrollably-giggling, mascara-smearingly funny that you should never ever bring this book on public transportation? 100% absolutely for sure. Consider yourself warned.
In Jen Lancaster’s second memoir, “Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?”, she explores life in the big city with her husband. She begins with a scathing letter to Carrie Bradshaw, accusing her of setting unrealistic big-city living expectations and then, through a series of short essays about her life, illustrates exactly why the Sex and The City lifestyle could never be anything but fictional. After losing her high-powered corporate job, Jen had to refine her lifestyle, and this memoir details her life after making the dizzying jump from top-shelf cocktails to boxed wine from Trader Joe’s.
Her experiences around her hometown of Chicago range a whole spectrum of possibilities, from getting into (and losing) a death match with a paper gown at her annual “well-woman” exam, to accidentally reporting her neighbors to Homeland Security. Ms. Lancaster’s writing is so open and real that I would defy you to NOT want to be BFFs with her after finishing this book.
Jen is not afraid to tell you exactly how she’s thinking, why she’s thinking it, and what she’s planning to do about it, which makes for an incredibly engaging and candid book. Her writing style is reminiscent of chatting with a friend (albeit a mouthy, somewhat self-absorbed friend), and her biting sense of humor will be met with everything from a dropped jaw to uncontrollable laughter. Her absolute sincerity is what makes this book a real gem. There is no self-conscious glossing over uncomfortable situations: she dives right in and unapologetically takes you with her.
A word to the wise: if you are offended by inappropriate language, this may not be the volume for you. She is not afraid to season her text with the occasional f-bomb, so perhaps this isn’t the best gift for your precocious 11-year-old niece’s 6th grade graduation, but it makes for a fantastic read on a warm summer day while lounging in your backyard with a nice cold glass (box) of wine beside you.
Overall, this is easily one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read (and will definitely read again). It’s absolutely refreshing to read a memoir that is this hilarious, this honest, and just this much fun.
Winning Associate Entry--Cindy Roesel
"Emily and Einstein" review
By Cindy Roesel
"EMILY & EINSTEIN … A Novel of Second Chances", is Linda Francis Lee’s latest novel about relationships, and once again they’re broken down to their inner cores - the successful sister and the flakey one, the condescending mother-in-law and the slighted husband’s wife. What Lee has done successfully in her previous twenty novels, she accomplishes in EMILY & EINSTEIN and will keep you up all night flipping the pages to the very end. She gets to the heart of the matter with her character’s feelings and emotions and makes us care and think about them long after the novel has come to a conclusion.
Emily and her husband, Sandy Portman are beautiful and rich, they live a fascinating, sophisticated life in New York City’s famous Dakota building on the Upper Westside.
One night on his way to meet Emily, Sandy dies in a tragic accident. The funeral isn’t even over and Emily finds out she’s being evicted from her apartment. But worse, she discovers it’s her husband’s family who is evicting her in her time of grief. On top of that, she discovers her marriage is a mountain of lies. Emily is forced on a journey to find out who her husband really was, what her life really is and all the same time having a sneaking feeling he’s not really gone. Emily finds comfort in a loveable furry mutt she rescues from the pound and names the pup, Einstein. And into her life comes an unexpected gorgeous new neighbor. Can he help her navigate her way through this quagmire and help her find a new future?
Linda Francis Lee weaves a one of a kind love story that includes all the elements of great story-telling that you may recognize from her previous novels such as THE DEVIL in the JUNIOR LEAGUE and THE EX-DEBUTANTE. In her latest novel, EMILY & EINSTEIN, the characters have flawed lives, and they face questions about whether or not they deserve second chances, but in the end it’s all about the redemptive power of love. Lee manages to strike a delicate balance between reality and fantasy to allow you, the reader to fully enjoy the entire delightful experience EMILY & EINSTEIN delivers.
So many people have fallen for Einstein, the cute little white fuzzy terrier on the cover and in the book, since the novel has been released that Linda Francis Lee has written Einstein’s own special story. It turns out, Einstein sure loves the attention and he’s quite the matchmaker, too! Einstein’s story, “The Matchmaker: A Heroes and Heartbreakers.com Original” will be released July 12th on Amazon Kindle. The Pre-order price is $.99. Love is in the air! And once again, his cute little white fuzzy face is on the cover.
One more thing, EMILY & EINSTEIN is a perfect easy-read book for book clubs. You might want to check out Linda Francis Lee’s Facebook Page.
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