July 20, 2010

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, by Marla Martenson

I received a copy of Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker from the author to review.

I was pretty excited to dig into this memoir because I'm a fan of a good, light-hearted read. For me, reading is an escape, and what better place to escape than the drama-filled world of Beverly Hills dating!

While it was definitely light-hearted and at times, hilarious, it wasn't quite as wonderful as I'd hoped.

Plot: It's pretty easy to figure out the plot by the title alone. It lived up to everything I thought it would be -- offering me a glimpse into the self-centered, shallow, and occasionally heart-warming view of Dating for the Rich and Famous. Marla's wit and snark are a great lens for the interesting singles she encounters every day.

Characters: For me, this is where the book fell short. Marla as a "character" is engaging, though hard for me to relate to because I'm probably the antithesis of an LA gal. It was her husband that stretched my patience.

I really rooted for her as she juggled her matchmaking career, burgeoning writing career, and her marriage. Marla is great at making the reader feel like you're in her shoes, and at times that made me so mad at her hubby. He didn't seem supportive and didn't seem to understand where she was coming from during some high-stress times. While everything is wrapped up in a nice bow and it could be said that Adolfo isn't all that different from any man in America, it was hard for me to read.

Structure: The book is sprinkled with e-mails from her clients, which makes for a unique structure. While I tended to lose some of the client story lines (So. Many. Singles!), I still liked this. This approach also helps break up the book and keeps the plot moving with humor.

In addition, she ends each chapter with "Affirmations". While great at summing up what I'd just read, they provide an additional dose of snark as she tries to keep herself upbeat through trying times. And they provide an extra helping of laughs, which I'm always interested in!

While I can't say I loved it, it made for a quick read. As summer wraps up, it's a good option for your beach bag or carry-on. 3 stars.

Disclaimer: While I received a free copy, I wasn't paid for this review. These thoughts are all my own!


Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone
Reviewed by A Super Girl at 9:48 PM 1 comments
Labels: , , , ,

July 13, 2010

Finny, By Justin Kramon

Today, Finny goes on sale. I received an advance copy to review, and I have to say, it was pretty exciting to get my hands on something before anyone else!

While it took me a few chapters to dig in, I really enjoyed Finny. In fact, I’m thinking about recommending it for my book club because I’d love to talk about it with someone else. There were so many great scenes and interesting twists that the book just begs to be discussed.

Plot: Finny is a coming of age story surrounding a girl named (you guessed it!) Finny. We meet her when she’s a young girl, and follow her throughout her life. There are peaks and valleys as the story meanders through the decades. In fact, I wouldn’t say there’s a strong plot with a lead up and climax. Instead, it unfolds as life happens.

Through it all, Kramon’s scene writing is impeccable. There are moments that jump out and grab you – like watching Finny get reprimanded in her school headmaster’s office or seeing her spend a weekend in the Hamptons with a self-obsessed narcissist, her brother, and her gay friend.

Characters: Part of what makes the scenes stand out is Kramon’s eclectic cast of characters. There’s Finny, our anchor, but surrounding her are her self-obsessed best friend, her deep thinker of a father, a squat dorm matron named Poplan, and an on and off romance with a quiet boy named Earl. Each character’s flaws are apparent, and I was frequently disappointed in the way they each treated Finny. But that was the beauty of the story. The characters were real, and in the end I always forgave them, just as she did.

This is Kramon’s first book, and as so many other reviewers have said, it speaks of a long career. I give it 4.5 stars.

Check out the trailer for the book here.

Then go buy the book! Do it!!

Disclaimer -- while I did receive a free copy of the book, the review is all my own!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone
Reviewed by A Super Girl at 9:03 AM 2 comments
Labels: , ,

July 5, 2010

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, by Rhoda Janzen

I had high hopes for Mennonite in a Little Black Dress. Really, I did.

I'm typically a big fan of memoirs, and this one came with a glowing review by Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote the memoir du jour, Eat, Pray, Love.

Sorry, Liz, I just didn't agree with ya.

Plot: For me, the plot jumped around. It had an interesting enough premise -- woman gets dumped by her husband for a guy he met on Gay.com. Devastated, she returns home and reconnects with her Mennonite roots.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel a cohesive enough plot line to get engaged in the story. Each chapter felt like a story within itself, as opposed to a piece of a larger, coordinated story. There were times where I was unsure if I was reading in chronological order or if we were going back -- or jumping forward -- in time. It made it difficult for me to sink in.

Characters: I enjoyed Rhoda's parents. She wrote them with humor and admiration, and I could feel that in her words. I'd also say that I liked Rhoda -- or at least I wanted to like her. There were moments where I felt she rambled, and not in a good way. A good ramble is where I come away with some lesson or larger thought. These rambles felt like something I'd write in my journal to work out all the crazy in my head. Those rambles are important and perfectly necessary when overcoming the trauma that Rhoda faced -- but they don't make the best book fodder.

Structure: As I said, this was hard to follow. There was nothing unusual in the structure, the only thing I can think is that I had trouble following the chapters and the chronology. I would read pages and have no idea what I just read. This isn't an abnormal occurrence for me if I'm distracted, but usually at some point, I dig in. Unfortunately, I just couldn't here.

Sorry, Rhoda, I wanted to like it. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has read it. What did you think? For me, it's solidly 2 stars.


Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone
Reviewed by A Super Girl at 9:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...