I've picked up a bunch of chick-lit books on sale at Chapters recently, in an effort to read some light stuff by my pool and speed up my "number of books read" as much as I can... haha. The first one I tried was called A Hollywood Ending, by author Robyn Sisman.
This story is about Paige Carson, famous movie star, who is dissatisfied with how things are going in Hollywood and with how she's beginning to be viewed as a bratty star. She takes off to London to perform Shakespeare on stage in order to combat her reputation and remember the reason she became an actress in the first place.
Oh, but before you get to that you have page after page of not-so-great-but-also-not-that-exciting things happen to Paige back in Los Angeles.
When the book switches to England, we somethings get the story from the perspective of Ed, Paige's landlord who is trying very hard to be unimpressed with "The Paige Carson" living upstairs -- he thinks she's a snobby Hollywood type, so he sets out to have nothing to do with her.
Things happen, there's a romance, there's a 'misunderstanding that nearly wrecks the whole romance', then next thing you know the book is done.
This wasn't the worst random chick-lit I've ever read. I liked the characters well enough. I did find the ending to be a little short with some stuff left up in the air (such as how her performance in As You Like It actually goes, and whether or not she is well-received again back in L.A.). I felt like the beginning of the book before Paige gets to England dragged on a bit, and my favourite parts of the book were when Ed and Paige were getting to know each other a little and realizing they were wrongly judging one another's behaviours -- but that was only a few scenes, I could have had a little more of that to keep up the romance side of the story.
It wasn't bad, it wasn't fabulous, but it certainly was just the right type of light, lounge-by-the-pool reading that I was searching for.
25 down, 75 to go!
Showing posts with label library it. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library it. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
21-24) The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
I have been really enjoying the new TV series "The Vampire Diaries". I knew that the show was based on Young Adult novels of the same name written by LJ Smith, but I hadn't read the books yet. I decided to give them a try, and borrowed the first two novels (which were combined into one volume) from Martin's sister. The first two stories are The Awakening and The Struggle, the second two are The Fury and Dark Reunion.
These books are dramatically different that the TV series. The TV series is also a hundred times better. There are extra characters in the books who aren't on the show, and there are characters on the show who aren't in the books. The first couple of books are sort of boring, and I didn't really understand the motivation behind some of the actions of the characters -- it was too forced with no explanations. The second two stories, once the characters were more established and there was some action, were much better.
At the bookstore the other day I noticed there are more books in this series, which I think were written a little later than these original four stories, and I do feel like I would like to read them too. However, I'm really glad the TV series is what it is -- the characters are much better explained, I love the backstory they provide, and the characters they've added who are not a part of the books are really layered and interesting.
These books are pretty similar to the Twilight books, which were written many years later than these ones, but the Twilight books are actually a much better read.
At least I knocked four books out of the park in a fairly short time span!
24 read, 76 to go! I know I'm way behind where I should be, but have faith...
These books are dramatically different that the TV series. The TV series is also a hundred times better. There are extra characters in the books who aren't on the show, and there are characters on the show who aren't in the books. The first couple of books are sort of boring, and I didn't really understand the motivation behind some of the actions of the characters -- it was too forced with no explanations. The second two stories, once the characters were more established and there was some action, were much better.
At the bookstore the other day I noticed there are more books in this series, which I think were written a little later than these original four stories, and I do feel like I would like to read them too. However, I'm really glad the TV series is what it is -- the characters are much better explained, I love the backstory they provide, and the characters they've added who are not a part of the books are really layered and interesting.
These books are pretty similar to the Twilight books, which were written many years later than these ones, but the Twilight books are actually a much better read.
At least I knocked four books out of the park in a fairly short time span!
24 read, 76 to go! I know I'm way behind where I should be, but have faith...
Monday, January 25, 2010
2) Swapping Lives by Jane Green
Swapping Lives is the first Jane Green novel I've ever read, and I do think I'd read more of her books (if anyone recommends any particular titles, let me know!). I borrowed this book from my friend Mel. It's a chick-lit, which is what I enjoy (I like the escape they provide). It wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, but if you take it for what it is, it's a fine enough read.
The premise is of a single girl in London named Vicky who works for Poise! magazine swapping lives with a married American woman named Amber -- to see what it's like to be married with children, and to provide a married woman a chance to relive single life. For the title being "Swapping Lives", it wasn't until quite late into the novel that the characters actually swapped; and even then, it didn't go on for too much of the story. Instead, the story focuses more on the situations that lead the girls to swap; and then wraps up with the lessons they learned about appreciating what they had.
The book wasn't thrilling, but it was a nice enough story. In my copy I did find a couple of errors -- a few times where it said "Vicky" but it was clearly "Amber" speaking, so that was a bit distracting (for whatever reason, finding errors in novels happens to me a lot). This is definitely a good one to borrow from a friend or take out from your local library.
2 down, 98 to go! *facepalm*
The premise is of a single girl in London named Vicky who works for Poise! magazine swapping lives with a married American woman named Amber -- to see what it's like to be married with children, and to provide a married woman a chance to relive single life. For the title being "Swapping Lives", it wasn't until quite late into the novel that the characters actually swapped; and even then, it didn't go on for too much of the story. Instead, the story focuses more on the situations that lead the girls to swap; and then wraps up with the lessons they learned about appreciating what they had.
The book wasn't thrilling, but it was a nice enough story. In my copy I did find a couple of errors -- a few times where it said "Vicky" but it was clearly "Amber" speaking, so that was a bit distracting (for whatever reason, finding errors in novels happens to me a lot). This is definitely a good one to borrow from a friend or take out from your local library.
2 down, 98 to go! *facepalm*
Friday, January 15, 2010
1) The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
I did it! I've finished ONE BOOK in 2010! Onward to the next 99! (OY VEY).
Funny/cute story -- Martin's adorable Polish 'Babcia' (grandmother) constantly said, "Oy yay! Oy yay!" in like, a really sad sort of tone when she was waxing poetic about the great sadnesses and such (all in Polish, Martin had to translate and sometimes he just looked at me and shrugged). Anyway! So now Martin and I are always like, "Oy yay, oy yay" when we're feeling 'great sadness' OR when we're reminiscing about visiting Babcia.
100 books in a year! OY YAY!, OY YAY!
The first book I read was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I'm a Dan Brown fan, I am. However, my favourite books of his are his more stand-alone novels - Digital Fortress and Deception Point. Angels & Demons is still my favourite Robert Langdon story. With The Lost Symbol, I found myself feeling how I did when I was reading The Da Vinci Code. It took me a long time to get into it, some of the way-too-many-details-about-this-and-that-and-this-person distracted me too much from feeling any suspense, and I just didn't get so into it (his other books I'd gobble up in a couple days, flat, however and felt much more captivated and shocked by the twists and turns).
Was it a good book? Yes. He's a great writer, there's no doubt. However, even with a fairly alright twist near the end, it still doesn't rank as my favourite of his stories. Also, it's very religion-based as most of his Robert Langdon books are, and I just wasn't feeling it. The big ending was very anti-climactic in my, very humble, opinion.
It wasn't horrible, so if you've previously liked Dan Brown's novels, then definitely give it a read and see for yourself how you feel. I'm filing this one under "Library It", because that's sort of my middle-of-the-road option (otherwise I just 'recommend' a book or say 'avoid'). I just wasn't personally gripped by this one. I'd love some more stand-alone thrillers like Digital Fortress or Deception Point from Dan Brown in the future.
One down, ninety-nine to go!
Funny/cute story -- Martin's adorable Polish 'Babcia' (grandmother) constantly said, "Oy yay! Oy yay!" in like, a really sad sort of tone when she was waxing poetic about the great sadnesses and such (all in Polish, Martin had to translate and sometimes he just looked at me and shrugged). Anyway! So now Martin and I are always like, "Oy yay, oy yay" when we're feeling 'great sadness' OR when we're reminiscing about visiting Babcia.
100 books in a year! OY YAY!, OY YAY!
The first book I read was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I'm a Dan Brown fan, I am. However, my favourite books of his are his more stand-alone novels - Digital Fortress and Deception Point. Angels & Demons is still my favourite Robert Langdon story. With The Lost Symbol, I found myself feeling how I did when I was reading The Da Vinci Code. It took me a long time to get into it, some of the way-too-many-details-about-this-and-that-and-this-person distracted me too much from feeling any suspense, and I just didn't get so into it (his other books I'd gobble up in a couple days, flat, however and felt much more captivated and shocked by the twists and turns).
Was it a good book? Yes. He's a great writer, there's no doubt. However, even with a fairly alright twist near the end, it still doesn't rank as my favourite of his stories. Also, it's very religion-based as most of his Robert Langdon books are, and I just wasn't feeling it. The big ending was very anti-climactic in my, very humble, opinion.
It wasn't horrible, so if you've previously liked Dan Brown's novels, then definitely give it a read and see for yourself how you feel. I'm filing this one under "Library It", because that's sort of my middle-of-the-road option (otherwise I just 'recommend' a book or say 'avoid'). I just wasn't personally gripped by this one. I'd love some more stand-alone thrillers like Digital Fortress or Deception Point from Dan Brown in the future.
One down, ninety-nine to go!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Glamour - Louise Bagshawe
Apologies for the hiatus in posting; I have been reading, but I've started a new job and have been quite busy tutoring in the evenings, so my blogging had fallen to the wayside for a little while. However, I am back!
I took a copy of Glamour by Louise Bagshawe out from my local library a few weeks ago, as it was one of the Books of the Month on Goodreads.com, and I'd read another Louise Bagshawe book last summer and quite enjoyed it.
With Glamour, however, I had quite the experience.
I must have had an original copy of this book, because it was RIPE with ERRORS! There were characters with different last names on different pages (or sometimes, a character had a different last name in two spots on the SAME PAGE of the book). There were missing capitals, poor punctuation, and overall confusion with the names of characters. It was really difficult to read around the mistakes.
The story itself was pretty good, but by the end of the book I had grown pretty tired of the characters and started to get bored. At one point I told my boyfriend that I just wanted to finish the damn book; I had lost a lot of interest. I did not feel like this when I was reading Sparkles, but I think that's because Sparkles had a mystery element to it, and when you reached the end you were itching for the exciting conclusion. This story felt like it went on for a bit too long, with much of the same conversations happening over and over.
I know that in updated versions of the book, the errors were fixed, as other readers on Goodreads.com did not encounter what I did with this story.
The most surreal thing that happened when I was reading this book? I had twittered about all the errors in the story... and then the next day, Louise Bagshawe herself started "following" me on Twitter.
How much do you want to bet she's the type who Googles her own name too?
I'm torn about recommending this one. I'll just recommend Sparkles, the other Louise Bagshawe book I've read, and then I'll say you might enjoy this one (I did for a good majority of the book), but just be prepared that the ending sort of drags in my very humble opinion. I'll file this one under "library it".
I took a copy of Glamour by Louise Bagshawe out from my local library a few weeks ago, as it was one of the Books of the Month on Goodreads.com, and I'd read another Louise Bagshawe book last summer and quite enjoyed it.
With Glamour, however, I had quite the experience.
I must have had an original copy of this book, because it was RIPE with ERRORS! There were characters with different last names on different pages (or sometimes, a character had a different last name in two spots on the SAME PAGE of the book). There were missing capitals, poor punctuation, and overall confusion with the names of characters. It was really difficult to read around the mistakes.
The story itself was pretty good, but by the end of the book I had grown pretty tired of the characters and started to get bored. At one point I told my boyfriend that I just wanted to finish the damn book; I had lost a lot of interest. I did not feel like this when I was reading Sparkles, but I think that's because Sparkles had a mystery element to it, and when you reached the end you were itching for the exciting conclusion. This story felt like it went on for a bit too long, with much of the same conversations happening over and over.
I know that in updated versions of the book, the errors were fixed, as other readers on Goodreads.com did not encounter what I did with this story.
The most surreal thing that happened when I was reading this book? I had twittered about all the errors in the story... and then the next day, Louise Bagshawe herself started "following" me on Twitter.
How much do you want to bet she's the type who Googles her own name too?
I'm torn about recommending this one. I'll just recommend Sparkles, the other Louise Bagshawe book I've read, and then I'll say you might enjoy this one (I did for a good majority of the book), but just be prepared that the ending sort of drags in my very humble opinion. I'll file this one under "library it".
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Chasing Harry Winston
I recently finished reading Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger.
I very muched enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing so I was excited to read this next book and I took it out from the library a week or two ago, eager to dive in.
The story is of three best friends, all of very different personalities, who live in New York and make a pact to change their love lives in a year. The slutty/sexy friend vows to look for a husband, the serial-monogomist friend vows to start having a few more flings and one-night stands, and the third friend doesn't know what her resolution will be (as her life seems near-perfect to everyone but her), but it's the third friend who discovers that more will change for her in the year than she necessarily expected.
And the verdict? I liked it, I really did.
But I didn't love it. It was a good chick-lit read, and the characters were enjoyable, but it wasn't an amazing-omgz(!!!) story that I'd necessarily rush to recommend to people.
I say, if you're looking for a new chick-lit book to read, then go for it. Her writing style is definitely better than some authors out there, and it is a good enough story. But, I wouldn't necessarily rush to read this one, as it's nothing out of the ordinary, in my very humble opinion of course. I prefered her other two books to this one.
I'm filing this review under a new tag called "library it", because I say, give it a read... but maybe don't waste money buying it. The tag "recommendation" will be for something I'm sure of, and "avoid" is pretty self-explanatory.
Currently Reading:
One for the Money: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
I very muched enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing so I was excited to read this next book and I took it out from the library a week or two ago, eager to dive in.
The story is of three best friends, all of very different personalities, who live in New York and make a pact to change their love lives in a year. The slutty/sexy friend vows to look for a husband, the serial-monogomist friend vows to start having a few more flings and one-night stands, and the third friend doesn't know what her resolution will be (as her life seems near-perfect to everyone but her), but it's the third friend who discovers that more will change for her in the year than she necessarily expected.
And the verdict? I liked it, I really did.
But I didn't love it. It was a good chick-lit read, and the characters were enjoyable, but it wasn't an amazing-omgz(!!!) story that I'd necessarily rush to recommend to people.
I say, if you're looking for a new chick-lit book to read, then go for it. Her writing style is definitely better than some authors out there, and it is a good enough story. But, I wouldn't necessarily rush to read this one, as it's nothing out of the ordinary, in my very humble opinion of course. I prefered her other two books to this one.
I'm filing this review under a new tag called "library it", because I say, give it a read... but maybe don't waste money buying it. The tag "recommendation" will be for something I'm sure of, and "avoid" is pretty self-explanatory.
Currently Reading:
One for the Money: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
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