Singletini by Amanda Trimble Review (Book #22 of 2010)

Singletini by Amanda Trimble
Published by Little Black Dress
Sometimes Flying Solo Means You Just Have to Wing It

sin•gle•ti•ni: A curious type of female typically found living in urban settings; possessing an unusual, some would say deathly, fear of growing up and getting married.

Meet Victoria Hart. She’s sassy, sparkling, and taking the Chicago dating scene by storm as a professional “wingwoman”—a modern-day matchmaker hired to help clueless guys find Miss Right. With nights on the town, drinks on the house, and clothes on the credit card, Vic is loving her glam singletini lifestyle. There’s just one little problem . . . okay, maybe two. She needs to keep her new career a secret, and the first of her friends just got engaged—ENGAGED!

Vic isn’t sure she’s ready to be that grown up yet—she likes her life the way it is. Not that being a wingwoman is all wine and roses. With clients ranging from cowboys and would-be porn stars to her best friend’s boss, Vic quickly discovers this late-night Cupid gig is trickier than she anticipated. To make matters worse, she somehow agrees to help plan her friend’s swanky wedding, complicated by a never-ending to-do list and a very shady groom.

With too many wingwoman gigs, bridezilla demands, and more and more friends eyeing the altar, Vic is starting to feel a little lost, a lot confused, and completely bombarded by love connections. Does she really want to stay solo . . . or use those wingwoman skills for herself? 

 I do enjoy the Chick-Lit genre from time to time, especially in the summer when it's so hot that I feel like my eyes are evaporating. But this one was not a good choice.

The protagonist, Victoria Hart (who's also the narrator) is a 20-something woman living in the city, scared of growing up and getting married while her friends seem to do just that. I must admit that the whole wing woman thing was promising, but it didn't live up to its potential. Victoria sounds and acts way too immature, and reading the story from her mouth feels like the little sister chattering over your shoulder while you're on the phone-- too many eeks and acks, and way too much baby talk for my taste. If you're in your 20s and you're gonna curse, curse like sailor, woman!

All in all, I did not enjoy this at all, but a lot of people seem to have given it 5 stars, so maybe I'm missing something.

I'm back!

Our cat Sally Daisy has been sick for about four weeks now, and she's only now starting to get better. We've been in-and-out of the vet every single day, which has been very draining emotionally, physically and financially. Long story short, I haven't been able to read or blog or anything else, really, so now I'm hoping to pick up where I've left off.

It's good to come back and find out there's a contest going on! The lovely Leanna at DaisyChainBooks is giving away a copy of Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce. Click here to enter!

Book to movie: Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Published by Algonquin Books in 2006

"Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell." Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive "ship of fools." It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival. 

 

I'd read this book last year and did not like it at all. I usually like anything about this period, especially circus life, but this one just didn't feel right.  You could definitely tell the author has done a great amount of research about the circus and the time period, but she wasn't able to turn it into a great story. I'd thought it had potential, but didn't live up to it.

Today I've found out that it's being made into a movie with very well-known names such as Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz and Robert Pattinson. From what I've seen and read on this page, it looks like this is gonna be one of those times when the movie is better than the book. Here's the IMDB page for the movie for those of you who are interested. It will be released next year, so we have quite a bit to wait.

Anyone read the book? Excited for the movie?

Beautiful Malice Review

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
Published July 1, 2010 by Faber and Faber
ARC copy won through DaisyChainBooks

So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?

Following a terrible tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family shattered, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity.

But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice’s contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice’s joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again.

But being friends with Alice is complicated – and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel.

And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice - she doesn’t like being cast off. 

I won a copy of this book through a give away run by DaisyChainBooks. I knew I wanted to read it, but I guess I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from it-- it's obvious from the introduction that this girl Alice is going to cause a lot of trouble, but I honestly didn't think she could be so cruel.

The way the book is set up kinda reminded me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicles of a Death Foretold: we know from the beginning that Katherine has changed her name and moved to a city because of her sister's death, but events unfold later on, and the more the story continues, the more we find out about what really happened. One thing we know from the beginning is that Alice is bad news.

As I was reading about the horrible things she does, I found myself going, "Come on; who does that?" only to realize a second later that I actually do know people who are capable of that kind of cruelty. And then there were times when I wanted to grab Katherine and Robbie (the guy who's in love with Alice no matter how bad she treats him) by the shoulders and shake them, going, "She's evil! Run while you can!" But, of course, it doesn't always work that way and we're constantly pulled in by people whom we know are not good for us. And I think everyone knows the feeling of loving and hating someone both at the same time.

I think the book very well portrays how one bad decision can change your life, and that you don't usually realize it was a bad decision until you fall apart, and no matter how careful you try to be, you get caught up in things.

The ending felt kinda abrupt, and I was left wanting more, but it was a happy ending that felt warm and genuine.

Waiting on Wednesday (1)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you’re eagerly anticipating.

I usually try not to follow up on upcoming releases because it takes me a long time to get a hold of them, but I'm way too excited for this one. Less Than Zero is one of my favorite books, and now we get to read about those characters again, 25 years later.

Imperial Bedrooms

by Bret Easton Ellis

Publication Date: June 15, 2010

Twenty-five years on from "Less Than Zero", we pick up again with "Clay". In 1985, Bret Easton Ellis shocked, stunned and disturbed with "Less Than Zero", his 'extraordinarily accomplished first novel' ("New Yorker"), successfully chronicling the frightening consequences of unmitigated hedonism within the ranks of the ethically bereft youth of 80s Los Angeles. Now, twenty-five years later, Ellis returns to those same characters: to Clay and the band of infamous teenagers whose lives weave sporadically through his. But now, some years on, they face an even greater period of disaffection: their own middle age. Clay seems to have moved on - he's become a successful screenwriter - but when he returns from New York to Los Angeles, to help cast his new movie, he's soon drifting through a long-familiar circle. Blair, his former girlfriend, is now married to Trent, and their Beverly Hills parties attract excessive levels of fame and fortune, though for all that Trent is a powerful manager, his baser instincts remain: he's still a bisexual philanderer. Then there's Clay's childhood friend, Julian - who's now a recovering addict - and their old dealer, Rip - face-lifted beyond recognition and seemingly even more sinister than he was in his notorious past. Clay, too, struggles with his own demons after a meeting with a gorgeous actress determined to win a role in his movie. And with his life careening out of control, he's forced to come to terms with the deepest recesses of his character - and with his seemingly endless proclivity for betrayal.

Book shopping results.

Every month I tell myself I don't need to get more books and that I should read the ones in my TBR pile first. Of course, I don't ever listen to me, and the pile keeps growing.

Here is what I got this month: (one from Bookmooch, the rest from bookstores)

• The Owl Killers by Karen Maitland
• Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
• The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Book #20 of 2010: The Carrie Diaries

Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?
The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie's senior year of high school. She and her best friends -- Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse -- are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.
Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer. They'll learn about her family background -- how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. We'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where the next Carrie Diaries book will take place.

I didn't really like this one. If it wasn't Carrie Bradshaw, I would've put it down and moved onto a different book after like the 4th chapter. I haven't read any of the Sex & the City books, so I don't know how different the HBO Carrie is compared to the books, but the girl in this book so didn't feel like her.

I got the feeling Candace Bushnell tried too hard for Carrie to look like she's any other girl. Since we know what she turns out to be from the TV shows, it just wasn't convincing at all. One of the things that really bugged me was, how does one go from cooking Julia Child meals to keeping sweaters in their stove? Even the mentions of the fashion bits in the book felt forced.

I just found teenage Carrie more annoying than her adult self (she's always been my least favorite character on the show), and her friends were just as annoying.

The surprise in the end was rather nice, and I think I'll enjoy her New York days more than this one. I was too excited, I guess, because it's even translated to Turkish already:

Carrie Günlükleri bizim kuşağın en ikonik karakterlerinden birinin ergenlik öyküsünü anlatıyor. Sex and the City'den önce Carrie Bradsaw, daha fazlasını istediğini bilen küçük bir kasaba kızıydı. Hayata atılmaya hazır hissediyordu kendini. Ancak kolejdeki son senesiydi ve halletmesi gereken işler vardı.O güne kadar Carrie ve arkadaşları hiç ayrılmamıştı. Fakat Sebastian Kydd'ın gelişi her şeyi bozdu. Arkadaşlarından birinin ihaneti, Carrie'ye o güne kadar yaşadığı pek çok şeyi ve hayatı sorgulattı. Unutulmaz karakterleriyle Carrie Günlükleri sıradan bir genç kızın nasıl olup da kendi hakkında düşünmeye başladığını ve sonunda sivri ve her şeyi gören bir yazara dönüştüğünü anlatıyor. Okuyucular Carrie'nin

ailesiyle tanışacak, bir yazar olarak anlatıcı sesini bulmasına

şahitlik edecek. Dahası ergenlik döneminde yaşadığı arkadaşlık ve ilişkilerin onda bıraktığı izleri takip edebilecekler.

Cüretkar ve güçlü maceralar eşliğinde Carrie'yi yeni bir hayata başlayacağı, o çok sevdiği New York'a sürükleyenin ne olduğunu göreceğiz.

Book Blogger Hop (4)

ABOUT THE HOP:

Hosted by Crazy-for-Books

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know!  Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added!  And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

 

Lover Avenged Review

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood #7) by J.R. Ward
J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels have introduced readers to a "different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing" (All About Romance)world. Now, as the vampire warriors defend their race against their slayers, one male's loyalty to the Brotherhood will be tested-and his dangerous mixed blood revealed...

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood-even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him-and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction. 

There isn't much to say about this one: Ward just keeps getting better and better. This wasn't my favorite in the series 'cos I wasn't able to really get too interested in sympaths, but Rehvenge and Ehlena's love story is to die for, and even though some bad things within the brotherhood keep happening, they get through it.

I really want John Matthew and Tohrment to be okay again. Hopefully in Lover Mine!