Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Bella Shaughnessy’s life hasn’t been the easiest lately. After breaking up with her husband, she discovers her half-sister Sophia is the new woman in his life. It doesn’t help that she and Sophia, as well as basically everyone else in the family, work together in the family-owned beauty salon. Because of her recent problems in love, Bella decides that she will swear off men forever. She keeps that promise to herself until she meets Sean Ryan, an entrepreneur who not only helps Bella establish a new business opportunity, but also shows Bella how to move on with her life. Add to the mix a small dog that Bella happens to “receive” from a client and a cast of wacky characters and you get the best description of Bella’s life: complicated.
Summer Blowout is a light and fluffy fast read, one that would be perfect to read on the beach. It does have its moments of laugh out humor and quirky situations, some of which seem to be too unbelievable to be true. For example, the family dynamics creates some interesting situations. I felt the characters were a bit one-dimensional; you never really get to know any of them, except perhaps Bella. There were many beauty tips throughout the novel, including references to dozens of different colors and makeup companies.
I did enjoy reading the book. Like much chick lit, you don’t have to think about situations in the novel, except if you are trying to figure out how each family member fits into the Shaughnessy clan. Summer Blowout is a quick way to escape from reality…just be glad you don’t have Bella’s family!
Reviewed by Jessica
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
In this nonfiction book, Eric Weiner is not a happy person. Despite the fact that he has several self-help titles on his bookshelf and has a successful career as a NPR correspondent, Weiner just does not feel happy. He ponders, where can one achieve happiness? Thus starts his global trek to countries known for their happy citizens and to countries known for their not so happy citizens. From Switzerland to Moldova, from India to the United States, Weiner's quest for happiness takes him to some unusual places and introduces some pretty happy people to the readers. Weiner's re-evaluation of his happiness at the end of the book will also make readers re-evaluate their own level of happiness.
I really enjoyed Weiner's sense of humor and adventure. Throughout the book, Weiner reveals a little bit about himself to the reader, including his strange obsession with bags (he apparently has a closet full of them at his home). However, what struck me the most about this book is the way everyone defines happiness differently. Weiner talks to some people who are living in poverty or are in poor health, thinking that their happiness levels compared to others in better circumstances would be lower, yet they are just as happy, if not happier. I wanted to read this book because it is a partial travelogue, and I love to travel vicariously through books; I was not disappointed with Weiner's adventures or with the message at the end of the book.
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
In this nonfiction book, Eric Weiner is not a happy person. Despite the fact that he has several self-help titles on his bookshelf and has a successful career as a NPR correspondent, Weiner just does not feel happy. He ponders, where can one achieve happiness? Thus starts his global trek to countries known for their happy citizens and to countries known for their not so happy citizens. From Switzerland to Moldova, from India to the United States, Weiner's quest for happiness takes him to some unusual places and introduces some pretty happy people to the readers. Weiner's re-evaluation of his happiness at the end of the book will also make readers re-evaluate their own level of happiness.
I really enjoyed Weiner's sense of humor and adventure. Throughout the book, Weiner reveals a little bit about himself to the reader, including his strange obsession with bags (he apparently has a closet full of them at his home). However, what struck me the most about this book is the way everyone defines happiness differently. Weiner talks to some people who are living in poverty or are in poor health, thinking that their happiness levels compared to others in better circumstances would be lower, yet they are just as happy, if not happier. I wanted to read this book because it is a partial travelogue, and I love to travel vicariously through books; I was not disappointed with Weiner's adventures or with the message at the end of the book.
Reviewed by Jessica
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)