I have been feeling a little guilty this past month, since all my free time has been directed towards writing and not much towards reading (the original reason I started to write). And hence a hurried visit to the library had me picking up an assortment of books one of which was Isobel's Wedding by Sheila O'Flanagan. I fell for the pretty chick on the cover and the blurb at the back.
Four hundred and twenty pearls hand-sewn on to the wedding dress. The Mediterranean honeymoon booked for months. A pile of presents bigger than the Everest. And her lovely Tim, with his jet-black hair and navy-blue eyes, the most perfect bridegroom a girl could wish for. Except, two weeks before the wedding, he changes his mind... Isobel's wedding is off. Her world in tatters, Isobel turns to Spain, a new job, a new life, and as many men as she can decently manage. But part of her knows she has to go back home some day. And that, despite all that happened since she left, she still has unfinished business...
...BULLshit.
Not that I have anything against chick-lits (am I saying chick-lit too many times?:P). They are good timepass when you are sitting in a bus, bored to death of staring at people and your ear phones have decided to go on a holiday. They are light, easy-on-the-brain and mostly fun (if you can ignore the wafer-thin plots). They don't masquerade as something that they aren't either. Literature written by women for women about (what they perceive to be) women. As simple as that. I have even enjoyed some chick-lits like Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin and such.
But this? This is 600 pages (599 to be exact) of pure rant. Granted that even rant can make sense and be fun (Like Poulomi Das's random rants:P) but this.. *shudders* First it's agonizing over the dumping. Then it's agonizing over the break up. Then it's agonizing over going abroad. Then about sleeping around. Then about the new guy. Then the old one yet again. And the agonizing doesn't stop till the very end. Ms. Flannagan could have wrapped it up in a crisp 250 pages and made life easier for everyone concerned.
Apart from wasting one whole day of my life (I have the unfortunate habits of not resting till I finish a book and not leaving ANY book incomplete, however boring it might be), I gained nada from this book, not even a new word to my vocabulary*sigh* The best part? *note the sarcasm* It is supposed to be 'The Number One Bestseller". Wow.
It also made me wonder if we, women, are like that in a relationship... over-analyzing everything, clingy and weak-minded. I hope not *shudders again*
And we wonder what guys/men have against chick-lits and why chick-lit authors are not take that seriously.
Moral of The Story: Next time you reach out for a chick-lit (for alleviating-boredom purposes only) make sure it has no more than 300 pages, max.
In other news, I have been selected (YAY!) to review Love On The Rocks by Ismita Tandon Dhanker by BlogAdda. I haven't been big on Indian authors (except Chetan Bhagat, of course) and I can't wait to change that. The plot sounds interesting, looking forward to the read.
Looked like a chick-lit, read like a chick-lit and felt like a chick-lit.
The back cover read:Four hundred and twenty pearls hand-sewn on to the wedding dress. The Mediterranean honeymoon booked for months. A pile of presents bigger than the Everest. And her lovely Tim, with his jet-black hair and navy-blue eyes, the most perfect bridegroom a girl could wish for. Except, two weeks before the wedding, he changes his mind... Isobel's wedding is off. Her world in tatters, Isobel turns to Spain, a new job, a new life, and as many men as she can decently manage. But part of her knows she has to go back home some day. And that, despite all that happened since she left, she still has unfinished business...
...BULLshit.
Not that I have anything against chick-lits (am I saying chick-lit too many times?:P). They are good timepass when you are sitting in a bus, bored to death of staring at people and your ear phones have decided to go on a holiday. They are light, easy-on-the-brain and mostly fun (if you can ignore the wafer-thin plots). They don't masquerade as something that they aren't either. Literature written by women for women about (what they perceive to be) women. As simple as that. I have even enjoyed some chick-lits like Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin and such.
But this? This is 600 pages (599 to be exact) of pure rant. Granted that even rant can make sense and be fun (Like Poulomi Das's random rants:P) but this.. *shudders* First it's agonizing over the dumping. Then it's agonizing over the break up. Then it's agonizing over going abroad. Then about sleeping around. Then about the new guy. Then the old one yet again. And the agonizing doesn't stop till the very end. Ms. Flannagan could have wrapped it up in a crisp 250 pages and made life easier for everyone concerned.
Apart from wasting one whole day of my life (I have the unfortunate habits of not resting till I finish a book and not leaving ANY book incomplete, however boring it might be), I gained nada from this book, not even a new word to my vocabulary*sigh* The best part? *note the sarcasm* It is supposed to be 'The Number One Bestseller". Wow.
It also made me wonder if we, women, are like that in a relationship... over-analyzing everything, clingy and weak-minded. I hope not *shudders again*
And we wonder what guys/men have against chick-lits and why chick-lit authors are not take that seriously.
Moral of The Story: Next time you reach out for a chick-lit (for alleviating-boredom purposes only) make sure it has no more than 300 pages, max.
In other news, I have been selected (YAY!) to review Love On The Rocks by Ismita Tandon Dhanker by BlogAdda. I haven't been big on Indian authors (except Chetan Bhagat, of course) and I can't wait to change that. The plot sounds interesting, looking forward to the read.
I haste chick books you know...or maybe i hate all romantic books having romantic involvement or maybe i hate happy ever after books. Sounds monotonous to me. :P
ReplyDeleteOn that note thankyou for giving me the idea for the next post :P
Firstly, LOL! I love how you wrote this piece. Honestly, off late I read a book and feel inspiration to write but never end up writing.
ReplyDeleteI love how well you convert a thought process into writing. :)
P.s read some better books next time :P
P.p.s Congrats on the new book review. :) I hope you enjoy the book. :)
@ Red Handed, :D slightly different reason, I consider myself far too old to believe in the fairy tales that romance novels spin... But I'm NOT against happily ever afters:P
ReplyDeleteHope it's not about random bloggers ranting about random stuff that is of no interest to anyone (read: Priyanka and her blog):P And glad I was of service...
@ Srinidhi, firstly, thanks:)And you know what might help with the writing? Try just typing/writing out random sentences/words/paragraphs about anything that comes to your head... Once the juice starts flowing, the post/article will automatically take form. Do write though, I want to read more from Srinidhi:)
Lol, better books, DEFINITELY. Nothing remotely resembling a chick-lit anymore.
And I hope you guys enjoy the review I come up with, I hope I do justice *fingers crossed*
xo
Duude. MY NAME. :D *dances around*
ReplyDeleteAnd, I love chick-lit. But this book sucked. All of it.
And, good luck with the review thingy :)
xx
Congrats and good luck for the book review..Know, you'll outdo yourself..
ReplyDeleteChick-lit books have its up and down..best to fast forward them and get to the point...chick-lit books are known for their rant, unlike other intellect ones..a'ways, good books next time!!
@ Poulomi, Yes, your name:P No *grinslikeanidiot*?
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! Made me almost cry outta frustration:|
Thanks:)
@ Fiducia, Thank you, I hope I live upto that expectation:)
Hmm, though they are sometimes painfully predictable, the way they are written is what puts some chicklits a class apart from the others, na?
Good books, definitely!:)
Chick lits are an interesting genre, actually. Despite garnering so much of criticism, it still survives. Why else would it still be a genre in itself. :) And no matter how much some people claim to not read them, they would've read at least a few in their life. And will read again if given a chance. Right na? :) It's like how, no matter how much critics pan Chetan Bhagat, his books sell. Because he gives people what they want. Entertainment. It's good to do some light reading once-in-a-while. Our brains need some air too, right? :)
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, we're all suckers for happy endings. And that's what chick lits and romance novels give us. The perfect, blissful, happy ending. :)
Duude. MY NAME. :D *dances around*
ReplyDeleteAnd, I love chick-lit. But this book sucked. All of it.
And, good luck with the review thingy :)
xx
I haste chick books you know...or maybe i hate all romantic books having romantic involvement or maybe i hate happy ever after books. Sounds monotonous to me. :P
ReplyDeleteOn that note thankyou for giving me the idea for the next post :P
Try reading books by Sophie Kinsella & Meg Cabot. They are real, enjoyable, cute, funny chick-lits. They can never disappoint. I go to the extent of worshipping these 2 authors !!
ReplyDelete