What The Lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie

***** out of *****

This was a re-read of the first Jennifer Crusie I really got. I tried Fast Women before this but couldn't get beyond the first couple of chapters. But this book moves much faster - its shorter and in a more popular style. Once you've got into Crusie's books there is no turning back. You'll still look back fondly at this one though.

There are some boringly stereotyped secondary characters in this, but the main protagonists are so appealling that its forgivable. As usual for a Crusie at the end I was still wondering quite what had happened. Which is a good excuse for a re-read.

If you like the mystery/mafia family plot of this, then try Agnes and the Hitman by the same author.

Genre: Romance with bit of mystery

Read: 12/4/8

Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

ISBN: 978-0312932787

This is one of my favourite Jenny Crusie books. Which means it is one of my favourite ooks of all time. I have only have it two months and the cover is already completely ragged from rereadings in the bath. I love it - she makes me laugh and actually care about ALL the characters all the time.


Plot:
Fakery - (of paintings, fortunes, secondary personalities and careers)
Bakery - (Are men muffins [keepers] or donuts [moment on your lips lifetime on your hips [[in the BAD way]])
Make (out) ery - NOT to channel Paris Hilton or anything but this book is hot

Characters: Really good characterisation - no surprise from Crusie as she is a writer who delivers believable people acting true to themselves whilst going through one hell of a plot arc. (It always seems strangely feasible whilst you are reading in this case you believe in con men, split personalities, precociously brilliant teens, delinquent parents (Heroes dad is hilarious) and a completely incompetent femme fatale who (accidentally) kills her men for very little profit.

What to love: All the secondary characters. All the main characters. The intricacy of the plot. The humour. The sex. The happy ever after. The comparison of people to baked goods - I do that myself quite ofen. (In case you were wondering you are a perfect slice of apple cake just from reading this blog. Practically the top of the cake hierarchy...)

What to loathe: Hmmm.... Sometimes Louise/Eve felt she had been changed to fit into the plot - but then she is not exactly a stable character - so maybe she really is written how she is supposed to be written - I love her anyway - so I take all that back - it is all great!!!


Buy, Borrow or Bin: Buy - Multiple copies. Lend them to sad friends

If this book was a drink it would be: The perfect ginger beer of the book world. If you are wondering... in my lexicon that means it is spicy, cool and strangely sophisticated whilst totally wholesome - combined with a great sense of fun.

Here is a link to the author page about the book including the first chapter so you can make your own mind up: Faking It

And this is the book on Amazon so you can see what the book buying world thinks: Amazon

Cary Grant: A Class Apart by Graham McCann

***** out of *****

Very good. Readable, well researched, rakes up the salacious gossip (and sources) but is never salacious in itself. And of course Cary is an interesting subject.

Genre: Biog

Read: 6/12/2007

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

ISBN: 978-0441068807

I cannot remember when I first read this book and I have read it many times (often in the bath) so I am on my third copy of it....

Plot: Dreamy, bookish orphan girl, Harry, goes to live with her brother at a remote imperial fort in the desert. The book is set in an alternate early 20th/ late 19th century where magic exists but most peole don't know of it or believe in it. Harry is kidnapped, finds her feet amongst desert peole and through hard work and mystical powers saves everyone AND gets her prince charming by the end of the book.

Characters: Fantastic - The goodies are goodies, the baddies are inhumanly evil and they are all true to their motivations. I always wanted to be Harry.... it is not all black and white and there are some good meaty shades of grey in there to keep things interesting.

What to love: Everything - the action, the romance, the plot , the way magic works in this universe - it is all brilliant!!!

What to loathe: Nothing - It is pretty darned perfect

Buy, Borrow or Bin: Buy several copies

If this book was a drink it would be: The perfect cup of tea - satisfying mentally, physically and emotionally.

Robins Website

Amazon

OK now I have to go read it again....