Chasing Harry Winston: A Novel by Lauren Weisberger
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.01 You Save: $15.99 (100%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Chasing Harry Winston: A Novel
Book Review: While Weisberger's Chasing Harry Winston...
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm trying to find a plot. Lauren Weisberger, author of the bestselling THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, disappoints with this shallow mess of a novel.
Now, I usually prefer novels with human characters, even if they are selfish and shallow, because after all, there are people are like that in real life. Most of the time, the plot is enough to make up for the undesirable qualities of its main movers. But what sets apart CHASING HARRY WINSTON (and not in a good way) is the fact that these selfish, shallow characters seem to BE the plot. The novel is nothing but a few hundred pages of the main characters talking about themselves, and nothing else happens. Imagine Gossip Girl without the story line. That should give you a good idea.
At times, the nonexistent plot is made up for with anecdotal scenes of absurdity. There are some ridiculous passages about a parrot named Otis who has self-esteem issues, mixed with gender confusion. Normally, this wouldn't have been so jarring, but there are many other passages similar to that throughout the book. Also, the way the characters speak is irritating and unrealistic. There is one character in particular-- the Brazilian super-beauty Adrianna --who insists on calling everyone "querida" or some such endearment. This same character doles out outlandish advice to other characters about the art of Brazilian seduction that would make any sane reader laugh. In the context of the novel, however, it is treated as good, solid instruction. Again, the lack of plot makes what would have otherwise been a tiny flaw into a fatal misfire.
Another thing is that the writing isn't quite up to par. Weisberger, admittedly, stunned readers in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA with the story and characters; her writing style, while by no means bad, has never been the showpiece of her novels. But in "Chasing", whatever style she had seems to go out the window. Nothing seems to flow; the paragraphs fit uneasily after one another, the wording sometimes feels wrong. And if there's a proper time to use the verb "crooned", Weisberger doesn't seem to know it. In the end, reading CHASING HARRY WINSTON is not just a waste of time, money, and brain cells, but also a draining experience that will leave you feeling cheated and with a bad taste in your mouth.
Book Review: Just like the Energizer Bunny, this book just keeps going and going...
Summary: 2 Stars
Thank goodness I got the audiobook. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have been able to get through this book. The book wasn't necessarily painful, just bland.
While amusing at times, the book was generally lackluster and seemed to drone on and on. I was about a third of the way through before I even began to see the 'bet' mentioned on the back cover come to fruition. I was also hugely disappointed to see how each character carried out (or did not carry out) their part of the bet in such an unenthusiastic and halfhearted way. By the end of the novel, I wondered why I hadn't just listened to the radio instead. Surely a Britney Spears tune would have been more dramatic and exciting, and certainly quite a bit shorter.
Book Review: Not as good as Weisberger's previous efforts.
Summary: 2 Stars
I won't say that this is one of the worst books I've ever read, but I will say that I was very disappointed. I loved Devil Wears Prada and liked Everyone Worth Knowing so I went into this one with high expectations. Expectations that were not, unfortunately, met. I did not like any of the characters and didn't much care how they got themselves out of trouble. I hope Weisberger's next effort is better.Book Review: Hard to follow
Summary: 2 Stars
I picked this one up based on the quick notes I found. I have picked it up and put it down several times. I find it hard to follow as it flips between characters quickly. It takes more concentration that I was willing to give to casual reading.Book Review: Nice fluff read
Summary: 2 Stars
nice and easy plane reading...enough to be engaging but not enough to completely hold the attention.