Rating: 
Summary: A Satirical Look at Los Angeles Socialites
Review: "Maneater" deals with Clarissa, a socialite living in Los Angeles who never work a single day in her life and her lifelong goal was to marry a rich and important man. Her life, she deemed would be complete. Working, according to Clarissa was a concept for the poor. She was popular among the the rich and who slept with, she claimed, two thirds of the men in L.A. Clarissa unlike other chick lit heroines is selfish, arrogant, scornful and is definitely materialistic. Her dream was realized when a new man in town, Aaron, who was rich, important and definitely had the potential to be Clarissa's husband. Before Clarrisa even met Aaron, she was already planning their wedding, ordering flowers, and trying out wedding dress. Soon, she and Aaron were married and Clarissa thought she would have everything that she dreamed for. Unfortunately for Clarissa, things were not the way they seemed. It took me a while to get into the book as Clarissa at the beginning of the book is very unlikeable. However, her character gets more bearable and I even like her at the end of the book. "Maneater" is definitely a satirical look at the rich socialites in Los Angeles/Beverly Hills region. You can get an inside look at how the rich and famous socialize and the author at times pokes fun at them. The book is well-written and it definitely has its funny moments. "Maneater" is quite refreshing change and I highly recommend it. It is not my favorite book ever but it is still a good summer read.
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Summary: "Maneater" is a wildly entertaining summer novel!!
Review: "Maneater", from Hollywood insider and screenwriter, Gigi Levangie Grazer, is a hugely satisfying read in my mind because it is at once a hilarious satire but also an astutely observant commentary on its world-weary characters. In savoring the adventures of the book's misguided heroine, Clarissa, I can say I was quickly deposited in a universe I thankfully never expect to inhabit. Simply stated, Clarissa's world is a challenging place to navigate with even modest integrity. I usually root for the underdog in books and films, but here part of the appeal for me of this particular underdog is that she has no clue she is one. On the one hand, she is the woman I would instinctively fear, looking askance at those poor souls that comprise the bulk of the normal underling poplulation. But she effectively stays mostly isolated by keeping those who could really care about her at a distance with her cynical and borderline-sociopathic-user mentality. Safe to say there is not much too likeable here. The strange thing is that I nevertheless found myself rooting for her, not so much to get what she wants, but to achieve the humanity that has eluded her through much of her vacuous life. Clarissa's journey unfolds in surprising and entertaining directions, despite her efforts to control others and her unflinching pursuit of what she has always believed she deserved. She is somewhat the human equivalent of a car wreck, terrifying, but just try to look away. Although the book is easy to read quickly, and pretty addictive, I loved pausing over Ms. Grazer's hilarious phrases to really get to the twisted logic of Clarissa and her family and friends. (One of my favorites is a comment about a group of children who "still had their parents' noses.") The book is rich in detail about all its characters, and is highly recommended as a fun and memorable trip to a very unique universe!
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Summary: I spent 2 days in LA, then 2 days with this book..
Review: ..and I feel more starstruck, after reading the book, than I did during the entirety of my visit to Los Angeles. Sure, there is a feeling you get, as a non-LA-native, when you are looking up at the Hollywood sign in person, or pressing your hands into the cement, sizing yourself up against legends at the Chinese Theater, but it comes with the feeling that you are an outsider. LA is a great place to be a tourist, you get a taste for the drama and intrigue, but, because of the very nature of tourism, you get to leave. For the natives, the histronic character of the city demands a long-time, if not lifetime, and lifestyle commitment. This book is about that commitment. The title suggests that Clarissa's evolving relationship with men (in general, and specifically) is the focus of the book, and it is, to an extent, but the men are often stand-ins for her real leading man, Los Angeles. It is the city's prostate she is looking to stimulate, and as any experienced woman knows, a good man (or social scene) will require patience, dedication, and a good amount of trickery before he will even let you reach down there. To those of us who aren't ready to do more than flirt with LA, Maneater is a great peek into what happens behind closed doors of those whose marriage to the jet-set life of Lalaland was arranged. Full of saucy characters, the story is fast paced, funny, and often candid enough to make even a worldly girl like myself blush. It had me go from shocked to swooning and back again, occasionally uttering out loud, "Oh no, don't do THAT," and "I can't believe she said/did/thought that," a real testament to how deeply Clarissa can draw you in. I am not one for soap operas, or drama for the sake of drama (which is why I live in the midwest, and not LA), but I do love a good story and Gigi has written a good story. As the kind of person who would NEVER pick up a romance novel, let alone a book with a HOT PINK COVER, I highly recommend this novel, even if it is only to be kept by (or under) the bed as your "guilty pleasure" reader. For those who are image conscious, and feel that reading a pink book would be scandalous, it is plain white under the dust jacket. Should you find that people are looking for you to explain yourself for reading "fluff," lend them the book. They, too, will be drawn in by Gigi Levangie Grazer's style and wit. I was, and I am not even "that kind of girl."
Rating: 
Summary: Make no mistake, This is Chick Lit.
Review: Based on the hype, I was expecting a well-written novel with some depth, in the vein of Candace Bushnell/Laura Zigman, and instead what I got was something that could have just as easily been a Little Red Dress Ink property. The characters aren't anything close to loveable, the trite cliches are not just peppered throughout the book, they are poured over every conversation that takes place. PLEASE don't waste your time with this. Read "Trading Up" or "Cooking for Mr Latte" or "Family Trust" instead.
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Summary: A SMART AND SASSY READING
Review: Celebrated film star Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction, Batman and Robin) gives a smart, sassy, and sexy reading to this story of a gal who has everything and wants more. Clarissa Alpert's roster of exes are Hollywood VIPs. But, the dreaded 30 +2 is approaching, and she needs something or someone to affirm her position in celebrity land. When she sets her wide eyes on Aaron Mason, the most talked about producer to enter the celluloid scene, Clarissa hesitates not a minute before deciding he'll be the next to meet her at the altar. Her dream may just come true with a little help from her friends and relatives - an outre Latin American Mom, a never-saw-a-woman-he-didn't-like Dad, and a mischievious gay waiter. Clarissa is planning the wedding to end all weddings. Never mind that there's been no proposal. Is it really true that whatever Clarissa wants Clarissa gets? Relax and let Uma tell you all about it. - Gail Cooke
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Summary: "Maneater" spits it out
Review: Gigi Levangie Grazer's "Maneater" is the evil sister of "Sex and the City." It tries hard to turn into some sort of glitzy Hollywood morality tale wrapped in the story of a former "It" girl. But it's too strained, limp and irritating to be more than self-conscious urban chic-lit. Clarissa Alpert is twenty-eight (real age: thirty-one) and needs a husband. Since she has no skills, no independent income, and her dad may stop sending her money, she needs a rich husband before she hits her "marry by" date. She's slept with every rich'n'powerful guy in Hollywood, but the man she needs is rich producer Aaron Mason. She dates him. They get married very quickly. She uses a turkey baster on their wedding night to make sure that she gets pregnant. But the next morning he reveals that his incredibly wealthy parents have disowned him, and they're going to live at a struggling-actor apartment complex. Clarissa, being quite spoiled, is appalled. But she struggles to maintain her life in the dingy apartment... until she learns that Aaron has some weird secrets of his own. Hollywood is one of those places that just asks to be spoofed. And Grazer does a passable job. Her satire is over-the-top, but cute enough to be vaguely amusing. Not everybody there is like Clarissa and her cohorts, but there are enough that a book like "Maneater" is inevitable. So... whatever. Such satire is amusing in itself. What "Maneater" lacks is good writing. It drags on a lot longer than it should, and too little gets accomplished. Once Clarissa marries Aaron, the only semi-surprising development is that she actually lives in the dingy apartment. Name-dropping, sex-related talk and plenty of whining fill in the gaps between plot developments. (Of which there aren't many) Clarissa is a not-so-good character from the start. She's selfish, spoiled, vain, artificial and described as being sociopathic. So by the time she has a sudden change of heart, you may not care. You may want a Clarissa voodoo doll instead. Supporting characters are caricatures -- shallow pals, hunky ex-boyfriend, annoying quirky parents, and an equally annoying husband. "Maneater" is an overlong piece of froth. Like Clarissa's mother, it's too thin and weird to be much more than a failed satire.
Rating:
Summary: "Maneater" spits it out
Review: Gigi Levangie Grazer's "Maneater" is the evil sister of "Sex and the City." It tries hard to turn into some sort of glitzy Hollywood morality tale wrapped in the story of a former "It" girl. But it's too strained, limp and irritating to be more than self-conscious urban chic-lit. Clarissa Alpert is twenty-eight (real age: thirty-one) and needs a husband. Since she has no skills, no independent income, and her dad may stop sending her money, she needs a rich husband before she hits her "marry by" date. She's slept with every rich'n'powerful guy in Hollywood, but the man she needs is rich producer Aaron Mason. She dates him. They get married very quickly. She uses a turkey baster on their wedding night to make sure that she gets pregnant. But the next morning he reveals that his incredibly wealthy parents have disowned him, and they're going to live at a struggling-actor apartment complex. Clarissa, being quite spoiled, is appalled. But she struggles to maintain her life in the dingy apartment... until she learns that Aaron has some weird secrets of his own. Hollywood is one of those places that just asks to be spoofed. And Grazer does a passable job. Her satire is over-the-top, but cute enough to be vaguely amusing. Not everybody there is like Clarissa and her cohorts, but there are enough that a book like "Maneater" is inevitable. So... whatever. Such satire is amusing in itself. What "Maneater" lacks is good writing. It drags on a lot longer than it should, and too little gets accomplished. Once Clarissa marries Aaron, the only semi-surprising development is that she actually lives in the dingy apartment. Name-dropping, sex-related talk and plenty of whining fill in the gaps between plot developments. (Of which there aren't many) Clarissa is a not-so-good character from the start. She's selfish, spoiled, vain, artificial and described as being sociopathic. So by the time she has a sudden change of heart, you may not care. You may want a Clarissa voodoo doll instead. Supporting characters are caricatures -- shallow pals, hunky ex-boyfriend, annoying quirky parents, and an equally annoying husband. "Maneater" is an overlong piece of froth. Like Clarissa's mother, it's too thin and weird to be much more than a failed satire.
Rating:
Summary: "Maneater" spits it out
Review: Gigi Levangie Grazer's "Maneater" is the evil sister of "Sex and the City." It tries hard to turn into some sort of glitzy Hollywood morality tale wrapped in the story of a former "It" girl. But it's too strained, limp and irritating to be more than self-conscious urban chic-lit. Clarissa Alpert is twenty-eight (real age: thirty-one) and needs a husband. Since she has no skills, no independent income, and her dad may stop sending her money, she needs a rich husband before she hits her "marry by" date. She's slept with every rich'n'powerful guy in Hollywood, but the man she needs is rich producer Aaron Mason. She dates him. They get married very quickly. She uses a turkey baster on their wedding night to make sure that she gets pregnant. But the next morning he reveals that his incredibly wealthy parents have disowned him, and they're going to live at a struggling-actor apartment complex. Clarissa, being quite spoiled, is appalled. But she struggles to maintain her life in the dingy apartment... until she learns that Aaron has some weird secrets of his own. Hollywood is one of those places that just asks to be spoofed. And Grazer does a passable job. Her satire is over-the-top, but cute enough to be vaguely amusing. Not everybody there is like Clarissa and her cohorts, but there are enough that a book like "Maneater" is inevitable. So... whatever. Such satire is amusing in itself. What "Maneater" lacks is good writing. It drags on a lot longer than it should, and too little gets accomplished. Once Clarissa marries Aaron, the only semi-surprising development is that she actually lives in the dingy apartment. Name-dropping, sex-related talk and plenty of whining fill in the gaps between plot developments. (Of which there aren't many) Clarissa is a not-so-good character from the start. She's selfish, spoiled, vain, artificial and described as being sociopathic. So by the time she has a sudden change of heart, you may not care. You may want a Clarissa voodoo doll instead. Supporting characters are caricatures -- shallow pals, hunky ex-boyfriend, annoying quirky parents, and an equally annoying husband. "Maneater" is an overlong piece of froth. Like Clarissa's mother, it's too thin and weird to be much more than a failed satire.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put it Down
Review: Having lived in West LA for 6 years, including 4 years at USC, this book sounded a lot like many of the females I knew and loved in college and after. What a fun read. I read this book in a day because I just couldn't put it down. Clarissa is a total B**** and that is exactly why people love her. She says what others only think. Her outrageous lies, offset by Glazer by parentheses, bring all out belly laughts. The ending was a little "neat," but it was fitting that her true love ended up being a master manipulator just like herself. One of the reviewers asked, "What LA is this?" and I can answer that: it is the LA of Studio City, West Hollywood and South Beverly Hills. The wanna-be's who are so close but not quite good enough. The LA of social climbers and gold diggers. The girls who live north of Santa Monica Boulevard but are on the wrong side of Doheny. Or they live in the right area but in the guest quarters. If only....
I can't believe I didn't know this writer before now!
If you liked "Trading Up," "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan," or "Sex and the City (the novel)" you will love this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Moralistic Tone-Ambitious but Empty
Review: Hello, if this book had been written by anyone else it would be hardly noticed. The writing is awful, a 1 out of 5, and the plot is very empty. There is a lot of talk about things that already happened, a girl decides love is what she wants after all, and there is a moralistic ending. Cue Christian romance novels.
In Christian romance novels of the 50's there was always an evil girl or boy and one was redeemed at the end.
Explicit sex followed by a moralistic tone?
Feed it to 12 year olds. You will only be entertained if you are under 20.
Everyone has been there and done that.
The writing is really awful. ... Sandy
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