Rating: 
Summary: Funny stage for a hilarious comedy
Review: Hoolywood and Los Angeles entirely contemplated from a woman's point of view, and not any woman, but a young woman who wants to marry a rich man. Her theory about that manhunt, her practice of that sport, her prey and her hunting technique that leads her to a quick marriage and a quick pregnancy. Unluckily she did not check who the man really was and accepted who he was supposed to be. Of course he is not who he is supposed to be and this leads to a tremendous imbroglio. The book is funny, extremely funny and positively optimistic. The author does believe in love and does believe love can survive any small or big detail that may be thought as capable of pooping the party. In other words, this book is not - and it does not pretend to be - very deep about women or Los Angeles. It is a vivid and dynamic picture of the scene and the action that takes place on that scene, or shouldn't I say that stage. Entertaining and relaxing.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Rating: 
Summary: Too much icing, too little cake
Review: How many times do we need to explore the world of shallow, spiritually empty human beings? And what better place to find them than in LA? Okay, you want to know why I read this book? Because a friend of mine knows the author and thought I would just LOVE this precious page turner. I'll admit that it is better written than your average bird cage liner, but honestly, I would need valium in copious quantities if I spent my summers reading this kind of trash. If hairspray and limousines are your thing, this should fit your cigarette holder nicely, Dahlink.
Rating:
Summary: A Soft-Core Satire of Chick Lit
Review: I am coming to you today as an unofficial "foreign correspondent." At least, this is how Clarissa Alpert would describe me. Alpert, the heroine (?) of Gigi Levangie Grazer's new satire on life in contemporary Los Angeles, thinks of everyone who lives in between New York and California as a foreigner. She has definite opinions on many important issues: food (good), sex (good), shopping (good), work (bad). She is 28 (well, actually 31, but that's her not-so-little secret) and has been supported all her life by her father. After sleeping "her way, without mercy, regret, mourning, or conscience, through Greater Los Angeles," Clarissa is ready to settle down and get married. A wedding is no problem for dear Clarissa --- she has been maintaining a wedding binder for years, complete with the best caterers, hotels and florists. She, who routinely lies about her "age, religion, mating habits, hair color, plastic surgeries, level of education, her mother's nose job, her upbringing, her downfall, her rehab stay(s)," has planned the date of the wedding, the bridesmaids and the reception menu. She also has the groom all lined up, but the trouble is, she hasn't met him yet. She has chosen young Aaron Mason, creative screenwriter and scion of a wealthy Southern (foreign) family; this is after she crosses off her list Bruce Springsteen ("too old, married, children [ugh]"), Ted Field ("rich, heir, ext. rich, likes tall, skinny beautiful blondes. Who are 18. Who have proof of being 18."), and John F. Kennedy, Jr. ("rich, good family, married, dead.") At first glance, Clarissa seems slightly sociopathic, albeit with a sharp sense of fashion and an even sharper sense of humor. Grazer wisely never allows her to become too disgusting; Clarissa always retains a hint of likeability. She struggles with her weight, friends and parents; her mother is an anorexic Bolivian Jew who causes Clarissa no end of consternation. Her mother is one to order a "beet and goat cheese salad, with no onions, no goat cheese, no dressing, and no beets." Through a carefully choreographed chance encounter, Clarissa does manage to meet, court and marry the debonair Mr. Mason with the help of her clique of girlfriends nicknamed the Star Chamber. Clarissa and her cohorts are bitingly funny, if a bit stereotypic. There's the good time girl, the warm and fuzzy soft heart, a hypochondriac, and the obligatory friend who everyone hates. Grazer's sharp wit is evident throughout the book. At one point she refers to the "silcone '90s," which is either a very funny pun or sloppy editing, take your pick. About halfway into the book, the tone shifts and becomes less satiric and less successful. Grazer aims for a comedy of errors, but comes up with a third-rate situation comedy. Clarissa becomes pregnant and surprise, surprise, finds out that Aaron is not exactly whom she bargained for. She dumps him, he dumps her, it's on-again, off-again. She meets his parents. She knows they're rich because their house has "iron gates that belong, like, outside the Kremlin or something and a sign on the iron gates stating a clever name. Only the stinking rich name their houses." There's a shooting, a birth, a meditation retreat nicknamed "silent camp" and enough Hollywood hijinks to make your head spin. Oddly, Grazer even tries to wring tears out of the audience with a weird and completely unnecessary death. If you're looking for a few hours of diversion while you loll poolside, a fruity umbrella drink in hand, MANEATER is the book for you. It's a soft-core satire of chick lit that briefly transcends its genre. It's just about as frothy as a Starbucks cappuccino so joyfully swilled by Clarissa and her friends. --- Reviewed by Shannon Bloomstran
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Fun
Review: I have a long drive to work and have gotten into the habit of checking out audio books from the library. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I laughed out loud (in my car), actually cried at two different points (in my car); it was a blast to listen to, I didn't want it to end!!
Rating: 
Summary: Very Odd Book...
Review: I knew from page one that I wasn't going to finish reading this book but I forced myself to get to page 55 before deciding to stop for good. The main character, Clarissa, is an odd duck and certainly lacking values, class and common sense. When I read a book, I want to be able to relate to the main character in some way...I cannot relate to the "glam" lifestyle this girl leads of sleeping around, spending loads of money, and acting like spoiled brat with her little clan of friends. Another problem I had with the book was the crude language. I curse with the best of them at times, but I don't need to read things like "Clarissa's mom was taking a dump in Clarissa's own bathroom" (page 8). That's not something I want to read in a book I'm reading for fun. Come on, Ms. Grazer. Surely you can produce something that I will want to read all the way though and not have to force myself to get through 55 pages of torture. I'm only giving this one two stars because it seems unfair to give only one when I didn't read the whole thing....
I think it's quite obvious I do not recommend this title! Find something better to spend your precious reading time on instead!
Rating:
Summary: Sucky McSucky from Sucktown
Review: I know we all like to crash on the beach with a good, trashy novel, but come on ladies! I'm not saying we have to curl up with Kierkegaard, but at least give our "heroine" some depth. Then at least I could reason why this woman is so awful - to her friends, to her parents and to her boyfriends. She's a whiner, whining through unbelievable and often ill-written sagas.
Rating: 
Summary: Living Large in La-La Land
Review: I loved the book. Think of it as Sex in the City in LA. Except that Clarissa and her group of diehard friends, known as the Star Chamber, have no real jobs or intellectual aspirations. Their real jobs are their physical upkeep and marrying well. There are some great throw-away lines about LA culture and given that the author is a Hollywood wife in real-life, it has an air of authenticity to it all. You hope that these characters aren't real, but in your worse fears, you know there are people this shallow out there in La-La land. In summary, a fascinating look into the lives of the rich and shallow, except you do find yourself really caring about the characters in the end. Can't wait to see the movie (I'm sure there will be one!)
Rating:
Summary: Good Chic Lit
Review: I read this book in no time. A fun, smart chic lit story and I could picture the characters and their fun escapades and goings-on. Don't miss it for a fun ride!
Rating:
Summary: Good Chic Lit
Review: I read this book in no time. A fun, smart chic lit story and I could picture the characters and their fun escapades and goings-on. Don't miss it for a fun ride!
Rating:
Summary: funny funny funny!!!!!!!!
Review: I read this book in one night and couldn't put it down, I thought it was very clever , very funny, and I had a very clear image of all of the characters. I liked the ending a lot, and very often when I read a good book I love the book but I hate the ending, or I thought it lost something, etc. but this ending was very clever and worth the read. I recommended it to all my friends, and it makes for great beach reading this summer. Can't wait for the movie.
|
