The Right Address

Rating:
Summary: Summer Society Reading
Review: For what it is, a fictional account of the limits women will go to live in the Upper East Side society world, this book is a gem of a novel. Melanie, the main character, although misguided and flawed, still comes across as someone you'd like to go shopping with. She's shallow in the way that many women are shallow...what's wrong with wanting people to like you, obtaining the hottest thing since pashmina or keeping your past a secret? She does it all, fails miserably, but bounces back. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: breezy and fun
Review: i am surprised by some of the less positive reviews here because i consider myself a hard-to-please reader, one who often abandons many books after the first few chapters, and i thought this book was just great. better than expected. some really funny, sharp dialogue, and some of the scenes are very vivid, hilarious. joan and wendy, the vicious gossips, were my absolute favorite characters. great light summer reading.

Rating:
Summary: Not even a beach book
Review: I would have given the "Nanny Diaries" 4 stars, and the "Devil Wears Prada" 3, with the understanding that we are not expecting literature from these books. This one was so formula based I could have told you the whole story after a few chapters. I thought it would at least provide a window to a different world, but it did not even accomplish that. My suggestion, don't bother.

Rating:
Summary: Light,Easy Read--Not for those looking for intelligent novel
Review: The title of my review essentially sums up my feelings on this book. I was browsing the new books in fiction at my local borders one evening, when I came across this book. Upon reading the dust jacket, I decided that it sounded like a cute fun book to read while lounging in the sun in my backyard, or on the beach. Once I returned home, I logged onto amazon and was quite disappointed to see the negative reviews. However, those reviews only made me more eager to read the book, so I could judge for myself.

After finishing the book, I must admit that this is not for those looking for a well-written, intellectual novel. I am a college student, reading this book for leisure over the summer. However, I was amazed at the number of typos and grammatical errors that I found in this book. The authors certainly need to find a better editor. In spite of the poor editing, I did find the characters to be quite easy to laugh at, for their often despicable actions. It is amazing how people can be so shallow. While there may have been a lack of characters to "root for," I found the characters in this book to be quite amusing. If one reads this book looking to laugh at the pathetic nature of these upper east side society people, you should not be disappointed.

Overall, I would recommend this book. However, I recommend it only to those looking to read this type of book.

Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite
Review: This book is not as poorly written as "The Devil Wears Prada," but it's close. The authors (it took two people to write this book?!)don't give us anyone to root for; everyone in this book is either a tacky wannabe or a catty snob and no one has redeeming qualities or distinct characteristics. What they should have done was had Melanie Korn, the socially ambitious ex-stewardess and second wife of funeral home magnate Arthur Korn, be humiliated a few times by her two socially connected nemesises (is that a word?) Joan and Wendy. Then under the tutelage of Mr. Guffney, the butler, she ascends the social ladder all Eliza Doolittle-like and exacts a satisfying revenge. Wait, I've read a story similar to that--oh, yeah, Candace Bushnell's "Trading Up." (I liked that book, what can I say?) Anyway, as the book is, Melanie is incredibly gauche and keeps making the same mistakes page after page, until you begin to wonder how many times can she be ostracized and humiliated? Does her earthy husband, Arthur, really love her, or is he jonesing for the perfect society girl, Olivia? Do Wendy and Joan have lives? Is Morgan really gonna have Maria, his baby mama, killed? The authors do give us a peek into the lives of the idle rich, with their charity balls and ruthless gossip. But for the most part, this book is like Melanie and Arthur's apartment before they had it redecorated: a lot of nice pieces, but nothing that really comes together as a whole.