Rating:  Summary: Story B- Writing skill C- Review: Jane Green has told a fun story about a likeable character. It's not heavy reading, but that's not why you pick up a book like this one. The publisher claims that no reader will see the surprise ending coming; I did in fact guess what was going to happen and I am sure many other readers did also, but it didn't detract from the story for me. It must be said that Green could use some very basic training in the art of writing. The story wanders aimlessly between past and present tense, often within the same paragraph and a few times within the same sentence. The point of view constantly flips from first to third person, occasionally leaping into the minds of the minor characters, and periodically becoming an unseen and rather unpleasant narrator. Green seems to think readers are incapable of remembering Jemima's last name, she repeats Jemima Jones Jemima Jones Jemima Jones to death. There are quite a few slips that emphasize the writer is British and hasn't grasped some of the cultural conversational differences, but they are not distracting, only amusing. (For instance, she has an American say "We were at school together" when she would really have said "We went to school together", and Green doesn't know that "Californian" is a noun, never an adjective.) Green's entire experience with the Los Angeles area is clearly from the media and not from having visited there in person. It's also rather offensive that she portrays everyone in LA as being superficial and not very bright. The weight issue errors are a bit more glaring; Jemima is described as hugely fat with several chins, but we later discover that at her heaviest she weighed only 217 pounds! Jemima's cravings for food simply go away by themselves, and only return briefly during a crisis that had left her pretty much in shock. Convenient, but unrealistic; most people who've been heavy and lost weight continue to fight the urge to overeat all their lives. Still all in all it was a fun read and you'll probably like Jemima and her friends. You may even find yourself feeling a bit sorry for "the bad guys", although they are only suffering through their own actions. It's worth the read if you have some time to kill.
Rating:  Summary: A delightful book - fluffy and fun Review: I may have disagreed with some of the ways Jane Green describe a fat person (get real), but still enjoyed the book. Yes, there was a lot of superficiality to the book, but I went into it hoping to get entertained, not educated. Therefore, I took Jemima's reasons for losing weight with a grain of salt.I liked the prose she used for this book. The "flip flop" of narrators. It was like seeing a movie, but having the inside scoop on the heroine. Because I enjoyed Jemima J, I am now reading Ms. Green's other novel, "Mr. Maybe" which is fantastic. I'm loving it. I'm adding Ms. Green to my (long) list of authors to remember.
Rating:  Summary: Makes you feel good Review: I read this book in a matter of days because the reading is so easy and it keeps you involved in the story line. I think Jane Green is a fantastic writer and this book exemplifies that. Definate must read
Rating:  Summary: Not a good book for women over 110 pounds... Review: I was thrilled to see this book at the store...I thought to myself, "Finally! A book written with a realistic-sized woman as the heroine!" WRONG. Jemima is a wonderful person throughout the book, but the author leads the reader to believe that being fat is a major obstacle to having a happy life. Being a "voluptuous" woman myself (a happy size 12), I was highly disappointed to get to the point in the book where Jemima practically starves herself to death, just to impress some stupid guy. The book held my interest, though, so I give it 3 stars. At least I was able to finish it.
Rating:  Summary: Couldn't put it down! Review: What else can I say, but Wow! I loved it, and totally related to the story. I started reading it on a Friday night and finished it by Sunday afternoon. So Ladies, sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Rating:  Summary: some cheese with your whine? Review: For all of you who are whining about Ben only liking JJ after she lost weight - here's a newsflash: SHE liked HIM because he was physically fit and attractive! The book is not saying that overweight people can't find love at all, just that they can't find it with a hottie unless the hottie is into large women. Why is that so difficult to understand? We are hardwired to admire physical attractiveness - and physically unattractive people will generally not be able to pair up with those who are, and they should not whine about it, because they are liking those people for how THEY look! It's pure hypocrisy. I had absolutely no problem with this book's take on the issue, I thought it was spot on.
Rating:  Summary: Disappointing... Review: Several people recommended this book to me, and as I am British and usually love the 'chick lit' books I tried it. I was so disappointed! Is this what feminism, choice and tolerance means to twenty year olds? The theme of this story is fat girl gets thin and wins the man of her dreams. Not exactly a cry for feminine independence and such a waste of a good story. The author also has an irritating habit of dropping in on the narration and telling the reader what is going to happen next, or what the reader should be thinking. This made me feel even more distanced from the characters who seemed pretty shallow anyway and it annoyed me that the author didn't allow me to make up my own mind. The women are drawn much better than the men and the hero did nothing for me-why couldn't he have appreciated the heroine when she was fat? She was still the same person. Read Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, and of course, Helen Fielding for much better takes on the lives of a British twenty something.
Rating:  Summary: Enjoyable read - US readers keep size diffs in mind though.. Review: My sister loaned me this book and I tore through it in two days. I did think the end bit was a little low-key, but for the most part it was an enjoyable read. Just a note to United States readers: Keep in mind that sizes run DIFFERENTLY in the UK than here in the States - so when Jemima is described as a size 10, that's a UK size 10, which is probably more like a US 12/14 judging from my experiences shopping in London! (could be sort of depressing really...although London does have GREAT clothes!!)
Rating:  Summary: this book deceives you Review: Like many other single women obsessed with their looks and size, I thought that this book was going to be an insight into what it felt like to live in a society that constantly reminds one of the way they look. First 1/3 of the book was amazing, it was as if the writer was inside my head, describing my feelings, my thoughts...I thought I found one book that I can relate to. But then it all changed when Jemima became obsessed with her weight and began a very dangerous, unhelathy path to self-discovery. Yes, the writer makes a valiant attempt at relating to the overweight women,but she fails miserably at her character development. Jemima is far more fun and interesting when she's "fat". It's really sad to think that women who loose weight become not only obsessive but boring and perhaps a little insane. I was really disappointed and I hope that the writer has thought about the consequences ofher book. I know that this book will be seen as a happy story and a fairytale for many "overweight" women, but that's just it, it's nothing more than a fairytale and for that matter not a very good one. Best regards to all of you who find Jemima J to be worth your time, I certainly didn't.
Rating:  Summary: Could Never Put it down Review: I read this book during my summer and I could never put the book down. I loved this book so much i didnt talk to any of my friends because I would of rather read this book instead of going out. Everyone should read this book! Its about a overweight women who only dreams of being perfect for her dream man Ben Williams. But in the end everything is perfect BLISS for Jemima J, after a bad fling with the internet man.
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