Speechless

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable Toronto-set Chick Lit novel
Review: I enjoyed reading Speechless and found it a good Chick Lit novel. The thing I liked best was that it was set in Toronto, which is a great city for Chick Lit stories, I think. I was always waiting for Toronto to be selected as a story location, and that was one reason why I enjoyed last year's Chick Lit novel 'A Year of Samantha' by B.D. Gardner - as far as I can tell, that was the first Toronto-set Chick Lit novel, and 'A Year of Samantha' was very good (you can read my review of that book if you like).

Speechless has a lot going for it and I enjoyed most the bits where Libby comes to see that the corporate world higher-ups will always blame the lesserites when they can to look good themselves (there is an old adage about how a certain sunbstance always flows downhill). The mentioning of Canoe (great restaurant!) was also a neat touch for those of us who know Toronto and its 'in' places. There was a bit too much froth for me (going to all those weddings and always catching the bouquet I thought bordered on unrealistic). I like realistic chick lit, and Speechless had some great realistic bits, but not as much as I would have liked, hence 3 out of 5 stars. A good first effort.

I compared this to ultra-realistic 'A Year of Samantha' mainly due to the fact that both of the novels where set in Toronto. Other good chick lit books that I found ultra-realistic include 'The Devil Wears Prada' (probably the best Chick Lit book, in my opinion) and 'Maneater' (good in realism, but not as enjoyable a story as 'The Devil Wears Prada').

In short, Speechless is an enjoyable read, escecially for the Toronto-set. A good book.

Rating:
Summary: Fun and funny
Review: I had a good time reading this one- Libby's work situation is hilarious and will make almost anyone's bad job look like a cakewalk in comparison! You have to give points for originality, and I enjoyed reading about the Canadian political system for a change.

The only thing I had a quibble with was the nice guy vs. bad guy dichotomy in this one. When the heroine is told multiple times to go for "the good guy" and she responds, "I know, I know," and then pursues the "bad guy", it kind of smacks of "Take your nice medicine, dearie, it's good for you, even if you're not all that interested." And it seems like Libby's interest in "the good guy" varies from time to time, depending on how much interest she or he is getting elsewhere and/or if he's taken. The fellow seems like a good guy with a personality, but I rather wish he'd been taken up a notch so that the reader is excited for her to be with him, rather than feeling like she'd just had a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

Rating:
Summary: Way to go Libby!!!
Review: I really enjoyed reading Speechless....in fact I couldn't put it down. I immediately liked and related to Libby, the tall, bushy haired, bouquet catching heroine of the novel. Although the novel does have a good dose of romance the focus is more on the journey that Libby makes as a person. She lands what she thinks is her dream job as speechwriter to the minister of culture. In reality she ends up carrying the minister's handbag around just in case she needs a "touch up". But through hard work and determination Libby eventaully proves herself and finds her voice not only as a speechwriter but as a confident young woman. Written with humour and wit I felt by the end that Libby had become a friend. The only disappointment was that the book had to end. I hope to read about Libby in other adventures. For anyone looking for a good book to curl up with that's entertaining, humorous, and inspiring I would highly recommend this read.

Rating:
Summary: pleasurable chick lit tale
Review: In Toronto Libby McIssac is legendary for catching bridal bouquets having caught twelve over the past two decades starting when she was eight. Libby knows she has a tall advantage being six foot five in three inch heels, but even when she does not try she makes the play as every wedding she has attended she has caught the bouquet.

Libby obtains a job at the Ministry of Recreations as a political speechwriter for Minster Clarice Cleary. However, the job stinks as her immediate boss and the Minister barely acknowledge that she breaths and blithely informs her that they will let her know when she can think for herself. The positives are Tim Kennedy, who she met at a wedding when she easily caught the bridal bouquet, and a male friend willing to end the bouquet curse. On the other hand a scandal shakes up the Ministry and people like Libby are considered mass sacrifice fodder.

Even though the heroine's angst is bigger than her basketball physique and can become disruptive, Libby still makes this chick lit pleasurable through her often amusing perspective of the worlds of dating even much shorter males, weddings and politics. The story line is for the most part humorous (think of a penis of a peninsular), but also has a serious undertone involving workplace culpability (the buck stops below management). Readers will enjoy Libby's lament just don't try to crash the boards against her.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: pleasurable chick lit tale
Review: In Toronto Libby McIssac is legendary for catching bridal bouquets having caught twelve over the past two decades starting when she was eight. Libby knows she has a tall advantage being six foot five in three inch heels, but even when she does not try she makes the play as every wedding she has attended she has caught the bouquet.

Libby obtains a job at the Ministry of Recreations as a political speechwriter for Minster Clarice Cleary. However, the job stinks as her immediate boss and the Minister barely acknowledge that she breaths and blithely informs her that they will let her know when she can think for herself. The positives are Tim Kennedy, who she met at a wedding when she easily caught the bridal bouquet, and a male friend willing to end the bouquet curse. On the other hand a scandal shakes up the Ministry and people like Libby are considered mass sacrifice fodder.

Even though the heroine's angst is bigger than her basketball physique and can become disruptive, Libby still makes this chick lit pleasurable through her often amusing perspective of the worlds of dating even much shorter males, weddings and politics. The story line is for the most part humorous (think of a penis of a peninsular), but also has a serious undertone involving workplace culpability (the buck stops below management). Readers will enjoy Libby's lament just don't try to crash the boards against her.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Fun effort (3 1/2 stars)...
Review: Speechless is a fun, quick novel centered on office politics. Libby McIssac, a six-foot tall giantess and aspiring author, realizes that her new government position as the Minister of Culture's speechwriter consists more of gopher work than of actually writing speeches. To make matters worse, she's caught her thirteenth wedding bouquet and her love life is in a state of paralysis. Will she be able to handle Margo, her archrival and nemesis at the office? Will she choose the adorable Tim over her arrogant, albeit gorgeous, British colleague? And will she ever write a book?

This isn't the best Red Dress Ink offering, but it does offer a good dose of wit and insight on office politics. I was able to relate to some of the situations. I, too, have encountered my fair share of Margos throughout my career. Collins and Rideout's takes on Canadian politics are very informative. I also like the setting (Toronto) and quirky characters. Libby, though irritating at times, has a sarcastic tone that made me laugh in various occasions. All in all, this is a nice, quick read.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't stop laughing.
Review: To me this book was hilarious. It dragged in a couple of chapters. But what this woman went through I think it was written well and very funny. I read this book in less that 2 days, I couldn't put it down.