Review: Something Blue

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I didn't read 'Something Borrowed' before I read this book, not sure if it would have changed my experience.



    I wish I could say I liked this book more than I did. My first flaw with it is that I hate stories where lifelong female amigas backstab eachother by sleeping with eachother's boyfriends/fiances. Yes, I know at the end of the book, Darcy analyzes it all, but it still makes me cringe a bit.
   Now about Darcy - her arrogant, childish manners grated on my last nerve and it felt like this went of for half of the book. Even so, I put up with it because I knew something would happen that would trigger a change in her, but when it did come, it just didn't seem big enough. I expected a huge crash-and-burn, but it all boiled down to was - a conversation.
   One calm scolding from her friend Ethan, and suddenly she became a madeover angel with a heart of gold. I felt the transformation was too fast and forced.
   But - I'm a sucker for happy endings! I loved Ethan and the way he slowly warmed up to her. Out of everyone, he had the guts to shove the proverbial mirror in her face. I liked that he didn't let her manipulate him the way she did with her other men, even if they did end up dumping her. My favorite part was her trip to the OB/GYN when she recieved her first ultrasound and learned about her bonus prize.

The writing was clean, colorful and smooth. Even though I didn't like this book as much as 'Love The One You're With' (another title of hers), I am crazy curious to read 'Something Borrowed'!


View all my reviews

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

What is it with kids on book covers?

Click to see a bigger view.

Last week I was at Target in the book section. Every time I go there, I stand in front of the budding authors section and visualize my books on those shelves. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm still working on it. I'm a firm believer in that kind of stuff. Maybe it won't be one of two novels, but one in the future after I'm grown into my books a little.

ANYWAY - my point for this picture...look at all these covers. They all have the backs of little kids on them. Must be some kind of trend. I Googled book cover trends and found this incredible round up by Publisher's Weekly: The Season of Windblown Hair - Or, the Zeitgeist of Book Covers.

I'm happy to say I've never seen a book cover that has spilled glitter bottles on the front like mine. :-)

BTW: I got some really good news about my two novels! "Listen" up for an update when I can announce the news!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Kibosh the clichés

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/14/one-mans-war-on-cliches_n_876565.html

I've been spending my nights writing these days and during one of my, um...breaks...I came across this article in the Huffington Post Books section. It's about a man who is set on stopping folks from using clichés. You may think you already have your warrior shields up in that department, but take a look at his list and see if there are any you fall victim to. What a buzzkill! (Yikes, I just used one, but so what!)

Click here to read the article. 

I like that the article lists Orwell’s six rules:

- Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
- Never use a long word where a short one will do.
- If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
- Never use the passive where you can use the active.
- Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
- Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Good stuff to keep in mind for any kind of writing project!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Writing tips and more from Marcela Landres

One of my writing mentors and coaches has been the wonderful Marcela Landres! Here is her latest newsletter where she shares information about online writing classes.

Good stuff - I thought I'd share it with you! Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter and buy her ebook!
OK...on to the newsletter...