Reading in Reykjavík

Originally published in June 2005, on my original 52 Books blog. My first introduction to chick lit was the much praised Bridget Jones’ Diary, which I frankly hated. IMHO, the movie, for once, was better than the book. It didn’t stop me exploring further, however, and I have read several books belonging to the Genre : good, bad and indifferent. I’ve even reviewed some in this blog. Warning: SPOILERS ahead Two very different couples’ lives begin to interweave when they move to a small village in England. They are the practically broke illustrator Rosie and her ill-tempered columnist boyfriend Mark, and filthy rich actress, evil stepmother and bitch queen Samantha and her husband, Guy the financier. Also involved are a noisy family of slackers who live next door to Rosie and Mark’s cottage, a farmer who becomes attracted to Rosie (who seriously considers dumping Mark for him), a reclusive rock star, a former Bond girl and Guy’s teenage daughter, who has every intention of breaking u...

Originally published in September 2004, on my original 52 Books blog. My comments in different type. Author: Amanda Brown Year published: 2001 Pages: 272 Genre: Chick lit Sub-genre(s): self discovery Where got: Bought in Prague The story: For those who have not read the book or seen the movie and don’t want to know the ending or of either, please stop reading NOW! SPOILERS ahead Those who have seen the movie are already familiar with the basic plot of the book: Bel Air princess Elle Woods is rejected by her boyfriend and follows him to law school to show him that while she is a blonde, she is not dumb. All kinds of funny chaos ensues, Elle defends Brooke, a former sorority sister in a murder trial, gets sexually harassed by her supervisor, and finally rejects the ex in favour of continuing law school and being with the cute lawyer she met. That was the movie. The book has the same basic plot, but with important differences. One is that instead of heading east t...

Originally published in September 2004, on my original 52 Books blog. Slightly edited for length and to remove spoilers. American title: The Boy Next Door Author: Meggin Cabot Year published: 2002 Pages: 392 Genre: Chick lit/romance Where got: Public library This book was recommended to me by an online friend. It was written by the author of The Princess Diaries . The story: Gossip columnist Melissa “Mel” Fuller is in danger of losing her job because she’s always late for work. As the book begins, she is late again, but this time she has an excuse: her elderly neighbour has been assaulted and Mel has had to call the police and then take care of the old lady’s pets, two cats and a Great Dane. Getting hold of the old lady’s heir, playboy photographer Max Friedlander, is hard, but finally she tracks him down in Florida where he is cavorting with a supermodel and has no intention of coming to New York to take care of his aunt’s pets. To make sure he doesn’t lose his inheri...

Book 3 in my first 52 books challenge. Originally published February 8, 2004. First, a guilty admittance: I read Chocolat around the middle of last week. In fact, I devoured it. Author : Joanne Harris Published : 1999 Where got : Public library Genre : Chick lit Chocolat is a light and fun read and although I have seen the movie (which broadly follows the story in the book), I was unable to put it down. The story is that of chocolatier Vianne and her daughter Anouk, rootless itinerants who, one day at the beginning of Lent, drift into the small French village of Lansquenet and start up a chocolate shop. Vianne immediately provokes the dislike of the village priest, padre Francis Reynaud, who sees her as a threat to his authority over the villagers, who forget all about fasting and proper Lenten behaviour when they encounter the delights of Vianne's shop. What provokes the priest in the beginning is Vianne's self-professed atheism and the impropriety of opening a chocolate shop ...

Author: Meg Cabot Year published: 2005 Genre: Romance Setting: Italy, 21st century The Story: Cartoonist Jane and foreign reporter Cal agree to accompany their eloping friends Holly and Mark to Italy to be their bridesmaid and best man. They take a violent dislike to each other at first sight and when Jane discovers that Cal doesn’t believe in marriage and intends to try to talk his friend out of marrying Holly, she likes him even less. But when a bout of food poisoning almost ruins the wedding plans and Jane and Cal have to rush to Rome to get some papers for the bridal couple, they get to know and understand each other better on the way. Technique and plot: Like all the other Meg Cabot novels I’ve read, this is an epistolatory story. Jane writes in her diary, Cal writes on his PDA, and they both email back and forth with friends and family. The epistolatory form is Cabot’s specialty and she does it well. Managing to convey different personalities through a few lines of e-mail ...

Author: Kate Fenton Previously published as: Lions and Liquorice Year published: 1995. American publication: 2005 Pages: 276 Genre: Romance (sort of) The Story: A film outfit arrives in a tiny Yorkshire village to film Pride and Prejudice . Local writer Llew Bevan looks on the proceedings with a jaundiced eye as the film’s star sweeps his widowed brother-in-law off his feet, and he himself can not help being attracted to not one, but two of the outsiders: haughty director Mary Dance, and a young woman who has a serious quarrel with Mary. Technique and plot: Ring any bells? No? Think Pride and Prejudice in a modern setting with older players and reversed gender roles. I have avoided reading any of the “sequels” that have been written to Jane Austen’s novels, as I know no-one can do the characters as well as she did. But a modern spin-off is another matter. I read about this book several years ago while browsing the The Republic of Pemberley fansite. Everyone said it was hilario...