Snapped by Pamela Klaffke

Published: 2010
Pages: 248
Genre: Chick lit

At the helm of must-read Snap magazine, veteran style guru Sara B. has had the job for the past fifteen years of eviscerating the city's fashion victims in her legendary DOs and DON'Ts photo spread. Fueled by alcohol, nicotine and self-loathing, Sara launches into a cringeworthy but often comic series of blowups - personal, professional and private - that culminate in an epiphany. That she, the arbiter of taste, has made her living by cutting people down. And she's got to make amends (from back of book).

I saw this odd-looking book on the shelf of the library and decided to give it a shot. It looked kind of cute and I was in the mood for something light, so why not? After finishing the book last night, I'm on the fence in terms of liking the book or not. Allow me to elaborate.

It's not often that you read about a forty-year-old who acts like a young adult - drinking constantly, working for a fashion magazine, sleeping around, and questioning her purpose in life. I have to admit, it took a considerable amount of time for me to get used to Sara as a character, but I accepted her eventually. It also took a bit of time for me to sort out all the other characters, the relationships between them, and their place in the novel. That came eventually, too, and I was slowly but steadily falling into the pace of the book.

Pamela Klaffke has a unique voice for sure. Her sentences were usually quite long, lacking any commas or semi-colons in between. It worked, though, because Snapped is written from Sara's point of view. The language is sarcastic, often comical, and always entertaining. I can't speak from experience, but I would assume that Klaffke accurately portrayed the emotions and feelings of a middle-aged woman who is going through a difficult part in her life, and that's something I like about Snapped.

Despite the fabulous narration in the book, I simply could not comprehend why Sara was so pissed off towards life. Okay, the younger generation is re-inventing your idea of style. Fine, your assistant is sleeping with your friend. Sure, you've made a few mistakes. But who hasn't? That's no reason to quit your job. That doesn't mean you have to break up with your boyfriend. How Sara dealt with her issues didn't seem mature to me, and it didn't feel realistic either.

On the whole, Snapped was a cute book. Not a favourite, but I can't say that I'm sorry I read it. It was entertaining while it lasted, and was certainly very imaginative. Even though I didn't take Sara seriously, she had a distinct personality - a very refreshing one, that's for sure.

Recommendation: Looking for something different? If you enjoy these "self-discovery" chick lit type books, give Snapped a shot. It's not for everyone, but you might end up loving it!