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!

Citizen Girl by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Published: 2004
Pages: 306
Genre: Chick lit

Working in a world where a college degree qualifies her to make photocopies and color-coordinate file folders, twenty-four-year-old Girl is struggling to keep up with the essential trinity of food, shelter, and student loans. So when she finally lands the job of her dreams, she ignores her misgivings and concentrates on getting the job done... whatever that may be (from back of book).

After semi-enjoying The Nanny Diaries by the same authors, I decided to pick up Citizen Girl when I saw it at the library. I finished it yesterday, and can honestly say that it left me feeling a tad confused.

The book started out fine, despite having a main character named "Girl" which I found to be an odd choice. Nevertheless, I continued onwards and was getting into the book, enjoying Girl's misfortunes and happy moments. All of the sudden, though, I got lost. I can't remember the exact moment and I can't remember how, but it hit me - I have no idea what's going on anymore!

That's the truth. At some undefined moment during the course of Citizen Girl, I completey lost track. I didn't know what was happening, I didn't know who some of the characters were, and I didn't know why I was still reading. Usually when I feel this confused during a book I go back and try to make sense of it again. But Citizen Girl didn't feel worth the trouble, and I didn't even care.

Now that I look back, I think some of this is due to the extremely satirist and almost sarcastic writing style that these authors have. On occasion I couldn't even tell if what they were saying was true, or if it was simply a metaphor for something else. Some events in the story didn't make sense, and some of the characters felt out of place to me. Again, maybe I just wasn't comprehending enough. Maybe not.

In the end, Citizen Girl is certainly a strangely-composed book. The plot itself is 50% fun, chick lit pleasure, the other 50% is pure confusion. I'm sure some people really like McLaughlin and Kraus' writing style and can follow the story. But if you're like me, you'll find Citizen Girl to be a mish-mash of characters randomly shoved into a weak story line.

Recommendation: Fans of The Nanny Diaries might like to give the book a try. If you aren't familiar with these authors, I would steer clear.

Daughters of Fortune by Tara Hyland

Published: 2010
Pages: 567
Genre: Chick lit

William Melville's daughters are heiresses to the world's most exclusive fashion dynasty. Beautiful and rich, they are envied by all. But behind the glittering facade of their lives, each girl hides a dark secret that threatens to tear their family apart. As each of them seeks to carve out her own destiny, they face difficult choices which will take them in wildly different directions.

The moment I got this book in the mail from a contest at Bookalicious Ramblings I couldn't contain my excitement to get started. I was totally in the mood for a fun and light read, which is exactly what this book delivered.

Despite being a rather lengthy novel, Daughters of Fortune didn't seem like a burden. I didn't have to read just for the sake of making my way through the book. Every page was engaging, and there was constantly something important going on which held my attention. This is an all around entertaining, uplifting and fun book to read.

Something that I think contributes to the sheer entertainment factor is how the book switches from person to person to person - we read about Elizabeth, Caitlin, Amber, William, Isabelle, Katie, Piers, Lucien, Cole, and many other people. This format lends itself well to this particular book because we slowly gain bits of information about each of their lives, and we can piece it together. Daughters of Fortune is packed with scandal, secrets, and drama. Pure deliciousness.

I didn't find Hyland's writing to be outstanding, but it fit with the book. Even the most critical reviewer would most likely dismiss her relatively average style of writing and focus on the elaborate and unique plot that is being showcased. It's hard not to be concerned about the characters. It's hard not to follow the story line with enthusiasm. And most of all, it's hard to put the book down! I repeatedly found myself losing sleep and opening the book long after I forced myself to turn off the light. You have been warned.

Recommendation: I highly recommend this to readers of the chick lit genre, or to someone who is looking to enjoy a light but engrossing novel. You won't want to miss this one!

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Published: 2002
Pages: 306
Genre: Chick lit

Nanny (yes, that's the main character's name - sadly, it took me a while to figure that out!) is an NYU student who's struggling with finances, her love life, and everything in between. To earn money, she signs up for a position to care for Grayer, the four year-old child of the wealthy X family. Throughout the story we follow Nanny's laugh-out-loud troubles with her demanding boss, the family secrets she discovers, and a new found connection with Grayer.

I must say, this was an entertaining and enjoyable read. It's fairly well-writen and includes some funny parts which are sure to make you chuckle! Of course, the plot isn't anything special. I'm sure there are many books out there with the same general idea. However, it's all lighthearted fun and not meant to be taken seriously.

If you're in the mood for a light read that doesn't require much analysis or reflection, consider The Nanny Diaries. It's cute, positive, and might even make you laugh!

Final verdict: Look for it in the library.