Rating: 
Summary: a quick, funny read
Review: Fans of Anne Lamott's wryly humorous writing and San Francisco residents will love this often laugh-out-loud funny take on life after engagement. There isn't much of a narrative trajectory, but the author's musings on love, marriage, and "for the rest of your life" will ring true for anyone who's ever been in a serious relationship.
Rating: 
Summary: from TIME Magazine
Review: "It is comforting to read a book that looks at the real doubts women have when marriage comes after the breeziness of youth has subsided."
Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't Put it Down AND it's beautifully written!
Review: I hate to denegrate another writer, but Bridget Jones can't compete with Finnamore! What a wonderful, wry, witty read. Finnamore is honest, hilarious, but also profound. She writes absolute truth about being a woman today. Loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Smart, funny and excellent.
Review: Otherwise Engaged, by Suzanne Finnamore, grips you after the third word and refuses to let you go. When your bladder reminds you that life is about balance, the book whispers, "Just finish this one little paragraph...and maybe the first line of the next." It forces you to laugh out loud, startling the pet and those around you. Other times, it is simply so brilliantly funny as to make you not even smile, but rather think to yourself, "this is so funny...it's profound." I have heard it said that "the root of all humor is truth" and that would be the case with this novel. As side-splittingly funny as it is, it's also very moving. The main character, Eve, is no Super-Bride to be, but is instead endearingly human with wonderful flaws, even if she seems to posses an almost supernatural self awareness. The writer gives you a backstage-pass to the mind of a woman whom, prior to becoming engaged, was a successful, intelligent and one imagines sane advertising copywriter. "Yes" she says when the question is popped. And this is the last word Sane-Eve utters. As Eve grows more consumed with her wedding and what it means, we grow more consumed with the book. It is truly "impossible to put down." Finnamore's writing is stunning and original. She peels away cliché on every page, causing ordinary events and things to take on a patina of the extraordinary and rare. I began reading Otherwise Engaged at work, during lunch with my door closed. After 2 then 2:30 came and went, somebody eventually knocked on my door. I instantly stopped breathing and paused the page mid-turn, so as to help my office exude an aura of vacancy. After a reasonable amount of time passed, (5 minutes) I decided I was feeling very ill, so I came home early and continued reading without having to worry about pesky real-life getting in the way. This novel is for anyone who loves great writing, engaged or otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: A modern romp with wondrous writing and much sly wisdom.
Review: This is silly, funny, serious, absurd and so dead-on true, it's wickedly profound. The sheer craft and gift of Finnamore's writing is awesome. She has no right to be so funny too. You read it fast out of sheer greed for more. Books like this restore the purpose of light reading. And absolve all guilt about it. Welcome Finnamore, whoever you are. Now what about the baby?
Rating:
Summary: Suzanne Finnamore is the spokeswoman of the 90's
Review: Suzanne Finnamore's book is multi-layered. I found that it is really not about "catching a husband" but of recognizing the enormous responsibility, self-instrospection and compassion to prepare oneself for marriage. Even though it is presented in a very modern day mode - it really is an old fashioned tale of love conquers all. A valuable and "must read" book for all those who are seeking "true love". For those of us who are already married, it serves as a reminder on how to "keep the love alive" Never preachy, never boring and consistently entertaining as well as wise this is a terrific read. A perfect gift.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic.
Review: This one was passed on to me from a friend and has made its way to every woman I know...it is a hoot and touching as well. I haven't enjoyed a novel this much in years. I was sick to see it end. The heroine is a smart sassy babe who has her faults in spades and admits to every single one. Her love life is under the magnifying glass as she contemplates and lives through a year full of not only being engaged, but being alive and past 30. The world of advertising is delightfully sent up in this uproarious story of marriage and career for the modern woman. From the Ultimatum to the Walk down the aisle, you'll be entranced. Just wanting more now. More! More! More!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fun book for brides-to-be.
Review: Since my fiancé has taken to calling me "bridezilla," I thought I would check out this light-hearted novel. The first few pages had me laughing out loud, and I finished the entire short book (204 pp.) by the next day. The chapters are a month-by-month countdown to the wedding of the main charachter, Eve. When she gets engaged, Eve feels triumphant, especially given her age (she is 36 and has never been married; I'm 34 and in the same boat). Soon, however, she becomes overwhelmed by the entire wedding planning process as well as the "rest of my life" implication of marriage; she starts seeing a therapist and taking Valium (the way she saves each precious Valium for the especially bad moments of her life is hilarious). The story throws in a few unexpected twists involving Eve's assorted group of friends, but you can probably guess the ending. Overall, I found this to be a fun, amusing book, and I would highly recommended it as a great tension reliever for other brides-to-be.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing funny about it...
Review: Okay maybe I a lying, there was one funny part where some characters talk about their sleeping habits, but otherwise this book was not entertaining. I picked it up thinking it was going to be a light-hearted, fun novel, and it was not. It was depressing and annoying. I really did not like the main character and everytime she took her engagement ring because they had a fight, I wanted to scream. I guess this book was just not what I expected, I only finished it because I can't stop books in the middle. On a good note it is a quick read, even if it is like torture.
Rating:
Summary: Fun and Witty
Review: The cover was great, the title was great, so when a friend gave this to me and said that it was one of the first American chick lits, I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad I did. The story was entertaining, the character likeable for the most part (although she seemed to take herself a little too seriously some times), and it was very well written. I will be looking for more chick lit now that I've gotten a taste of these fun books.
|
