In Her Shoes

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing follow-up; still somewhat enjoyable.
Review: I picked up a discarded copy of Good in Bed at work one day when I had nothing to read on my subway ride home. I rarely read books by "women's authors", and the blurb on the back cover did not appeal to my tastes. To my surprise, I wound up loving it! In fact, I was so taken with Weiner's style (moreso than her characters) and wit that I found myself counting down the days until I could get my hands on her next book, In Her Shoes.

Alas, I was sorely disappointed. I brought the book with me on a trip overseas last weekend, and read the whole thing in one go. Yes, it moved along quickly and passed the in-air time, but too much of my time reading was spent paying attention to the heavy-handed storyline and annoyingly clichéd, cookie-cutter characters.

Although I'm surely mistaken, the book reads as though Weiner wrote the whole thing in a desperate attempt to get out a second book quickly enough after her earlier success, rather than taking the time to fully flesh out characters. At times, I felt like Rose was becoming Cannie (from Good in Bed) -- could Weiner really not come up with a more distinct type of protagonist?

The most irritating moment in my reading experience came during the scene in the park when Rose meets Joy, Nifkin, and then finally Cannie. Could this encounter possibly have been more forced?? It was out-of-place, inconsequential, and awkward -- almost like a cheap sequel to a good film in which a character from part one (who's had the good sense to avoid part two) makes a 5-second cameo appearance just to boost sales. Bleh.

Of course, In Her Shoes DID get me through a 7-hour flight, and for that it deserves at least 2 stars. Not having left it behind in the seat pocket gets it one more. I can't say I'll be recommending this book to anyone, but I am still eager to read Jennifer Weiner's third book when the time comes. I am patient -- she's obviously a good writer with lots of potential, it just doesn't come through in this latest book.

Rating:
Summary: A winner from Weiner
Review: After reading Good In Bed I was anticipating reading another book by Weiner. What I didn't anticipate was liking it better than Good In Bed. "In Her Shoes" is just one fantastic read.

Centering on the lives of Rose and Maggie Feller, two sisters who are complete oppisites of one another save the fact they they both have great taste in shoes and that they wear the same size. Uptight, dowdy, bookish Rose is the reliable, responsible one who has always cared for and looked out for her wild, lazy and irresponcible sister Maggie since their mother's death when they were children. As they fight with each other, they are also both fighting inner battles - Rose with her weight, Maggie with her learning disabilities. After a particularly distructive action on Maggie's part she is banished from her sister's apartment where she has been sponging for a few weeks with no where to go. What follow are months of separation that help change Maggie into a more responsible and compassionate person and transforms Rose into a much more laid back person. When the two do reunite at the home of their long lost grandmother they dance around each other for a while, but soon the sisterly bond is back in place where it should be.

This was one of those rare books that I raced through the first three quarters because I wanted to know what happened then slowed to a snail's pace for the last quarter because I didn't want it to end. I cried as I closed the book when I finished it and can't wait to see what Ms. Weiner writes of next.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: If you're like me, all of these books about the twenty or thirty something independent woman with major character flaws written in a humorous, caustic tone appeal to you greatly. This one is no exception. I do have to agree with some of my fellow reviewers that this book definitely falls flat at the end. I felt like it was a very rushed ending. The book kept me interested until the last chapter, I read it and was like, "Oh. That's it? Okay, I guess." It's worth your time to read the book anyway just for the entertainment and the way that just about everyone can relate to a character in this story.

Rating:
Summary: So, so good!
Review: This book was a really great read. I did not think Jennifer Weiner could top her first book, Good in Bed, but this one may be even better. It has everything you want in a book; humour, drama, sadness, and that warm, fuzzy, feel-good feeling. Read it! You won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Jennifer Weiner has done it again!
Review: Having read Good In Bed, I couldn't wait to read Jennifer Weiner's second novel. I wondered if it would be as good as her debut effort. The answer is a resounding YES!

In Her Shoes is a story about two sisters who have nothing in common, save for their size feet. Rose Feller is a successful Princeton-educated attorney who loves food and romance novels. Her younger sister, Maggie Feller, is a drop-dead gorgeous fashionista whose only ambition is to become a big Hollywood star. But instead of crashing cast parties with A-list celebrities, Maggie is often unemployed and in trouble -- and Rose has to constantly bail her out.

When a family secret and a wayward grandmother resurface, these two women are forced to reassess their lives and learn what it's like to be in the other person's shoes. There are some interesting twists in the novel.

Jennifer Weiner has again delved into human relationships with refreshing clarity and wit to boot. In Her Shoes is not quite as gripping as Good In Bed, but it is wonderful and poignant nonetheless. Weiner, like Marian Keyes and Anna Maxtet, touches on real issues that affect today's woman. Her novels are above today's run-of-the-mill, must-find-a-potential-husband-before-I-turn-thirty chick lit. And so I urge you to pick up this gem!

Rating:
Summary: it's been done before
Review: I loved Good in Bed but this was too close in story line and not nearly as clever. I had a hard time finishing this book because I kept feeling I had read it before. In her fist book, the main character had a life changing experience and then walked her way (literaly) to a thinner, healthier women with a child and a husband who was right there under her nose from almost the beginning. This story has 2 sisters (of course they hate each other...mostly due to envy) Both have life changing experiences and find a way to change. One of them even walks her way to a thiner, healthier women with a man who was right under her nose the whole time. Sound Familiar? I thought so. I don't know that I will ever read another one of her books for fear that I will already know the story...beginning, middle and end.

Rating:
Summary: In Her Shoes
Review: Well, I'm actually reading this book right now, because it was recommended in this magazine I read. I'm reading it in hebrew, but by browsing in the author's website, I can see it's translated in her style, and really well - might I add.
I really like the book, especially the parts with Ella. I'd defenatly recomend In Her Shoes.

Rating:
Summary: The struggle of 2 sisters.
Review: Rose Feller is the older sister who is a successful attorney and constantly bailing her younger sister out of trouble. Things look to be finally going her way, she has a great boyfriend and good shoes and work is going ok.

Maggie is the younger sister who is the one who has always been told that she is beautiful but stupid. She has a severe learning disability which she also uses as a crutch to keep from having to act as an adult.

Rose yet again bails Maggie out and Maggie ends up living with her for a while. All is not as good as they operate on different value sets. Then Rose comes home early and finds Maggie and her boyfriend having sex. Rose kicks them both out and the falls apart. When she finally gets out of bed she decided to take a leave of absence from work and winds up starting a pet care business, and loving it. She also meets someone who she used to work with and falls in love.

Maggie on the other hand lives the life of a street person at Princeton until she uncovers a long lost grandmother. She then goes to Florida to live with her and through the help of the "older" people in the complex finally finds what she is really good at and makes it into a career and is able to make amends with Rose.

I really enjoyed this audio and how the sisters make amends. It was not one of those "poof" I forgive you stories!

Rating:
Summary: Payless at the library
Review: I have thought about what it is that bugs me so much about Weiner's writing, and I think it basically comes down to two things. First, it's not even bad enough that's it's so bad it's good; it's mediocre, and in art, even chick lit, there's nothing so bad as mediocre. Second, I can't help feeling that Weiner has disturbing envy issues that come through via her characters. It is just not true that all thin women purge and that overweight women are generally smarter and more humorous. I can only think Weiner has gotten this far by striking a chord with obese and disgruntled women. I read in one of these reviews that Cameron Diaz was being cast as Maggie in the movie adaptation. That fits because I don't rate skinny Diaz either...just to show I'm an equal opportunity reviewer.

Rating:
Summary: Good In Bed is much, much better
Review: I really enjoyed the middle third of this book. The first half is kind of slow and all over the place. We have Maggie, who really is an underdog and in spite of her horrid ways we want to know why she ruins everything she touches. Rose is kind of an archtype for the plump, hard-working "everywoman" but falls flat in the identifiable area if you've not been exactly "in her shoes." Ella, the grandmother, is introduced early on. The author jumps around between these three women and makes none of them really intriguing, in my opinion.

The middle of the book sets all three women into action to take control of their lives and is really interesting. However, the book again falls flat in the last third as things very conveniently fit together. I was really caring about the characters and just felt unconnected and uninterested in the direction their actions lead them.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the author's first book, Good In Bed. Was disappointed. If you're looking for a good, fun, engaging and meaningful read pick up Good In Bed. Ms. Weiner is very talented and I would definitely give another book of hers a chance but this one just did not thrill me.