The Right Address

Rating:
Summary: WAY TOO TRUE!!!
Review: This book hits the nail on the head. Through my husband, I have actually met people on Park Avenue and they ARE EXACTLY LIKE THIS. SCARY! One couple even rings a bell for their slaves to come bring them food! It is a great read, hilarious, hilarious, hilarious! If you want to find out what these people are really like, read this book. The authors are not making this stuff up. Remember, art imitates life!

Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite
Review: This book is not as poorly written as "The Devil Wears Prada," but it's close. The authors (it took two people to write this book?!)don't give us anyone to root for; everyone in this book is either a tacky wannabe or a catty snob and no one has redeeming qualities or distinct characteristics. What they should have done was had Melanie Korn, the socially ambitious ex-stewardess and second wife of funeral home magnate Arthur Korn, be humiliated a few times by her two socially connected nemesises (is that a word?) Joan and Wendy. Then under the tutelage of Mr. Guffney, the butler, she ascends the social ladder all Eliza Doolittle-like and exacts a satisfying revenge. Wait, I've read a story similar to that--oh, yeah, Candace Bushnell's "Trading Up." (I liked that book, what can I say?) Anyway, as the book is, Melanie is incredibly gauche and keeps making the same mistakes page after page, until you begin to wonder how many times can she be ostracized and humiliated? Does her earthy husband, Arthur, really love her, or is he jonesing for the perfect society girl, Olivia? Do Wendy and Joan have lives? Is Morgan really gonna have Maria, his baby mama, killed? The authors do give us a peek into the lives of the idle rich, with their charity balls and ruthless gossip. But for the most part, this book is like Melanie and Arthur's apartment before they had it redecorated: a lot of nice pieces, but nothing that really comes together as a whole.

Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite
Review: This book is not as poorly written as "The Devil Wears Prada," but it's close. The authors (it took two people to write this book?!)don't give us anyone to root for; everyone in this book is either a tacky wannabe or a catty snob and no one has redeeming qualities or distinct characteristics. What they should have done was had Melanie Korn, the socially ambitious ex-stewardess and second wife of funeral home magnate Arthur Korn, be humiliated a few times by her two socially connected nemesises (is that a word?) Joan and Wendy. Then under the tutelage of Mr. Guffney, the butler, she ascends the social ladder all Eliza Doolittle-like and exacts a satisfying revenge. Wait, I've read a story similar to that--oh, yeah, Candace Bushnell's "Trading Up." (I liked that book, what can I say?) Anyway, as the book is, Melanie is incredibly gauche and keeps making the same mistakes page after page, until you begin to wonder how many times can she be ostracized and humiliated? Does her earthy husband, Arthur, really love her, or is he jonesing for the perfect society girl, Olivia? Do Wendy and Joan have lives? Is Morgan really gonna have Maria, his baby mama, killed? The authors do give us a peek into the lives of the idle rich, with their charity balls and ruthless gossip. But for the most part, this book is like Melanie and Arthur's apartment before they had it redecorated: a lot of nice pieces, but nothing that really comes together as a whole.

Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: This is probably one of the worst books I've ever read. The writing is awkward at times and the ways the various plots are resolved are completely absurd. (I'm going to give away a few things so stop reading if you want to read the book.) For one, the rich billionaire planning to off his paramour decides to call off the hit at the last minute and suffer the consequences of his infidelity. But, lucky him, there happens to be an insane taxi driver intent on killing a woman in a fur coat, and miracle of miracles, it's the billionaire's tacky Hispanic mistress. Then, the rather unlikable heroine of the novel informs the lovely socialite author that her novel plagiarizes Valley of the Dolls. This happens in an elevator some time after the book is published. Really, now. It is ludicrous the book is published and none of the editors at the publishing house or, at least, someone reviewing the book in the media didn't discover the plagiarism a long time before the elevator encounter. The only semi-redeemable character is the butler, Mr. Guffey, and if one reads the acknowledgements, one will find that Mr. Guffey is actually the creation of the authors' editor, Stacy Creamer. I can't imagine what this mess looked like before this poor editor worked on it. Even so, the authors reduce Mr. Guffey into being their mouthpiece so they may decree which fashion designers they deem acceptable. Moreover, nearly every character is inconsistently written, usually about something major, such as their feelings about their most important relationships. There is also some pretty offensive stereotyping. Honestly, I was hoping to like this book, but don't make the mistake of buying it. (...)

Rating:
Summary: hilarious!!!
Review: This is such a funny book-- just what I needed for this weekend-- I read it in two days!!! I fully laughed out loud the whole time, a total riot.

Rating:
Summary: laugh out loud
Review: this is the funniest thing ever. Those people who gave it bad reviews are just not getting the satire of it!!!! Definitely a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: Unlikeable protagonist, poorly drawn and cliched supporting characters and a plot thinner than tissue paper. It all adds up to irritation that I spent time and money on this drivel. I'm all for a book that dissects the upper tiers of society, in this case New York's. And maybe these people are as banal, uninteresting and hackneyed as the authors portray them. But I can't believe that the Pygmalion story couldn't have been told with more wit and sparkle -- and a lot less predictability. If you want name dropping and brand mentions, buy Vogue. At least it has photos.