The Journal of Mortifying Moments : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Good, but could have been better...
Review: I finished reading "The Journal of Mortifying Moments" in less than a day, and I enjoyed it very much. Reading Kerry's "Mortifying Moments" left me laughing out loud more often than once! I will say though that there were a few things that bothered me:

Kerry's "friend" Trevor repeatedly led her to situations that were less than appealing, yet she never got really upset with him. What's up with that?

I wish there wouldn't have been so much time spent dealing with Sandra's problems, as she was not a central character in the book. Why couldn't that time been used dealing with Kerry's situation with Sam? This leads me to my next issue:

I wish she'd have figured out that her relationship with Sam wasn't right sooner, as I would have really liked to see her relationship with Nick develop. On that, I was seriously thinking when I was reading that the Tarot reader's "sandy-haired man who's name begins with a D" was going to be Dave (ugh!) and I hoped all the way that somehow it would end up being Nick. I was glad to see that turn out.

Overall, this was a good book and I'd recommend it for any girl who loves her chick-lit. I'll look forward to future books from Robyn Harding.



Rating:
Summary: not what it could have been
Review: I just finished this book, and I have to say I was disappointed in it. It just never seemed to GO anywhere and was bogged down by details that didn't really affect the main character. I was reaching the end of the book and was worried that Kerry's issues would not even be resolved. Then at the very last the author ties it all up in a pretty little bow - it just didn't work. The author never really got to the "point" of the story - it just seemed like there wasn't one finally.
A couple of main problems:
*Too much time spent on the problems of Kerry's friend.
*Not enough time developing the characters that mattered.
*No real storyline to follow, no climax or resolution - the character just plodded through to the end.
*Addition of characters who had no purpose in the story

Save your money on this one. It just wasn't worth it - there are better chick lit books out there.

Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I loved the title of this book and expected to laugh at some of the more "embarrassing moments". I particularly loved the way most chapters flashbacked to these in minute, painfully funny details.

The first half of the book was really good, but then started feeling as though the story started bogging down too much. Nothing much really happens, until the last few pages and the author seemed to turn the main character into an idiot. The whole bird beak head thing was wayyyyyy over the top and not at all necessary to the story (not funny either!). It was painful enough to read the exerpts where Kerry can't seem to open her mouth and speak a coherent sentence (this happened a few too many times). The author was intent on making sure that Kerry got more and more clueless about her surroundings as the story went on.

Also, the whole Dave thing was kind of annoying and went nowhere.

The writing style is great and the basic story was great, but I find myself let down a bit. This was good, but could have been much better.

Rating:
Summary: A Hilarious and Excellent Read Not to be Missed!
Review: I was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. Kerry Spence, the main heroine of the novel, is one of those characters who are good enough to make the book, should the book not have a good plot. She is funny (hilarious at times), endearing, clueless in some ways, and vibrant. However, since this book had an excellent plot too, the book ended up being amazingly good. At the beginning of our story, Kerry is stuck in an on-again, off-again type of relationship with Sam, a good-looking guy who she thinks is way out of her league. In order to try and get over the angst this dysfunctional relationship has produced, Kerry begins seeing a therapist, who instructs her to write down some of the most mortifying moments in her life. And mortifying they turn out to be - from a twelve year old kissing game that ended badly, to a horrifying ski "date" that ended with a terrible bloody nose, to a night where Kerry realized at the end that she had tape stuck on the bridge of her nose throughout her date (hence the odd, strange looks he'd been giving her the entire time), and much more.

As Kerry deals with her past, she also has to deal with her present. She is stuck in a soulless advertising job with a horrible boss and a ridiculous co-worker who is not only in love with her, but manages to humiliate her thoroughly when she turns him down. She decides to enroll in a program that helps "medium to high risk teens", and goes on a few interesting dates. But Kerry realizes that perhaps her therapist wasn't being a total ogre when she'd had her write down her most embarrassing moments. Maybe looking into the past is how she can get her present sorted out...

I laughed out loud on more than one occasion while reading this book. The author has a wickedly fresh sense of humor, and mixed together with a plot that will keep you guessing until the end, this is one wonderful and engrossing read. The journal entries only add to the book's overall tone. Think you've had some embarrassing moments in life? Well, after reading this novel you will discover - you are not alone!

Rating:
Summary: Lighthearted, Funny, Delightful
Review: I'm not done with this book...just a few more pages to go, but no matter how it ends, it has been a great read. The characters are luminous. Some of the situations are hysterical and the main character, Kerry gives me chills since I work in the advertising field and I've run into many of the same type of neurotic idiots. For a first novel, I think it is really swell. Keep writing, Robyn. I look forward to your next book!

Rating:
Summary: intriguing chick lit romance
Review: In Seattle, Kerry Spence sees a psychiatrist to help her get over the loss of her boyfriend Sam the hunk, who shows up periodically when he needs a tryst in her bed. Finding no satisfaction with her boring job at Ferris and Shannon Advertising and even less in her personal life, Kerry takes her doctor's advice and begins to write a journal of her most mortifying moments, all of which involve males.

While going over her dysfunctional exploits, she starts when she was a preadolescent and was rejected for a kiss by a truth or dare game by a boy she desired; this memory makes Kerry feel even more pathetic. However, Nick of Shooting Star seems to want the real her, but she refuses to believe anyone would want the eccentric soul she hides behind a mask of cool aloofness. Nick vows to release the inner wonderful person he has seen in private and has fall in love with, but Kerry expects one more mortifying moment to add to her diary of embarrassment.

This is an intriguing chick lit romance tale starring a wonderful protagonist whose confidence in herself proves negative numbers exist. Kerry has lived a series of rejections and humiliating embarrassments whenever she allows her true personality to surface so she has buried herself in a frozen tundra epidermis to keep the hurts away. Like Sam, Nick has glimpsed the warm soul of Kerry, but unlike the hunk, who could not care less, he likes what he observes. Though Kerry's lament can become irritating, Robyn Harding paints an amusing portrait of a woman seeking love, but not believing she is worthy.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Funny, entertaining & I can't put it down!
Review: Robyn is the cousin of my mom's friend so when I heard she wrote a book I was intrigued since I knew someone who was related to her. I read the blurb and it sounded like a good, light, humorous read. I CAN NOT PUT IT DOWN! Robyn's style of writing flows, sets the scene and puts you in clear understanding of the characteur's feelings, thoughts & mortifying moments (and boy does she ever have some embarrassing, unbelievable mortifying moments!). I toltally feel for 'Kerry' and what she has gone through trying to find love. You can't help but root for her because after what she's been through, she truely deserves it. I want to keep reading yet I don't want the book to end. This is Robyn's first book and I hope she is inspired to continue with her talent, humor and add to her writing collection. This book had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. I highly recommend it to those that enjoy a good laugh.

Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT... LOVED IT... LOVED IT!!!
Review: This book was brilliant... it was a bit like The Shopoholic Series & Bridget Jones... I found myself laughing out loud as I read it. I thought Kerry was an excellent character, and I finished this book in 5 days (that's a new record!)... I simply could not put it down because it was THAT good!!!

Rating:
Summary: For others who are changing careers
Review: Unlike the main character, my personal life is in order. But like the main character, I was burnt out of my professional life. I thought the writing and story was very insightful of the situations that come when you are a round peg trying to fit into a square hole.

Very funny stories of previous run ins with the male species. Thank God, I don't have anything like that to look back on. You are routing for this character all the way through, and despite some set backs, you just know she will eventually get it right.



Rating:
Summary: Run of the mill chick lit
Review: What a great concept for a book, and so when I started this I had expected to love it. Who doesn't love reliving someone else's mortifying moments? But while each chapter starts with a pretty funny "moment" the rest is just standard 'lousy boyfriend, bad job, oh my life is a mess' chick lit. The writing was good enough, but after a while I got bored. I'd try another book by the author, bu this one didn't do it for me.