Goddess for Hire

Rating:
Summary: Dull, dull, dull
Review: Simple writing is a good thing. Simplistic writing isn't. This book tries hard--HARD--for "breezy" and funny and, partially because it tries so hard, it comes off a lot closer to "leaden" and excruciating. The first person narrator is so poorly drawn, and downright grating, it's impossible to appreciate any kernel of a good idea buried in here.
It's a waste of money, but at least it is a quick read, so it's not much of a waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!!!
Review: Although this book seemed like it was gonna be a chic story, I thought it was really good. Its about a woman who turns thirty and finds out that she's the incarnation of a hindu goddess. The main character thinks this is a joke because she's the most non-religious person alive. I think anyone who's wondered what their purpose in life is will really love this book. I actually found it to be really funny, which is hard to find in a book. Being that my family is also Indo-American, I could relate to the immigrant experience in the book but I think anyone would love it.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad but also not good.
Review: Being a second generation Indian-American, I have devoured books written by other Indian-American writers in the past few years. I've always had one complaint: Why are the women in these books always so miserable? From reading their books, one would think that Indian women have no happiness in their lives at all and they all suffer from terrible marriages and awful family lives and never find any kind of happiness. So for a while after being depressed by all the books, I had given up reading books by Indian authors. But then I came across Goddess for Hire and from reading the back I thought it would be different. I'm a fan of chick-lit and hoped to find a Desi version of Bridgett Jones in the pages of this book. I thought finally I was going to read a story where I could empathize with the heroine because she would be more like me. Boy was I wrong.

The book starts of great. Singh starts off well and I found myself enjoying what seemed to be a 30 year old Desi version of Cher from "Clueless". The first few chapters were great and then it took a turn for the worse. The whole goddess thing made no sense to me. The story was too light-hearted to be a "super hero" story. There also wasn't enough explanation as to where her powers came from. Nor was there any explanation as to why her relationship with her family was the way it was. Then there is Maya's romantic interest, Tahir who seems to come directly from the pages of a Bollywood movie script with his good looks and arrogance. His whole character felt fake like the writer was trying too hard to make him a character and nothing about him felt real. Plus she did not give enough background information on Tahir thus I could not understand where he was coming from or why he loved Maya.

And finally the ending was tied up way too nicely and easily. It was Deus Ex Machina at it's finest. The goddess saves the day causing the bad guys all of a sudden become good, she gets the guy, gets the adoration of her family and relatives, and reconnects with her brother and they all live happily ever after while all along she remains a spoiled and selfish brat. Though the author tries to remedy that at the end, one setance thrown into to show Maya's generosity does not do the deed.

Those are the bad points. If I was basing it only on those things then this would have received 1 star. But there were things I did enjoy about this book. It was light hearted and I think I would actually have enjoyed the whole thing more if the whole goddess portion was left out. It was quite funny at most parts and I did find myself laughing out loud many times. There were parts that played to the ABCD in me and for small portions of the book, I did find myself actually relating to Maya.

So over all, this is not a bad book though it has its bad parts and it is not a good book though it has its good parts. It's definitely an easy read and it won't take anyone long to read the entire book. It's not quite worth the money to buy, but I would recommend borrowing it from the library for a quick read.


Rating:
Summary: Fun Stuff
Review: Goddess for Hire is what I have been waiting for since puberty -- a story about an Indian woman (Maya) who isn't a saint, who isn't a victim, and who doesn't have to go through a series of melodramatic tragedies to find something good. Rather, like me and all the South Asian women I know, this woman is real -- good and bad combined.

Maya may start off as being immature, selfish, and undeserving of our attention. But, like all good heroes (and I presume, goddesses), Maya becomes a better person, learning the great life lessons as we once did -- that power carries responsiblity, that love requires respect, that success requires action, that failure lies in our inability to commit to our goals, and that there is something divine and powerful within us all.

Now, to be able to do that and make a character funny as all get-out takes some serious talent. In fact, not since Bridget Jones's Diary have I laughed out loud at a book as I did with Goddess for Hire. The book was engaging, smart, cheeky, flirty and most of all fun -- just like a real woman.

Rating:
Summary: Great fun read!!
Review: Goddess for Hire~is a great and funny read. For a girl that can relate to the Starbucks coffee and the need to have her eyebrows done~I can not imagine a goddess reincarnating herself within. Not to mention Tahir is a great leading man and we all have matchmaking aunties in our families. Maya is no different than you and I, think of her like a cape crusader in Manolo shoes.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: I just loved this book. It was fabulous! I bought this book while visting my Indian friend in Los Angeles. I read it on my way back home on the plane. I was laughing my head off. Random passengers were staring at me and commented, "good book?" Goddess for Hire not only put a smile on my face during my neverending flight, but was the reason I met my boyfriend. Apparently, Diego(my boyfriend) was annoyed with my giggling and wondered what the book was about. I gave him a quick abstract and the rest is history. This book is witty, entertaining, enchanting, and trendy. I really feel that "The Goddess" had something to do with my journey home. Thanks Maya.

Rating:
Summary: Laughed myself silly!!!
Review: I loved this book!!! Maya is your typical Newport Beach girl who turns thirty and discovers she's the incarnation of a Hindu Goddess. Since Maya's favorite activities are shopping and sleeping, fighting evil may just get in the way. I practically finished this book in one night. It's fast-paced and so much fun. Maya is the most unlikely person to ever be chosen as a goddess, but that's what makes the book great. We get to learn about being a goddess along with Maya! I also drooled over the romantic lead--Tahir! Now that I'm done with the book I'm going to go out and buy it for all my friends. Make no mistake--this book is very entertaining but also well-written and touching. Like Maya we're all looking for our purpose in life. Can't recommend this enough.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome change from "depressing" South Asian fiction!
Review: I loved this book...as an Indian-American girl, I could see Maya in so many people I know in my personal life. No ambition, no goals, live life as it comes, but with a good heart. I loved how when she's handed the responsibility of her new powers, she becomes a better, more interesting version of herself.

Some reviewers say that Maya is selfish and treat a guest from India like "crap." I beg to differ. Tahir treats her with disdain at being a typical ABCD from the start and I, for one, in Maya's shoes, would do a lot worse than desert him at the airport. And she never once left him on purpose, all of her reasons were valid (ie Kali related activities)

It reminded me a lot of Lois Lane and Clark Kent where he would always go running off with no real reason and she was always wondering about him...nice to see the tables turned!

Sonia's writing style is funny, real and absolutely refreshing. So nice to read fiction about Indian women where there's no crying, moaning and despairing for "home" as she's mercilessly harrarased by her new in-laws.

And SO NICE to read a chick-lit without Brand dropping. (ie, I picked up my Prada purse and slipped on my Gucci shoes...etc)
I recently read another so-called Indian chick-lit and I couldn't get through 10 pages w/o shaking my head at the author's obvious attempt to be "hip and in" with all the fashion references while trying to tell an otherwise serious story.

Good work, Sonia. Am anxiously awaiting your next!!!

Rating:
Summary: Over-the-top premise is a hoot
Review: If you want a hilarious summer read that stays with you long after, read Goddess for Hire. The author's trendy chic-lit voice rings through on every page. Cross-cultural humor is in, and this novel doesn't disappoint. The zanny central character is her own worst enemy, so you'll be laughing your way through every social blunder and relationship misunderstanding she creates. And you'll identify with her because she's so flawed and so human. Along the way, you learn interesting things about the Indo-American culture, and you'll get rid of a few free-radicals while you're laughing. What's not to like?

Rating:
Summary: Could Maya be the new Buffy?
Review: Let me start by saying I'm pretty much a slow reader however I devoured _Goddess for Hire_ in a day. It's fast-paced, a great deal of fun and, yes, laugh out loud funny (much to the annoyance of those sitting around me)! While the book is considered "chick lit" I honestly think it's more than that - if you like the TV series _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, pick up this book. Okay so on the surface they might not look the same since Buffy is a teenage cheerleader and Maya is a just turned 30 goddess but both were thrust into positions and situations they really didn't want and then there's that humor that always sucks me in.

While we're eagerly awaiting Sonia's next book (I hear it's on Bollywood!), we're going to cross our fingers & toes that book number three is another visit to Maya's universe!

So, give it a try... you might just like it.