Tallulahland

Rating:
Summary: So bad
Review: I am typically a huge fan of Red Dress Ink books. Had to force myself to finish this one. I suggest "The Solomon Sisters Wise Up", "Milkrun" and "Confessions of an Ex-Girlfriend". Those were all better!

Rating:
Summary: anything to displease Dad= boring
Review: I have to admit, I wasn't able to get beyond page 20 in this book. I guess I'm just too old (mature, grown-up, adult) for the idea of "anything to displease Dad" as a viable life plan.

Rating:
Summary: a "Land" I'd be happy to revisit
Review: I thought Lynn Messina's Fashionistas was a fun, quick read. Messina is back with Tallulahland. This is the story of a young woman whose life is in a standstill. She's inherited her parents' ability to design chic furniture, but has thus far settled for gopher work. She does it to spite her father. After all, he showed little respect for her mother's passing by getting involved with someone else just a few months after she died. However, things take an unexpected turn when Tallulah discovers that she owns land in North Carolina...

Tallulahland is a major improvement from Fashionistas. The reader actually gets to know Tallulah in a personal level -- something that was notably absent in Fashionistas, for the aforementioned novel centers on office politics and lacks character development. I loved Tallulahland's crisp dialogue, fun situations and great characters. Hannah is an outrageous and eccentric character that made the novel all the more fun. Red Dress Ink has released another entertaining novel. Highly recommended...

Rating:
Summary: Not what I was expecting...
Review: I was really looking forward to reading Tallulahland after enjoying Messina's first novel Fashionistas. I was a little disappointed in this book, though, because there were more downs than ups. The title character was very pessimistic, due to sad events in her life, but I just wanted to see a glimmer of hope in her.

Tallulahland is about Tallulah West, an almost thirty-year-old in New York City who puts her talent for designing on hold in order to displease her dad. After an understandably terrible time dealing with the death of her mother, Tallulah grows distant from her father due to the decisions he has made. When Tallulah finds out she is a landowner in North Carolina, though, she takes her best friend Nick for a ride and her life changes for the better.

The people in Tallulah's life - from her best friend Nick who would do anything to support her to her new "roommate" Hannah whose mischevious ways were hilarious to read about - kept me entertained. I hoped that Tallulah's life would turn out okay, but was a little disappointed how she was always expecting the worst in her life.



Rating:
Summary: Refreshing Read
Review: Lynn Messina's second Red Dress Ink novel is a sheer delight to read. The story is fast-paced and a different take on the life of the single girl in the city that readers can't seem to get enough of these days.

Tallulah West is an aspiring designer whose father is well-known in the field. However, she doesn't want to use her father's connections because of the anger she feels towards him over the way he handled her mother's death. There is much to be resolved here, and Tallulah must face this personal issue before she can muster the courage to go out and make it on her own, career-wise. The secondary characters, Nick and Hannah, also add to the action. Both are well-meaning, and if weren't for the two of them, Tallulah would likely be stuck as someone's assistant forever.

The story is somewhat predictable, but so what. It's fun and refreshing and a great springtime read. If you are a fan of the series or if this is your first Red Dress Ink read, you'll enjoy your visit to Tallulahland.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing Read
Review: Lynn Messina's second Red Dress Ink novel is a sheer delight to read. The story is fast-paced and a different take on the life of the single girl in the city that readers can't seem to get enough of these days.

Tallulah West is an aspiring designer whose father is well-known in the field. However, she doesn't want to use her father's connections because of the anger she feels towards him over the way he handled her mother's death. There is much to be resolved here, and Tallulah must face this personal issue before she can muster the courage to go out and make it on her own, career-wise. The secondary characters, Nick and Hannah, also add to the action. Both are well-meaning, and if weren't for the two of them, Tallulah would likely be stuck as someone's assistant forever.

The story is somewhat predictable, but so what. It's fun and refreshing and a great springtime read. If you are a fan of the series or if this is your first Red Dress Ink read, you'll enjoy your visit to Tallulahland.

Rating:
Summary: i do pictures not words - sorry!
Review: ok so i'm useless with the word thing, but i absolutely loved this book. i was really excited to see how Lynn's 2nd book would be as i'd really enjoyed fashionistas....it didn't disappoint hurrah! i just wish it hadn't ended. it was laugh out loud on the bus funny and one morning i almost cried (managed to hold it together like a grown up) Lynn has done it again can't wait for number 3 hopefully next year????

Rating:
Summary: Trying too hard, delivering too little
Review: The plot of "Tallulahland" is obvious from the first page, and only habit kept me turning pages of this painful exercise in self-aggrandizment. The character of Tallulah is brillantly talented, and not shy about reminding the reader of that fact every five paragraphs or so. She's also obviously a thinly veiled avatar of the author, who likes reminding the reader every few pages that she's just slumming in chick lit by throwing T.S. Eliot references into dialogue so bad it gives Michael Crichton a run for his money. Not entertaining, not sexy, not fun. Stop insulting your readers, Ms. Messina, and give this genre its due. If not, try your hand at "real" literature and watch the rejections start rolling in.

Rating:
Summary: a "Land" I'd be happy to revisit
Review: This book managed to break my heart and make me laugh out loud all in the same sentence--repeatedly! I was thoroughly entertained by the other characters and the surprising plot twists, but it was Tallulah who resonates with me. Thanks to the writer for such a rich, raw, real character.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful/Funny/Thrilling
Review: This one is a lot more heart-tugging than FASHIONISTAS (Lynn Messina's first book), but it's got an equal measure of madcap breathlessness. I really did hold my breath as Tallulah (and I) approached the climax of the book! How does she do that? How does she make it comical and wrenching at the same time? Overall, a very satisfying read.