Certain Girls: A Novel
by Jennifer Weiner
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Book Reviews of Certain Girls: A Novel
Book Review: Do Yourself a Favor: Skip Certain Girls
Summary: 2 Stars
Our book club featured this book and when it was selected, I didn't care one way or the other, so went along with it. After reading it though, I HATED it. If you DO read it, don't read the ending. It's lazy and a terrible shame that the author did what she did, the conclusion adds nothing to the story and drags the events out for "dramatic effect." If it were a movie, the audience would say a collective, "oh come on." What I felt was a C- book used an F ending.
To be sure: skip the ending. BUT - I would recommend not reading the book at all. The story flip-flops point of view between two protagonists: the mother and the teenage daughter. The daught's point of view is so rude and disrepectful that I wonder what the author thinks of teenagers in general. It comes across as contrived and forced. There's a passage where the daughter describes her mother, who is sitting cross-legged, as having her "boobs in her lap" and it's comments like these throughout the book that would make the most normal of women self-conscious about weight, with her constant retorts about her fat mother. It's also very heavy with jewish coming-of-age procedures - which was a little weird for me as a non-jewish person, because a lot of the language was foreign and not explained and I didn't understand the relevance of the events. Probably cool for a jewish reader, but for those not familiar with these things, it's one more thing that makes the book difficult to become engaged in. All in all, I found the hype to be undeserved, and I wish I had spent my time reading something else.
Book Review: Good summer read
Summary: 4 Stars
When I picked up this book, I didn't realize it was a sequel to Good in Bed. In fact, it has been so long since I read the first one that I didn't remember much about it. Yet as I got into the novel, the article by the ex, Bruce, rang a bell with me. As did the estranged father. I think I need to go back and reread the original novel to be able to say whether it's an adequate follow up.
That said, I did enjoy the novel. As a writer, I especially enjoyed the pieces of the novel that dealt with Candace's writing career. Yet the scenes with Joy were good, too.
At first, the switching voices each chapter was confusing. It took me a paragraph or two into the 2nd chapter to realize it was a different narrator. In fact, it made me stop and go back to figure out what was going on. Maybe I missed a clue to it. I am so used to books that give more markers telling me there's going to be a voice change. So much so that it actually messed me up more than once. Each time, it jerked me out of the novel for a moment while I tried to remember who was speaking. No, it doesn't take you long to figure that out, but it's long enough to pull me away from immersion in the story.
I still enjoyed it thoroughly, even if the ending was a bit surprising and painful. I would recommend it to any friends that enjoy Weiner or this genre. In fact, I'm starting on another Weiner novel now.
Book Review: Fantastic follow up, but heartbreaking
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read all of the reviews and I'm shocked by some of the negative comments. This book was an excellent read, told by both Cannie and Joy, which gave a unique insight into their lives. You got two sides of the story, which to me, made it even more interesting.
Yes, the ending was heartbreaking, and it almost felt unfair. Cannie and Joy both experience unbelievable tragedy, but during that, or rather shortly following, there was another reason for them to have, pardon the pun, joy again. However, it did not feel like the end of "Good In Bed" at all, where I've seen a lot of reviewers claim that it does. The tragedy, and ultimately the addition to their lives, got Joy out of her bitter funk and made her appreciate her mother (not easy for a teenage girl), and gave Cannie a little piece of Peter back. I gave this to my mom as soon as I finished it, and she felt the same way that I did. Because you come to feel so much for these characters, it broke our hearts that they're met with such tragedy, but ultimately, they find solace in each other. I LOVED this book.
The mark of a good storyteller is being able to write something that forges an emotional connection with the reader. Jennifer Weiner excels at that every single time.
Book Review: not what I expected at all
Summary: 2 Stars
Having borrowed "Good in Bed" from my local library, and especially reading these reader reviews warning about a sad ending, I just had to read the book. I must say that the ending what horrific and didn't go along with the feel of this book at all. Even though I was warned to stop at page 342, I started the book reading page 342. Why? Good question. Just curiousity I guess. It was like being cautioned against not looking at an accident scene and you just have to look at it anyway.
This book had redeeming qualities. I liked the whole surrogate mom thing a lot. I found Joy to be typical of any 13 year old girl.
I cried through the entire ending of the book complete with real tears pouring down my face. I'm not sure why Jennifer Weiner had to end it this way. What's wrong with a real happy ending. It would've tied it up nicely to end on a happy note like Bruce and Emily filing for divorce. I wouldn't liked to read about that happening. I don't think I've ever encountered a more dislikeable character than Bruce's Emily in quite a while. No need whatsoever to end it like the author did. It makes me want to never read another one of her books again.
Book Review: Joyful No More!
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to say that after reading Good in Bed I was thrilled to know there was a sequel and because I didn't want anything spoiled I didn't read any of the reviews beyond the publishers discription. I really enjoyed the book up until the last few chapters. However, I think the book would have been better had Weiner kept it all from Cannie's view point and not Joy's. As for the ending it was simply a disappointement. Without giving it away, I am simply at a loss to understand why she wrote it the way she did. I cried for an hour straight as I read it. Part of me hoped for such a wonderful ending like that of GIB. However, even though you see a glimmer of hope at the end-the absolute sorrow of what occurs simply cannot be pushed aside. I am an avid reader and I really do not understand why authors think that we need such heavy drama all the time. This book didn't need it and I could have come up with 20 better endings than the one we got. I hope all those reading this do so with an open mind and a large box of kleenex-your going to need it.