This book was a fun fluff read. It was written in common slang speach, resulting in many rereading of sentences to comprehend the author's meaning. I enjoyed it, but as a fluff book which made no impact upon my life or thoughts.

this. is. the. worst. book. i. have. ever. read.

I went into it expecting comedy, several "rolls in the hay", basically a good summer read. It is not a literature experience but it is much more than just a beach read.

Fun and light with a bit more umph.

Cannie is a size 14 woman struggling to make her dreams come true. At the beginning she gets "slammed" by her ex-boyfriend who writes a column in a women's magazine. She begins her journey to find herself. She goes from dieting class to self indulgence to pregnancy to a deep depression. At the end of this leg of her journey she has learned to love! Bother herself and a new beau. She finally learns to control the way she reacts to life instead of trying to control life.

I really liked this book more than other self discovery books I've read before because she has to rescue herself. There is not a perfect ending, but there is triumph. The author also conveys the emotions of Cannie so realistically. I have always felt the things the character does, but have never seen them actually described so well. Seeing them "acted out" from an impartil point of view kind of changed my own self perceptions. That is a good accomplishment from a book that is probably only meant as an easy vacation read.

Easy to read and entertaining, I enjoyed this book!

I like Jennifer Cruise's chick lit novels more than others since she doesn't linger on the physical beauty (or lack thereof) of her heroines. The men, however, are as unrealistic as any romance novel. And, the plot seems extremely contrived, more so than normal for this genre. Not the best of the bunch, but an enjoyable read.

Decent read, but the "magical" slant took me out of the story. Same character from Visions of Sugarplums, and I didn't really care for that book. Better story this time around, though.

a hairdresser from Michigan's contribution to Aghan women's independence and pride- highly recommended. a quick read

I was interested in this autobiography because the author is working to create opportunities for women in Arab countries, working within the confines of traditional Muslim culture while stretching them a bit. She teaches the women about taking responsibility, creativity, and how to run a business. Some women are then kept as teachers, while others go on to open their own salons.
Many of the stories are heartbreaking. Some seem just ridiculous- like the fact that she married an Afghan man without knowing really why or how she was doing it. And she often tries to work against the culture in potentially dangerous ways.
I was disappointed to find that she didn't change the names in her book and now many of the women featured in here are in danger. That seems unnecessarily thoughtless and cruel from someone who purports to want to save these women.
I do like the idea of using traditional cultural values, like women's beauty, to give women power in Muslim culture.

It might be worth reading if only for a small view into cultural insensitivity and the lack of reflection that plagues our society. However, one can only marvel at Rodriguez' inability to reflect on the danger in which she places her former friends in Kabul by publishing this memoir. Her veracity is suspect in many passages (a solitary woman crossing the Hindu Kush without proper documents) and I'm astonished at the author's refusal to reflect on how her beauty school perpetuates the subjugation of women in Afghanistan. Written in a folksy tone that only heightens her cloddish behavior, it's hard to be a patient read.

The book starts out interesting, but very quickly becomes all about the author. Neither the author nor the ghost writer are strong writers. None of the side stories or characters are finished or ever mentioned again.

Published - 204
208 pages
Paperback

An enjoyable read.

It started out slow for me, but the more I read I couldn't put it down. The story is about two sisters, Joanne and Melanie, who inherit ocean fron property in San Felipe, Mexico. The two head there on an unforgettable trip. The beginning of the trip is luxurious on a cruise ship booked by their aunt. When they reach Ensenada, they find they are several miles from their destination and must drive to San Felipe in a rental car and catch the next cruise ship.

And here is where the adventure really begins. Everything seems to be going wrong, but it is all part of God's plan for them.

this book was alright. not really fascinating. Like most chick lit... everything ties up tightly at the end and all is right with the world. The book was about a weight loss reality show.. but there was not much mention about the diet or weight loss or excersizing. kinda lame.

Read in 2006

This book was pretty disappointing. The premise is that some women and one man meet to discuss a Jane Austen novel every month. Despite explaining all of their stories, the characters seem one-dimensional and lacked any cohesive reason to be together, making their interactions awkward. The plot went nowhere except regurgitations of Jane Austen novels.
This book is not a modern Jane Austen- it lacks story, wit, insight and interest. Mostly a waste.

I read this book in a day and I adored it. Great for reading on the beach, at a restaurant, or cuddled up in front of the fire in the depths of winter. It has something to offer everyone, and the parallels in the lives of the characters to Austen plotlines wasn't too obvious or boxy. In short, I adored it.