J'adore Litterati

Sex and the City

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:27:00 +0000

Title: Sex and the City
Author: Candace Bushnell
Publishing Date: 1997

Candace Bushnell's Sex and the City can be likened to a debutante's ball- a formal introduction if you will, to that of today's modern chick lit. Other pioneers have traversed these roads, most notably Helen Fielding with her widely popular Bridget Jones's Diary. Many hail this as the first piece of literature that would give way to the chick lit genre. In contrast to Bridget Jones's Diary, Sex and the City embodies a more glamorous quality.

The central characters lead upscale lives and have fabulous careers. It becomes apparent that Bushnell has experienced much of the subject matter first-hand, as she does an excellent job of portraying these women from an insider's perspective. These New Yorkers spend their time socializing at the trendiest clubs, their attention perpetually focused on the various trials, tribulations and paradoxes of their latest relationships. The in's and outs of the Manhattan dating world is scrutinized in vivid detail while the search for an eligible bachelor seems like a cruel joke to those in their mid-thirties.

Sex and the City is both an iconic and respected constituent within the chick lit genre. While I earnestly support Bushnell's uninhibited candor and brutal honesty describing the feminine prerogative of dating in a city full of overly jaded people, it just doesn't quite appeal to my personal liking. The truth is, this is a collection of short essays from Bushnell's column in the New York Observer and the format is something that you'll either find artistically satisfying or downright irritating. I understand that it's not meant to be read as a novel, following a strict forthright timeline, but as a casual reader, it comes across as choppy and somewhat confusing. It is difficult to follow, as new characters are constantly being introduced. Sub-chapters split the main chapters into about a billion different sections. One sub-section is literally two sentences long. Maybe we've become spoiled by watching the HBO series where the character's personas are so rich and engrained in our mental schemata. Each episode is clearly defined and formatted and it's difficult to be drawn into this original version after we've become so familiarized with the TV interpretation.

This may not have been one of my favorites, but overall I appreciate this book for numerous reasons. I respect it's strong cultural connotations and the manner in which it pushes the envelope, reinventing preconceptions of what it is to be single. It advanced the genre of chick lit and gave a voice to the single, urban woman in her mid-thirties struggling with life's many challenges.

Recommendation:
Somewhat difficult to follow, but definitely worth reading if you're an avid chick lit or Sex and the City fan.

Average Rating: 5.2/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 1/10
Character Development: 2/10
Originality: 10/10
Format: 1/10
Complexity: 10/10
Humor: 7/10

The Clique

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:39:00 +0000

Title: The Clique
Author: Lisi Harrison
Publishing Date: 2004

"The Clique... the only thing harder than getting in is staying in." Massie Block, leader of The Clique at Westchester’s revered Octavian Day, rules the school along with Dylan, Alicia and Kristen at her (Jimmy Choo) heels. Massie’s as spoiled and stuck up as they come, eternally outfitted in designer wear and owner of a little pug that’s just as fashion conscious as she. Massie runs a tight crew, acquiring all the juicy gossip before it hits the scene. Exercising their fluency in text messaging, the four girls continually exchange cutting remarks about their fellow 7th graders, "H8 the whole haircut!" When newcomer Claire Lyons shows up wanting in on their lives, Massie pulls out all the stops to ensure this wannabe never becomes a threat to her or her elite clique.

While her family is in the process of finding a new home, Claire is forced to live in Massie’s guesthouse and attend Octavian Day. Hailing from Orlando, plain-jane Claire is a fish out of water in this posh new world. Considered "fashion essentials" back home, her trusty Gap overalls and platform Keds are an unthinkable sin here in Westchester. Claire quickly discovers that Octavian Day is home to a particularly refined breed of middle schoolers. There’s not a single JanSport in sight, Louis Vuitton and Prada messenger bags are deemed standard "school supplies". An on-campus spa and Starbucks is readily available to students who desire a quick mini facial or a piping hot chai latte in between classes.

Despite her fashion faux pas, Claire’s subtle, but striking attractiveness poses a notable threat to Massie. Determined to fit in, Claire seizes every opportunity to befriend Massie but is continually given the cold shoulder. Claire finally trades in her Gap jeans for Sevens and changes up her game plan. She decides to give Massie a run for her money and the battle is on. But Ms. Block isn’t a force to be reckoned with; she’s fully armed with an arsenal of backstabbing antics and will ruin your reputation before you even have one. Will Claire forever occupy Massie’s infamous Out List or will the new girl surprise us all?

This series is intended for a much younger audience (Grades 5-8) than Gossip Girl and contains more appropriate material for pre-teens. The book isn’t littered with unnecessary profanity and trashy references to drugs and prolific sex. Nonetheless, it encompasses the same spirit of teen drama as Gossip Girl; lots of conniving, gossipy, stuck up spoiled rich kids with nothing better to do than waste away their parents money. The interrelationships within the clique are reminiscent of Mean Girls, the popular girls vying to protect their hierarchical positions while the new girl desperately fights to fit in.

The style came across as too straight-forward and therefore monotonous because of the excessive use of self-explanatory details. On the author’s part, I assume this was intentional. Stating the obvious would allow a 5th grader to follow along with ease. The duality of Massie and Claire’s character is a nice touch; it sets the stage for some interesting occurrences in the future.

Recommendation:
Not quite as risqué as Gossip Girl, but definitely entertaining in its own right. A cute, read-in-one-sitting book filled to the brim with drama.

Average Rating: 6/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 7/10
Character Development: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Format: 5/10
Complexity: 4/10
Humor: 6/10

Gossip Girl

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Tue, 01 May 2007 03:38:00 +0000

Title: Gossip Girl
Author: Cecily von Ziegesar
Publishing Date: 2002

Gossip Girl, the first installment in Cecily von Ziegesar’s bestselling teen series, is hailed “Sex and the City for the younger set”. Ziegesar, a former Manhattan prepster herself, introduces us to the notorious A-listers who run the scene at their elite private schools. Don’t be fooled by their prim and proper polos and cashmere cardigans; these Upper East Siders are far from innocent. They can smoke, drink, do drugs, have sex and party till no end, just as long as they get good grades to satisfy their parents and warrant their shiny Ivy League futures.

Blair Waldorf is rich, attractive and dating the enviable Nate Archibald from Riverside Prep School for Boys. She’s the most popular girl at Constance Billard; that is until her ex-best friend Serena van der Woodsen unexpectantaly returns from boarding school to stir up trouble and shatter Blair’s perfect world. Determined to protect her coveted position in the social stratum, Blair feels genuinely threatened and rightfully so- for Serena isn’t your typical high school junior. She is undeniably beautiful, the former queen bee at Constance. Her glossy hair always falls effortlessly into place, while her blond highlights mock those who spend hours at Bergdorf’s trying to emulate her natural brilliance. Whenever Serena is present, the spotlight is perpetually fixated on her, while Blair blatantly fades into the background. What makes matters worse is that Nate is in love with Serena, not surprising; given that every heterosexual male would instantaneously give up a kidney to sleep with her.

Serena returns to Constance under the impression that things would pick up right where they’d left off. But her expectations fall short when Blair fails to bring out the welcome wagon and ignores her with a jealous wrath. Can Blair and Serena’s friendship ever return to normal? Will Nate choose Blair or Serena- or both? Love triangles will intensify, allegiances will be tested and cliques will collide as vicious gossip and drama devour all.

Gossip Girl seems to be marketed towards the “tween” audience, where the allure of older high schoolers is particularly powerful. If I had an 11 year old daughter, I would have pretty strong reservations about allowing her to read these types of books. The book is littered with profanity, promotes bulimia and references smoking, drinking, drugs (Did you know that a mixture of Comet, cinnamon and instant coffee can be used as a substitute for speed? Well, at least they’re… creative?) and promiscuous sex. One chapter is titled, “An Hour of Sex Burns 360 Calories”. The girls are perpetual chain smokers; Serena lightly proclaims, “They’re kind of strong, but the box is too cool, I don’t care”. Perhaps Ziegesar has stock in Philip Morris. They frequent bars and clubs and are never once carded, even though they’re at least 5 years underage. This is definitely not appropriate material for 11 year olds looking to emulate older “role models”.

So I can see how young adults would be easily drawn to this series; it’s addictive and full of all the racy content and bitchy high school drama that is oddly enjoyable. It’s a fast read (or should be, considering it’s at a 7th grade reading level) and I enjoyed the occasional blog posting format. An undisclosed insider reveals detailed threads of gossip about their peers, simply referring to people by their first initial and signing off as “Gossip Girl”. I’ve only read the first few books in this series, but I believe there are around eleven of them now. It was somewhat disappointing to hear that a ghostwriter has been writing the latter versions because Ziegesar was too busy concentrating on the It Girl series. Josh Schwartz, creator of The O.C. is teaming up with the new CW to premiere a Gossip Girl TV series. Actress Blake Lively, from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is set to portray the renowned Serena van der Woodsen.

Recommendation:
An addictively raw and fast read. Particularly entertaining and suitable for adults, who’ll find the absurdity of these teens lives rather amusing and somewhat humorous. The content may be about young adults, but I would argue that it’s just not appropriate for those under 14 years of age to be reading.

Average Rating: 7.2/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 8/10
Character Development: 6/10
Originality: 8/10
Format: 9/10
Complexity: 6/10
Humor: 6/10

The Nanny Diaries

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 08:08:00 +0000

Title: The Nanny Diaries
Author: Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
Publishing Date: 2002

Co written by ex- Park Avenue nannies, Emma Mc Laughlin and Nicola Kraus, The Nanny Diaries divulges the fanatic practices of childcare within the socialite-clad ranks of Manhattan society. Nanny, an NYU senior struggling to make rent, takes on the demanding task of caring for the X family’s spoiled four-year-old son, Grayer. Nan’s patience is pushed to the limit as she endures 16 hour shifts following Mrs. X’s finicky rules and inexhaustible demands.

Nan must do everything from bathing and dressing Grayer, to escorting him to prestigious play dates, dance, swimming, karate, piano and French lessons. His gourmet meals must be specifically sanctioned for “maximum digestive ease” which basically excludes anything that isn’t low-fat, organic or soy. Carbohydrates are strictly prohibited before bedtime and the cardinal rule for Park Avenue children must be adhered to: There is absolutely NO FOOD OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN… EVER!!!

In addition to a nanny, Mrs. X has also acquired a personal slave. She has Nan running her trifling errands; preparing lavish gift bags and consulting with caterers because her schedule is “utterly swamped”. Yes, Mrs. X’s days are overwhelmingly busy. Her calendar perpetually reads: shopping, attend dinner party, host dinner party, recuperate at Bliss, shopping, shopping and… shopping. These self-absorbed Park Avenue “housewives” would never think of working, cooking, cleaning or raising their children- after all, what are nannies are for? The extent of their parenting includes 1.) Naming the child 2.) Giving birth 3.) Hiring a nanny.

As Nan’s affection for Grayer begins to grow, she realizes that she may be his only hope of receiving the proper love and attention that he needs. Should she relieve herself from this madness and quit, or stay for the sake of a four-year-old boy who so desperately needs her?

First of all, I do hope that these tales were indeed “loosely inspired” as the authors so claim. Otherwise, we should all be very, very worried about the future of these children and altruistically aspire to be nannies. Well, that or alert child services. The Nanny Diaries does an excellent job of embracing the lackluster lives of these narcissistic women who have the audacity to call themselves good mothers. Nan’s dry and sartorial sense of humor is entertaining, but for some reason you don’t feel quite as sorry for her as you should. Nan’s relationships with characters other than the Xs are somewhat confusing and left me with a detached feeling. I thoroughly enjoyed the bit where she boldly addresses that furtive Nanny Cam. The general tone of the story isn’t as comical as I had expected, but it works out fine. It’s just sad that some parents are so self involved and clueless of their child’s suffering. I’m looking forward to the movie coming out this September.

Recommendation:
If you’re a fan of The Devil Wears Prada, I think you’d really enjoy this book as well. The storylines are somewhat similar; the main character is burdened by the outrageous demands of her impeding boss, but is forced to withstand the mistreatment for a higher cause.

Average Rating: 8.7/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 9/10
Character Development: 7/10
Originality: 10/10
Format: 10/10
Complexity: 9/10
Humor: 7/10

The Devil Wears Prada

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:49:00 +0000

Title: The Devil Wears Prada
Author: Lauren Weisberger
Publishing Date: 2003

Lauren Weisberger’s debut novel, The Devil Wears Prada has become increasingly popular; adorning the New York Times bestseller list, securing its place within the staples of classic chick lit and even transitioning onto the big silver screen. The tale is believed to be a semi-autobiographical account of Weisberger’s experience as assistant to the Editor in Chief of Vogue, the infamous Anna Wintour.

Weisberger exposes the brutal inner workings of the fashion magazine elite through the tell-all tale of young Andrea Sachs, a small town girl and recent Brown graduate. Poor Andy doesn’t have a clue what kind of hell she’s in for when she accepts the position as junior assistant to Miranda Priestly, Editor in Chief of Runway magazine. Priestly, the fascist (although utterly fashionable) dictator is irrefutably the true embodiment of ruthlessness, her antics quite possibly rivaling the devil himself. Expecting nothing less than perfection and to be waited on hand and foot, she’ll cut you off mid-sentence- callously stating, “Enough. The details of your incompetence interest me very little”. Then, in a sort of sing-song voice with an obvious demoralizing overtone, she’ll expunge a simple “That’s all”, absently waving you off like a mere mortal servant.

Her servants (or assistants if you will) are accustomed to doing her dirty work with the utmost obedience and loyalty. They abhor her with a passion of course, but one menacing look from Miranda strikes fear in their little hearts and they can’t help but transform into submissive, eager minions. Andy, the non-fashion conscious “Size Six” is a complete anomaly among the multitude of borderline anorexics with their Manolos and six grand a year highlights. Fiercely dressed to the nines, her co-workers make Andy stick out like a white pantsuit after Labor Day.

Andrea, or “Ahn-dre-ah” as Miranda proclaims, quickly discovers that this job is anything but glamorous and life within the upper echelons of the industry is filled with nothing but cold blooded success. Mistreated to the core and constantly bombarded with Miranda’s unfathomable demands, Andy endures it all with the striving hope of receiving a recommendation that’ll catapult her to success and fulfill her ultimate passion of writing for the New Yorker (a real magazine).

Andy slowly becomes more and more immersed in this faux existence, the temptation of glittering exclusivity too much to bear. Abandoning the people and passions that she loves the most, her job takes priority above all and transforms her into someone she doesn’t recognize at all.

This was a fairly entertaining read for me; it’s always a bit more intriguing when a story is rumored to be modeled after real events. You end up wondering how much of it is actually true. Andy’s mishaps and cruel testaments are rather comical and cleverly written. Fashionistas will rejoice over all the luxurious brand names repeatedly mentioned. The overall concept of the good girl tried and tempted by the evil boss from hell is a good one, one that many people identify with. On the other hand, Andy’s constant complaining and sarcasm is a little over the top. These elements should be used in moderation rather than the principal mode of description. Her attitude is both understandable and necessary for this particular plot, but the continuous droning and negativity becomes irritating and you don’t really feel sorry for this girl anymore. You don’t care whether she makes it out alive or not. I think Weisberger tried to make Andy come across as the realist, down to earth, witty character, but it was overdone and you’re tempted to yell, “Just quit already!” at every page turn. On a side note, I bet Anna Wintour was pissed. I would pay good money to see a reunion between her and Weisberger.

Recommendation:
Minus all the irritable complaining- the bizarre circumstances and uptight, idiosyncratic characters are relatively amusing. Miranda is quite a piece of work too, archetypically brilliant and satisfying. Read the book and definitely watch the movie. I personally thought the movie was a superior version of the book. The characters were dimensionally richer and the ending was much more plausible and fulfilling. In addition, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway both do an exceptional job portraying these characters.

Average Rating: 9.2/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 9/10
Character Development: 8/10
Originality: 10/10
Format: 9/10
Complexity: 9/10
Humor: 10/10

Four Blondes

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 10:37:00 +0000

Title: Four Blondes
Author: Candace Bushnell
Publishing Date: 2001

Candace Bushnell, Sex and the City’s iconic author has returned to elucidate the lives of four privileged Manhattanites. Four Blondes is divided into separate novellas each appropriately titled, ‘NiceN’Easy’, ‘Highlights (For Adults)’, ‘Platinum’, and ‘Single Process’. As the velvet curtain is raised, the unsightly nature of beauty, wealth and power is exposed.

Janey, the pseudo-celeb/ex-model, has her sights set on snagging a man. Basically any man will do, just as long as they’re a billionaire and most importantly, owns a house(s) in the Hamptons. She’s your common gold-digger, enjoying the good life and never footing the bill- her exquisite beauty being the golden ticket to everything she has ever wanted. She maneuvers her way into the elite world by craftily playing the power-players and keeps her arsenal full of wealthy friends who’ll consequently, introduce her to wealthy men. Janey doesn’t think she’s using men for their money, but rather taking a feminist stand for “the redistribution of wealth”.

Winnie and James Diekes, both journalists (and highly competitive- secretly hating the other for their success) live in a posh apartment on the Upper West Side. They seem to have the perfect marriage on the exterior, but the interior is in desperate need of a re-decorating job. The walls are bare, the furniture absent, and both consciously evade the fact that their marriage is in a serious rut. The Diekes are conservative by of “I hate everyone who’s not like me”. Fast food, red meat and yappy dogs are considered evil, along with anyone who associates themselves with them. Slowly, their world begins to unravel as scandal and affairs consume their orderly, monotonous existence.

Next we have Cecelia, an heiress who’s convinced that she’s the center of a conspiracy, paranoid that everyone’s secretly involved in a plot to destroy her. She religiously reads Page Six for evidence that’ll prove her theories correct, and entertains her deluded thoughts by recording them all in a diary. You wouldn’t be surprised to learn that most of her day is spent at the shrink’s office where she spats out accusations and defensive objections and is subsequently prescribed Xanax.

The last character we’re introduced to is a single woman from New York who writes a sex column (sounds oddly familiar, don’t you think?) She begins by explaining, “We have a saying in New York: English girls who are considered beautiful in London are merely “pretty” in New York, while American girls who are called “attractive” in New York are beautiful in London”. This outlines the basic premise for the story. The writer is fed up with trying to find a decent man in New York. So when the opportunity arises to relocate to London, she doesn’t hesitate to pick up everything and try her luck overseas.

These mini-stories provide fleeting glimpses into the lives of four very different women. Some end up happy; and others well, not so much. It’s an honest way of looking at life and I liked the way these particular characters were set up, their lives contrasted. Each is extremely unique and different, yet similar in regard to their current situation. They are all facing a similar crossroad- whether to settle for what’s familiar and comfortable, or to take a chance at finding happiness and what they truly want out of life.

The novelty of these characters and their lives is what I enjoyed most about this book. However, just like Sex and the City, I didn’t like the format and writing style. Well, let me clarify- I liked the idea of separate novellas and their creative titles, but there just wasn’t enough continuity throughout the entire piece. Two novellas are considerably long, while the others are extremely short. The short stories give you the feeling of incompleteness, like it’s a summary or preview of what’s to come. We are abruptly shoved into this character’s life, and then pushed back out with no real connection to who they really are. This occurs with the last character in particular, I don’t even know her name (I just assumed it was Carrie Bradshaw). Within the four novellas, there are millions of sub-sections that get annoying. For example, two of Winnie’s sections are titled, “Something Bad Happens” and “Something Good Happens”. Bushnell was probably trying to mirror the format/voice with the couple’s mundane lives, but it’s just comes across too explicitly. The third person narrative drones on in a sort of a “this is Spot, see Spot run” style. Cecilia’s bit is flooded with “Dear Diary this and Dear Diary that”, and it gets old fast. There is a lot of overemphasizing and too much detail that we could do without and still enjoy and understand the book’s intentions. In the end, we know a lot about the women, facts and tidbits, but we don’t exactly know them.

Recommendation:
Bushnell does a good job of contrasting these characters and detailing the “madness” within their own personal world. If you’re the type of reader that’s interested in the finer points, examining the niceties of a particular character static situation rather than following a moving plot then this book is for you. If not, then I believe I did you a huge favor by reading and summarizing it so that you don’t have to.

Average Rating: 3.5/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 2/10
Character Development: 3/10
Originality: 5/10
Format: 1/10
Complexity: 6/10
Humor: 4/10

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula

noreply@blogger.com (j'adore litterati) — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 23:05:00 +0000

Title: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Author: Marta Acosta
Publishing Date: 2006

Marta Acosta’s Happy Hour at Casa Dracula is a fresh ensemble of fantasy, romance and humor, perfected with a feisty, contemporary flair. Described as “a cross between Bridget Jones’s Diary and Interview with the Vampire” and “Stephanie Plum meets Sex and the City”, this paranormal romantic comedy is an amusing tale which will have you transfixed from start to finish.

When Milagro de Los Santos, a struggling but spirited novelist, attends a book party for her ex-college sweetheart Sebastian, she is seduced by a dark, alluring man named Oswald who just so happens to be a vampire. The next thing she knows, she’s been bitten and awakens with a drowning sense of delirium and weakness. Initially, Milagro suspects she’s been drugged or has caught a bad case of the flu. But does the flu cause an unusual craving for raw hamburger meat? Fearing a possible “infection”, Oswald’s family steps in and offers her refuge at their secluded country ranch.

Milagro soon discovers that these aren’t your run-of-the-mill vampires with sharp fangs and dramatic black capes. They actually get quite touchy when referred to as vampires, they insist on having a condition, an autosomal recessive disorder due to an enzyme deficiency. They’re every bit as normal as you and I… well, almost. There are just a few extra precautions to take into account, such as taking iron supplements, wearing sun screen and sporting eye protection to relieve those annoying photosensitivity issues. At least your $400 Chanel sunglasses will be put to good use. Develop a thirst for blood? Don’t worry, you won’t have to go all Nosferatu and hunt down people at night. Satisfy those cravings with a soothing glass of Zinfandel, or anything with a reddish hue will do. Stock up on some V8 and cranberry juice and you’ll be just fine. For a nice variation now and then, meet up for happy hour with your friends and enjoy a moderate glass of angora rabbit blood (FYI: No animals were treated inhumanly, the animals are specifically raised for this purpose and the amount of blood extracted is much less in proportion to that if you’d donated blood).

During her stay at the ranch, Milagro is given the opportunity to share time with a family who’ll love her for who she really is. While her relationships become stronger, she also develops stronger feelings for Oswald. Everything seems fine and dandy except for one smidgen of a detail, Oswald is engaged. Doesn’t exactly coincide with the master plan to marry him and ride off into the sunset, does it? With that on her plate, she’s also served up another undesirable surprise. Sebastian is affiliated with a powerful underground organization whose mission is to rid the country of a vile infestation (i.e., kill vampires). Milagro must protect herself and her loved ones from Sebastian’s sinister tactics, but can she protect her heart from the driving stakes of love?

At first, you may be thinking, “How in the world do vampires fit into a romantic comedy, especially a contemporary romantic comedy? Well, that’s the genius of Marta Acosta. She’s a fighting force against the restricted confines of literary fiction boundaries. She breaks free of tight genre limitations and demonstrates how these are not limitations at all, but rather bridges to other genres. So in the end, the finished product isn’t a specific genre, or even a combination of genres, but a whole new, unique piece of work in itself. There’s no rule that says fantasy can’t interrelate with comedy and comedy can’t correspond with mystery or romance or action/adventure. Why not get creative, experiment and mix and match? It’s like adding many different spices to a recipe. Traditionally you may not think paprika mixes well with vanilla extract, but in the right recipe, in the right combination and variance, well, you never know. The trick is playing with the ratios while taking the surrounding content into account and you’ll end up with a totally new recipe that will stand apart from its conventional counterparts.

Acosta’s witty humor is the active catalyst which drives the other literary elements forward and keeps the reader’s interest strong. The 1st person narrative provides much insight into Milagro’s character, who’s a relatable heroine. As a smart and strong Latina who’s quirky and down-to-earth nature is refreshingly honest, readers instantly become attached to this character. The only thing I’m a bit critical of is Oswald’s character. I didn’t particularly like Oswald’s demeanor and overall presence. He just didn’t strike me as someone good enough for this heroine we’ve become so attached to. Sam (Oswald’s cousin) on the other hand, seems much more fitting; he has a sensitive whim to his character that is instantly appealing.

Recommendation:
Well-written and remarkably humorous, the plot flows at a fast, but comfortable pace. Be sure to read Midnight Brunch, the sequel to Happy Hour at Casa Dracula.

Average Rating: 8.7/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 9/10
Character Development: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Format: 8/10
Complexity: 7/10
Humor: 9/10