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labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
HELLO.
Wow, with the difference between this and the movie!
I do love the movie to little bits and pieces. Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler are my girls, and I couldn't imagine any other actresses playing the main three.
But holy bajooties, was this a different spin on the story. I found it so utterly disturbing at some parts. Not that that's a bad thing, really.
I gave it a low score because a lot of what is in there just feels unnecessary. I loved the vengeance, it felt far more satisfying than the movie's vengeance. The ladies don't attempt to kill each other in the book, which is also nice.
It's not a bad read, just takes awhile to get to the good stuff.
Wow, with the difference between this and the movie!
I do love the movie to little bits and pieces. Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler are my girls, and I couldn't imagine any other actresses playing the main three.
But holy bajooties, was this a different spin on the story. I found it so utterly disturbing at some parts. Not that that's a bad thing, really.
I gave it a low score because a lot of what is in there just feels unnecessary. I loved the vengeance, it felt far more satisfying than the movie's vengeance. The ladies don't attempt to kill each other in the book, which is also nice.
It's not a bad read, just takes awhile to get to the good stuff.
quinnreads2's review against another edition
4.0
I read this many years ago, before the movie (which may share some similarities but is NOTHING like the book). I remember it taking me awhile to get into it as there were a lot of characters to learn and relationships to understand but by the end of it, I really liked this book. I will have to dig up my copy and give it a re-read to truly do this review justice.
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
Much more graphic than the movie in terms of language and sex scenes. But on some level, much more realistic than the movie. The book deals with high Manhattan society, alcoholism, obesity, down's syndrome, and lesbianism while the movie glossed over or skipped entirely these topics. The characters in the book aren't as likeable as the actors in the movie, but you do know them better. If you are looking for something light, this is not your book.
thegreatandwonderfulbookwitch's review against another edition
4.0
A bit dated these days, but the overall story is still solid and funny.
eevee_saur137's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was published in 1992 so there's definitely elements that have not aged well.
But it shines in the empathy it has for the women at its center and how they each have to rebuild themselves. Goldsmith is a talented writer and the story has lots of great subtle callbacks that pack a good gut punch once you catch them.
It's not a misandrist novel either; this book isn't about all men. Just a very specific type of man. And Goldsmith is able to take these men, the four husbands, and flesh out their issues without making excuses for their behavior.
It's easy to see why this book was adapted into that great movie. The character of Gil Griffin was left out of the film adaptation though; maybe he seemed too monstrous to be real. Shame, since his downfall is the most satisfying.
But it shines in the empathy it has for the women at its center and how they each have to rebuild themselves. Goldsmith is a talented writer and the story has lots of great subtle callbacks that pack a good gut punch once you catch them.
It's not a misandrist novel either; this book isn't about all men. Just a very specific type of man. And Goldsmith is able to take these men, the four husbands, and flesh out their issues without making excuses for their behavior.
It's easy to see why this book was adapted into that great movie. The character of Gil Griffin was left out of the film adaptation though; maybe he seemed too monstrous to be real. Shame, since his downfall is the most satisfying.
lv_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I've always been a big believer of reading the book before watching the movie, but I've seen The First Wives Club movie several times and it's always something I turn on when it's on tv. So I thought the book must be as great as the movie. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The book isn't terrible, it's just not as fun and slap-stick comedy driven like the movie is. Everything is much darker and the things the men do is just repulsive in parts. Maybe it's also the time frame of when it was written (a la the early '90s) that some of the language seemed unnecessary and offensive. You can get your point across without having to use a derogatory term to describe someone. And most importantly, we get it, Brenda is fat. We don't need to be reminded of it every page.
For me, the best part was reading about the husbands and what was coming to them. Ultimately, this book could have been reduced by 100 pages and you wouldn't have missed much. Besides that, I think I'll stick with the movie.
The book isn't terrible, it's just not as fun and slap-stick comedy driven like the movie is. Everything is much darker and the things the men do is just repulsive in parts. Maybe it's also the time frame of when it was written (a la the early '90s) that some of the language seemed unnecessary and offensive. You can get your point across without having to use a derogatory term to describe someone. And most importantly, we get it, Brenda is fat. We don't need to be reminded of it every page.
For me, the best part was reading about the husbands and what was coming to them. Ultimately, this book could have been reduced by 100 pages and you wouldn't have missed much. Besides that, I think I'll stick with the movie.
butterfly2507's review against another edition
1.0
Das Buch ist so dermassen schlecht und respektlos. Die eine nennt ihr eigenes Kind doch echt einen "Mongoloiden". Ich fasse es nicht. Nein, nein, nein. Dann lese ich lieber etwas anderes!
anastasiaadamov's review against another edition
3.0
A million times better than the washed out movie it was made into.
Picked it up for a book club but did not finish it since it was rather long and was seriously depressing me...
I gave myself enough time to think about it and it simply is not a book for me...
Picked it up for a book club but did not finish it since it was rather long and was seriously depressing me...
I gave myself enough time to think about it and it simply is not a book for me...
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Don't get mad. Get everything. When their best friend commits suicide over her divorce, Elise, Brenda and Annie decide enough is enough. Each was crucial to her husband's career. But now that the men are successful, they've traded in their wives for newer, blonder models. Over lunch one day they form the First Wives Club. But this is no support group. This is the SAS in Chanel, Painstakingly, inexorably, they plan the downfall of the men who've wrecked their lives - and know that revenge has never tasted sweeter..." (From Amazon)
I was 16 when I first saw the movie and have to say I already was on the side of the First Wives!
"Don't get mad. Get everything. When their best friend commits suicide over her divorce, Elise, Brenda and Annie decide enough is enough. Each was crucial to her husband's career. But now that the men are successful, they've traded in their wives for newer, blonder models. Over lunch one day they form the First Wives Club. But this is no support group. This is the SAS in Chanel, Painstakingly, inexorably, they plan the downfall of the men who've wrecked their lives - and know that revenge has never tasted sweeter..." (From Amazon)
I was 16 when I first saw the movie and have to say I already was on the side of the First Wives!
ala2134's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was so entertaining!!! It was jam packed with drama and I was hooked. It’s definitely a relic of the 90’s (and contains some problematic passages), but the overall message of women taking down their awful exes still resonates. I felt the characters leapt off the pages. If you grew up loving Gossip Girl, including the drama and glimpse into the life of “Manhattan’s elite,” this is for you. Can’t wait to watch the film!