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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Jane Green is one of my favorite authors. She has a great style and her humor is so natural. Jemimia J is a great story about connecting with your true self, friendship, and being happy with the life you have. Jemimia J really taught me to be happy with who I am, not to always strive to be someone else.
I see a good sum of 1-star review here, which I can understand why. I myself have my own reasons for giving this book a 3-star review. I could have given more, but I just think the end of this book is a bit too overrated. A bit.
Well, many hate this book for the weight issue in it, you know, the you-have-to-be-slim-to-find-a-man issue. But I personally think that's something real women in real life deal with. That's true that women are judged by their appearances(for most men, and most men I know are all shallow), sad but true. In my country, for example, you are beautiful if you are skinny, you have fair skin, and long, black, straight hair. Life sucks, indeed.
After all I don't think this book brings bad message. In the end, for me (what I got from the story), "ideal" appearances doesn't always mean happiness.
Well, many hate this book for the weight issue in it, you know, the you-have-to-be-slim-to-find-a-man issue. But I personally think that's something real women in real life deal with. That's true that women are judged by their appearances(for most men, and most men I know are all shallow), sad but true. In my country, for example, you are beautiful if you are skinny, you have fair skin, and long, black, straight hair. Life sucks, indeed.
After all I don't think this book brings bad message. In the end, for me (what I got from the story), "ideal" appearances doesn't always mean happiness.
Wow I was amazed at the number of negative comments for this book. I sought it out as I read a review of a new book by Jane Green and I like to read earlier works (especially while waiting for the bestseller from the library).
I really liked this book, I found the switch from first to third person quirky and not nearly as annoying as some of the newer novels with chapters switching between various characters/time periods. I did skim some of the clothing and makeup sections but I do that in all chick lit as I have no interest there. It is for the characters that rate a book higher on the scale and I found them to be fun, quirky, and only sometimes stereotypical.
I really liked this book, I found the switch from first to third person quirky and not nearly as annoying as some of the newer novels with chapters switching between various characters/time periods. I did skim some of the clothing and makeup sections but I do that in all chick lit as I have no interest there. It is for the characters that rate a book higher on the scale and I found them to be fun, quirky, and only sometimes stereotypical.
This web site has an interesting commentary regarding Jemima J - http://www.trashionista.com/2005/09/jemima_j.html
There is not much depth to the book, but quite entertaining.
There is not much depth to the book, but quite entertaining.
Originally I found the main character a bit flat, but I soon realized she was just missing something in life that permeated the beginning of her journey. I grew to love the depth of her honest search for who she is. Enjoyable and fun!
This is a great summer “fluff” read. The writing is good (as long as you can follow the changes in character perspectives - took some getting used to). It was very entertaining! If you want a serious read, this isn’t for you! It’s very dangerous (in real life) to loose weight as quickly as she does and, of course, the plot line is only the stuff of movies.
It’s books like this that make me angry I decided to force myself to write reviews for every book I finish. I read Jane Green’s books for escape and entertainment, and this book fulfilled both of those criteria perfectly well. Was it a highly original plot? No. Was the ending painfully predictable? For the most part. Did either of those factors keep me from enjoying the book as a whole? Absolutely not. Overall, I found this to be one of Green’s better novels, on par with Swapping Lives and Bookends in terms of my enjoyment level. The split between Jemima’s first person narration and an omniscient third person narrator, who often commented (snarkily) on the action, was a bit confusing at first, but I think Green handled this balance well as the novel gained momentum. Great “literature” it is not, but as a fun and entertaining read this one succeeds better than some.
Dumb... but fun. A cute, light read about a girl who really is never that overweight to begin with, but thinks she is. I read it and got a "the holiday" vibe. Theres a narrative and if you're looking for something light and dippy its perfect. Keep in mind its from 96! Lol, parts can be dated quite a bit :)
I read this book in early high school and loved it back then. Maybe a little light for an older reader however.
I can't lie, this was totally a guilty pleasure read. While I found A LOT of flaws in the story and the characters I still enjoyed the book for what it was, a cheesy (EXTREMELY FICTIONAL) chick lit.
Why is it that in so many chick lit books everything is so amplified? I could count all the beautiful, head turning, bombshell babes in my life with one hand. How is it possible that Jemima is ONLY friends with beautiful fit women?? I mean even for Jemima when she loses 40+ pounds becomes unrecognizable and is now transformed into a Baywatch babe that people can't help but to stop on the streets. I've known people who have dropped around that same amount of weight and while they look thinner they still look like the same person!
A lot of people say that this book is about fat shaming but it's kind of ugly shaming in general. The main takeaway I got from this is: be thin, be hot, and you'll get everything you want in life.
The plus side is it was an enjoyable read, you root for the main character and in the end you get the happy ending you want. It isn't a deep and meaningful story but that's all right too :)
Why is it that in so many chick lit books everything is so amplified? I could count all the beautiful, head turning, bombshell babes in my life with one hand. How is it possible that Jemima is ONLY friends with beautiful fit women?? I mean even for Jemima when she loses 40+ pounds becomes unrecognizable and is now transformed into a Baywatch babe that people can't help but to stop on the streets. I've known people who have dropped around that same amount of weight and while they look thinner they still look like the same person!
A lot of people say that this book is about fat shaming but it's kind of ugly shaming in general. The main takeaway I got from this is: be thin, be hot, and you'll get everything you want in life.
The plus side is it was an enjoyable read, you root for the main character and in the end you get the happy ending you want. It isn't a deep and meaningful story but that's all right too :)