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A review by okiecozyreader
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Well, it’s surprising to me how much the reviews are opposing - strongly opposing on this book.
I would probably agree that chapter 1 was not my favorite. I didn’t need all the skit details and I didn’t care so much… but chapters 2 and 3 had me smiling so much, I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed this look at an amazing male with a not so beautiful (but incredibly talented - Emmy winning) female. At The Night Owls, she writes a sketch for Star Noah Brewster based on one of her co-writers lives - which questions why average looking men from TNO end up with gorgeous actresses and musicians - and that would never happen for a woman.
Like my buddy readers said and RBC - chapter 2(two years after TNO skits), the epistolary emails between them - really starts making the pages fly.
This two year stretch puts their letter writing during the height of Covid. Which gives, for these two characters who aren’t quite comfortable with each other even though they enjoyed being together, some time to get to know each other without people watching.
She would like to write a romantic comedy non-condescending and ragingly feminist.
“What makes a romantic comedy non-condescending and ragingly feminist?” …”They shouldn’t be flawless, nor should they be ridiculous or incompetent. The characters should be well-developed and convincingly attracted to each other. But the most important answer is the most obvious. It’s about the quality of the writing.”
“I once heard a smart person point out that it’s hard to determine where the dividing line is between cheesiness and acceptable emotional extravagance.”
…
“I know exactly where the line is. When it’s happening to other people, it’s cheesy. When it’s happening to you, it’s wonderful.” P286
“Sometimes when I speak, I feel like I’m writing dialogue for the character of myself. I’m impersonating a normal human when really I’m a confused freak.
… “We’re all confused freaks. It’s just that most of us aren’t professional writers.” P251
I would probably agree that chapter 1 was not my favorite. I didn’t need all the skit details and I didn’t care so much… but chapters 2 and 3 had me smiling so much, I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed this look at an amazing male with a not so beautiful (but incredibly talented - Emmy winning) female. At The Night Owls, she writes a sketch for Star Noah Brewster based on one of her co-writers lives - which questions why average looking men from TNO end up with gorgeous actresses and musicians - and that would never happen for a woman.
Like my buddy readers said and RBC - chapter 2(two years after TNO skits), the epistolary emails between them - really starts making the pages fly.
This two year stretch puts their letter writing during the height of Covid. Which gives, for these two characters who aren’t quite comfortable with each other even though they enjoyed being together, some time to get to know each other without people watching.
She would like to write a romantic comedy non-condescending and ragingly feminist.
“What makes a romantic comedy non-condescending and ragingly feminist?” …”They shouldn’t be flawless, nor should they be ridiculous or incompetent. The characters should be well-developed and convincingly attracted to each other. But the most important answer is the most obvious. It’s about the quality of the writing.”
“I once heard a smart person point out that it’s hard to determine where the dividing line is between cheesiness and acceptable emotional extravagance.”
…
“I know exactly where the line is. When it’s happening to other people, it’s cheesy. When it’s happening to you, it’s wonderful.” P286
“Sometimes when I speak, I feel like I’m writing dialogue for the character of myself. I’m impersonating a normal human when really I’m a confused freak.
… “We’re all confused freaks. It’s just that most of us aren’t professional writers.” P251