Book Review: Real Live Boyfriends: Yes. Boyfriends, Plural. If My Life Weren't Complicated, I Wouldn't Be Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart

Title: Real Live Boyfriends: Yes. Boyfriends, Plural. If My Life Weren't Complicated, I Wouldn't Be Ruby Oliver
Author: E. Lockhart
Publication Date: 2010

Read May 17, 2011

From goodreads.com

Ruby Oliver, the neurotic, hyperverbal heroine of the The Boyfriend List,The Boy Book, and The Treasure Map of Boys, is back!
 
Ruby Oliver is in love. Or it would be love, if Noel, her real live boyfriend, would call her back. But Noel seems to have turned into a pod-robot lobotomy patient, and Ruby can’t figure out why.

Not only is her romantic life a shambles:
Her dad is eating nothing but Cheetos,
Her mother’s got a piglet head in the refrigerator,
Hutch has gone to Paris to play baguette air guitar,
Gideon shows up shirtless,
And the pygmy goat Robespierre is no help whatsoever.
 
Will Ruby ever control her panic attacks?
Will she ever understand boys?
Will she ever stop making lists?
(No to that last one.)
 
Roo has lost most of her friends. She’s lost her true love, more than once. She’s lost her grandmother, her job, her reputation, and possibly her mind. But she’s never lost her sense of humor. The Ruby Oliver books are the record of her survival

My Review:

This is the fourth installment of the Ruby Oliver books. I have a special place in my heart for this series because it was really what kickstarted me back into reading after college. These books were all so well-written and very humorous. This particular book in the series, while not the strongest in the set, was still very good. It is to be expected for the fourth in a series. 

One thing that I always hate is when publishers change the cover styles on the fourth of four books... This happened here. THe first three books that I own have a particular cover style and then when the fourth was released, they changed the cover and did so to the older books too. It makes series collector's (like myself) have the desire to go purchase the first three even though I already own them. I know it is good marketing so they can sell the same book twice, but how irritating.

Anyway, back to this book. If you are going to read this, I would suggest reading all the books in the series. If you don't you won't have a true understanding of the main character. She really grows on you. She is quirky and all up in her head (what teenage girl isn't really?) Ruby is a lovable character and I feel the author really gave us a nice snapshot of her life and wrapped up the story set over four books very well. I wonder what Roo is up to these days?

My rating: 8 out of 10

Next Review: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Book Review: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

Title: A Thousand Acres
Author: Jane Smiley
Publication Date: 1991


From goodreads
Aging Larry Cook announces his intention to turn over his 1,000-acre farm--one of the largest in Zebulon County, Iowa--to his three daughters, Caroline, Ginny and Rose. A man of harsh sensibilities, he carves Caroline out of the deal because she has the nerve to be less than enthusiastic about her father's generosity. While Larry Cook deteriorates into a pathetic drunk, his daughters are left to cope with the often grim realities of life on a family farm--from battering husbands to cutthroat lenders. In this winner of the 1991 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, Smiley captures the essence of such a life with stark, painful detail.


My Review:
So, this book. Well, ummmm... It took me about a month to trudge through it - very abnormal for me. I wasn't thrilled by the start - but once I start a book, I am the kind of person that must continue to the end, like it or not.


My understanding on this book, was that it is a modern day Lear. Not being familiar enough with the story of Lear, I can't speak much to that. This book won awards, and that goes to show that my style of book are not award-winning caliber. This book was long and drawn out and rather depressing. I think the cover drew me in and it was in a discount pile. 


I usually try to read books that push me out of my normal go-to zone every once in a while. I especially enjoy when I am pleasantly surprised with a book I pick up to read that is out of my realm. I was not pleasantly surprised with this book. It wasn't that it was terrible, I just had a really hard time getting into the plot. There were no characters I could relate to and I just felt like I was reading for reading's sake. I didn't want to be transported into this book and I am usually the opposite. I get lost in books and can't get enough of them. 


Not a terrible, but not my cup of tea in the slightest.

Overall Review: 5/10

Next Review: Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart

Book Review: Fourplay by Jane Moore

Title: Fourplay
Author: Jane Moore
Publication Date: 2002
Page Count: 371


from goodreads.com
At age thirty-three, Josephine Miles is forced to come up with a brand-new life when her husband leaves her for "the cliche"--his very young, very pretty secretary. Suddenly she's single and back in the dating game with the added complication of children in tow. But Jo's no wallflower, and she soon finds herself with not one but four eligible bachelors vying for her time and affections. Add her two kids and her now booming interior design business to the mix, and she winds up with a nightmarish schedule but a dreamy love life.

My Review:

This is not a ground-breaking, heartstring-pulling, must-read book. Not even close, however I was very entertained. I enjoyed the main character, Jo, and found myself rooting for her to choose one bachelor over the others. 

This is definitely a light read, and something that you can quickly read if you have a nice weekend with nothing else to do. This book made me laugh, which I always enjoy in a chick lit book. 

Nothing more, nothing less. Enjoyable, quick read.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Next Review: A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

Book Review: Leipua of Love by Senitila McKinley

Title: Leipua of Love

Author: Senitila McKinley

Publication Date: 1989

Page Count: 101

from readwriteact.com

Leipua of Love is the story of a Tongan woman, who, for the sake of love, leaves her family and friends and all that is familiar and dear to brave the unknown with the man she loves. Senitila tells an involving story that is funny, sad, and spiritually uplifting. In all the trials she faces, she never forgets her relationship with God, a relationship such as you may never have encountered.

My Review:

This book has personal connection to me as it is written by my sister-in-law's mother. I felt very connected to the story for obvious reasons. It means even more to reflect on the story of Dave and Senitila, knowing now that Dave has passed. I love that Senitila has shared this inner part of her life and her journey to be the woman she is today.

I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to leave your family and travel across the world to be with a man you havent known for a very long time. I imagine she was scared, but hopeful. This story is truly a gem and I find it fascinating that Senitila came here without any understanding or knowledge about what the culture was really going to be like,

I for one am thankful that she trusted God and she let him guide her to our lives. What a different life mine would be without her.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Next Review: Fourplay by Jane Moore