Lisa's 46 & 47
Book #46 - Dramarama by E. Lockhart
This is my second Lockhart, and mostly great, but a bit too poppy and sparkly. I get that it's a drama camp, but every character doesn't have to call every other character "darling" the entire time. That got old fast. There was some really poignant great stuff in this, especially the character who feels like a "trick pony" for her parents, and the main character's getting jealous over her gay best friend, even though she doesn't love him in that way, etc.
The thing I didn't like was that there was an obvious solid, satisfying ending that was hinted at and built-up towards, but then the story stopped short before the reader gets to see the main character have her epiphany moment, so it's kind of a downer towards the end. Also... Lockhart didn't know half the Broadway she really should have to write this book, and it was all obvious stuff. Repeated references to some ten plays got a bit tiresome... but probably wouldn't be as noticeable to someone who hadn't grown up living and breathing musicals?
Book # 47 - Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
My last Thursday Next re-read, and easily my favorite of the series so far. As a holdover from high school, Hamlet is still Jason Behr in my head (I know, oy), and Jason-Behr-Hamlet walking around in Thursday-Next-London is just the best thing ever. I'm just starting the latest in the series now, and I'm very excited about it.
This is my second Lockhart, and mostly great, but a bit too poppy and sparkly. I get that it's a drama camp, but every character doesn't have to call every other character "darling" the entire time. That got old fast. There was some really poignant great stuff in this, especially the character who feels like a "trick pony" for her parents, and the main character's getting jealous over her gay best friend, even though she doesn't love him in that way, etc.
The thing I didn't like was that there was an obvious solid, satisfying ending that was hinted at and built-up towards, but then the story stopped short before the reader gets to see the main character have her epiphany moment, so it's kind of a downer towards the end. Also... Lockhart didn't know half the Broadway she really should have to write this book, and it was all obvious stuff. Repeated references to some ten plays got a bit tiresome... but probably wouldn't be as noticeable to someone who hadn't grown up living and breathing musicals?
Book # 47 - Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
My last Thursday Next re-read, and easily my favorite of the series so far. As a holdover from high school, Hamlet is still Jason Behr in my head (I know, oy), and Jason-Behr-Hamlet walking around in Thursday-Next-London is just the best thing ever. I'm just starting the latest in the series now, and I'm very excited about it.