Aahh, the continuing drama of the early 1900's high society teen queens, what's more entertaining? This is the third book in the "Luxe" series by Anna Godbersen. I have to admit that I bought the first book "Luxe" for the cover. (Shh, don't tell anyone!) The series is full of money, manipulation, pretty girls, gossip, more money, pretty boys, love, lust, bad timing, good timing, and a bunch of guff pertaining to the "rules of society."
It's most definitely a result of the latest teeny-bopper idea of the "frienemy," you know them; the kind of girl who is your friend for the sake of not rocking the boat amongst your whole group of friends, but is really a horrible passive-aggressive manipulator. It's all in the same vein as the movie "Mean Girls." If you have questions, please start your research there with Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, and Rachel McAdams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFP68RpX1Fg&feature=related
Ms. Godbersen writes uses very formal language, and a style that keeps you on your toes. I really like that each chapter starts with a little blurb relating to the contents of the upcoming section. It's like an amuse-bouche for your literary eyes. (I can't get away from the dining terms; I relate everything to food, sorry! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche) Though the chapters generally move forward through the timeline and plot, each one is generally not about the same character or storyline as the one before it. You never know what (or who) you will get next. I did have to keep my dictionary handy though. Kudos for that, Anna!
The author also does a good job of weaving many twists and turns into the plot, some predictable, some not at all expected. Her villain, Penelope, is one of the craftiest girls around; there is no end to what she will do to keep herself on top. She's truly vicious. One way that Anna keeps you turning the pages is to intermingle a good amount of verbal misunderstandings, visual misinterpretations, as well as unfortunate timing on the part of some of the main players a la the demise of "Romeo and Juliet." All of these contribute to a tumultuous ride that gives you just a hint of what the characters experience, meanwhile all the characters are stuck within the strict social framework of New York's high-society circa 1900.
I'm not a huge fan of cattiness, and gossip, so the subject of the book is somewhat hard to stomach, but the way it's presented is amusing. If nothing else, you can stare at the pretty cover.
It's not always wrong to judge a book by it's cover, just don't make a habit of it...
It's most definitely a result of the latest teeny-bopper idea of the "frienemy," you know them; the kind of girl who is your friend for the sake of not rocking the boat amongst your whole group of friends, but is really a horrible passive-aggressive manipulator. It's all in the same vein as the movie "Mean Girls." If you have questions, please start your research there with Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, and Rachel McAdams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFP68RpX1Fg&feature=related
Ms. Godbersen writes uses very formal language, and a style that keeps you on your toes. I really like that each chapter starts with a little blurb relating to the contents of the upcoming section. It's like an amuse-bouche for your literary eyes. (I can't get away from the dining terms; I relate everything to food, sorry! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche) Though the chapters generally move forward through the timeline and plot, each one is generally not about the same character or storyline as the one before it. You never know what (or who) you will get next. I did have to keep my dictionary handy though. Kudos for that, Anna!
The author also does a good job of weaving many twists and turns into the plot, some predictable, some not at all expected. Her villain, Penelope, is one of the craftiest girls around; there is no end to what she will do to keep herself on top. She's truly vicious. One way that Anna keeps you turning the pages is to intermingle a good amount of verbal misunderstandings, visual misinterpretations, as well as unfortunate timing on the part of some of the main players a la the demise of "Romeo and Juliet." All of these contribute to a tumultuous ride that gives you just a hint of what the characters experience, meanwhile all the characters are stuck within the strict social framework of New York's high-society circa 1900.
I'm not a huge fan of cattiness, and gossip, so the subject of the book is somewhat hard to stomach, but the way it's presented is amusing. If nothing else, you can stare at the pretty cover.
It's not always wrong to judge a book by it's cover, just don't make a habit of it...
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