The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon HaleMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really have had a hard time knowing what to rate this book.
For the pros: The dialogue really was very witty and at times I laughed out loud, and it was good enough that I actually finished it in not too long a time, which at this stage in my life is saying something.
However, I think I'll agree with some of the previously written reviews of the book that it was a little bit too much of the authors personal fantasy fleshed out in a book and it got a little ridiculous at points.
I love Shannon Hale and I salute her for doing something different, but it really didn't work completely although I enjoyed the ride for the most part.
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I rated it the same and had mixed feelings about it as well. It's been a while since I read it, so I can't really remember the details of what I thought about it. I thought the whole best-frienship was a bit far fetched. It was definitely my least favorite Shannon Hale book so far. After reading her other books, I have a hard time believing that this is really her personal fantasy...it just doesn't seem like the personality I got from the other books, but maybe. But I still read it quickly and laughed and cried a bit as well, so it had some merit.
ReplyDeleteI too laughed out loud at parts in this book, and cried like a baby in other parts. It wasn't a sterling piece of literature or anything, but a good chick flick in book format.
ReplyDeleteI read it and loved it. I liked it much better than Austenland (her other title for adults). I don't understand what you mean about it being her personal fantasy. What parts of the book did you find ridiculous?
ReplyDeleteIf you're curious -- my thoughts a little bit more fleshed out on my own review blog: http://everead.blogspot.com/2009/06/actor-and-housewife.html
ReplyDelete@ Alysa
ReplyDeleteI don't know really how to describe it... I just felt like the Mike parts of the book were so... real. I felt like she was recording an actual relationship, whereas the parts with Felix were so...contrived? invented? I'm not sure what the right word is to use here. All I know is that when I was reading the Felix parts of the book, I felt like I could "see" Ms. Hale in my minds eye sitting down and hashing out the manuscript, whereas in the MIke stuff, I was totally lost in the story and I felt like I was watching these people's lives unfold. In the Felix scenes, the dialogue was fabulous and witty and oh-so-funny, but it just felt imagined for the most part. I do love Shannon Hale, and most of this book was great, but I do agree with Kat, that it seemed that the whole best-friendship part was a bit too far-fetched for me to believe in.
I did want to say also, that she certainly does know how to write a devastating scene or two... when Becky ends up face down on the carpet, I was as devastated as she was... well written.