I don't know what you guys are so in love with. Now most of you probably read Honey Baby Sweetheart back when it was a NBA finalist. Beauty Shop for Rent is much less impressive if you've read Honey Baby Sweetheart in the last three months. Like I have (and yes, someday I'll blog it).
Shall I summarize? Yes. I think so. Abbey's mother dropped her off on her great-grandmother's doorstep when she was 11 with the promise to come back for her when she's on her feet again. Now Abbey's 15, and still living with Granny Po. She's determined to break the curse of the last three generations - they've all had children before they were out of their teens. She's determined to be a millionaire by the time she's 35 and have nothing to do with boys until then. She's sure to avoid the curse if she just eliminates romance. Right? Right?
Abbey is wound a bit tight and takes repression to a whole new level. It's all about control and analyzing for her (whereas in HBS, it was more about letting go, and thinking less). Other than that, I really felt like I was reading the same book. Switch a loving (librarian) mother with a loving (hairdresser) great-grandmother. Change the father abandonment issues with parental abandonment issues. Throw in a close-knit group of single old women to serve as comic relief and a road trip to symbolize growth and self-actualization. Just for variety, add some depression and suicide rather than an unhealthy relationship with a boy. Learn that it's both genetics AND environment that creates a person and that if you take responsibility for your actions, you are already ahead of the game; money doesn't heal all wounds. Ok, that last part was all Beauty Shop for Rent.
Laura Bowers, darling, it was a lovely book - and squeaky clean (save some very minor swearing). You've even thrown in some healthy religious themes that are subtle enough that they don't irritate me. It's just, well, it wasn't fresh. Not for me.
And do people in Maryland have a Country Drawl? I've only been to Baltimore. I suppose a corner there touches West Virginia... not that I've ever been there, either.
Reading: 328 pages in 4 hrs 42 minutes
Posting: 35 minutes
4 comments:
I like that your reviews are so honest.
I look forward to Laura's next book too.
Generally. But I feel bad every time I don't love something, as I really do admire what these authors do, and I know that they are wonderful people.
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, dear Jackie!
Happy birthday to you!
Okay, I just read the book this past week. And, yes, it totally reminded me of Honey, Baby, Sweetheart (which I adore). That said, I think I liked Beauty Shop for Rent... a bit more than you did. Probably because of Gena.
Definitely not because of Mitch, who was way too good to be true. Now, Travis, on the other hand... Bad enough to be realistic.
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