Why 50 Shades shouldn't be dismissed as mere Twilight fan fic

I have spoken to several friends who are curious about the 50 Shades craze, and one friend who read it back when it was really just fan fic who thinks I'm an idiot for enjoying the series so much.  While 50 Shades certainly isn't for everyone, and I don't think it's a MUST READ, the attitude of it being inferior to other romance stories or that I have no taste for enjoying it really irks me.  I think the general attitude is that if you think Twilight sucks, then this book that is BASED OFF Twilight must be even lamer.  Here's why I think 50 Shades shouldn't be discounted because of its origins:

1. Christian's control issues are viewed as an illness and treated as such.  In Twilight, Edward's crazy protection/control mentality is seen as for Bella's own good.  In 50 Shades, Christian is seeing a therapist, and he and Ana eventually work out that control in the bedroom is good for them (though they switch it up), but Christian trying to control Ana's life is unacceptable.  She gets angry at him and stands up for herself.  I love that at several points she refuses to back down.  She doesn't get flustered and start doubting her stance- instead she fights for her freedom and refuses to give in to Christian.  He has to come to terms by adjusting his behavior, and although it is sometimes painful, he does.

2. There are no vampires, werewolves, or other paranormal elements.  My fiance was still laboring under the assumption that Christian was a vampire. No.  All paranormal elements have been removed, which also removes the strange desire Edward feels to eat Bella because of his "nature."  Although Christian at some point admits to wanting to hurt women, there are psychological reasons for this and it is addressed as part of his mental illness, not a sexy thing.  Edward wanting to suck the life out of Bella but trying to control himself is portrayed as hot; Christian wanting to beat a woman is portrayed as unhealthy and unacceptable.

3. Ana is not a dishrag.  While Ana reminds me of Bella during the first couple of chapters where she is clumsy and has bad fashion sense, Ana quickly develops into a strong-willed, smart, and passionate woman.  She is able to defend herself and does at a couple points, she is not afraid to be alone (no laying the woods for hours), and she knows what she wants from life.  While Ana does bite her lip to the point of obnoxiousness, she isn't mousy.  She actually IS very beautiful and interesting.

4. There is no morality message from 50 Shades.  Twilight's pro-abstinence, pro-life, and sometimes religious undertones are not evident in 50 Shades.  This is just a fun series for grown-ups without the author trying to make something that is not spiritual into a message- no hidden PSAs here.

To wrap up, I'd like to point out that while I would be embarrassed to be seen reading either series on the train (I love my Kindle!), aside from a basic outline the actual perspectives and tones of the novels are very different.  Not to say they don't have things in common, because they clearly do, but 50 Shades isn't "Twilight for grown-ups."  It isn't even really "What if Edward and Bella were into BDSM?"  (The BDSM sub-plot takes a backseat to other story-lines.) It's an erotic romance series about unconditional love and overcoming mental illness.

Lucky Charm Blog Tour- Interview With Author Marie Astor

Lucky Charm

Marie Astor

Adult Contemporary Romance

Purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords

I love the cute cover!
What a classic, romantic scene.

Author Marie Astor

LPFR: As a newer author, many bloggers may still be unfamiliar with you.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

MA: I am a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why I write in the contemporary romance genre. I am the author of a contemporary romance novel, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. In addition to being a writer, I am an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, a good skier, and a capable badminton player.

LPFR: Please tell us about Lucky Charm in one sentence.

MA: In a nutshell, Lucky Charm is a story about a girl who loses her faith in love, but it is also a story about friendship and forgiveness, and most importantly, it is a story about being brave enough to believe in love and having the courage to pursue it.

LPFR: What was your inspiration for writing Lucky Charm?

MA: Romance is such a big part of women’s lives – we spend so much time dreaming and worrying about finding that special someone, but when things do not go exactly as planned, we rely on our friends to help us through the tough times. I knew I wanted to write a fun contemporary romance about the role that friendships play in women’s lives and the challenges of opening up to love after getting one’s heart broken.

At first, the idea started out as a short story I wrote, entitled Lady Luck, which is part of my short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. By the time I finished the outline for Lucky Charm, the novel turned out to be very different from the short story that inspired it.

LPFR: You handle the unraveling of Annabel’s engagement with honesty and hope.  I went through a broken engagement as well… What advice do you as a romance writer and woman have for others recovering from broken relationships?

MA: Never give up on love! We’ve all suffered from a broken heart - as daunting as it may feel at the time, it is possible to fall in love again.

LPFR: What is your favorite part of the story?

MA: My favorite part of the story is when Etienne takes Annabel for a tour of a chateau – Annabel is expecting them to be part of a tour group, but instead she finds herself sharing a romantic evening alone with Etienne.

LPFR: What are some of your favorite books right now?

MA: I just finished rereading Sidney Sheldon’s If Tomorrow Comes. I absolutely love this book - it’s got romance, intrigue, revenge – what more could a reader want?

LPFR: What are you working on now?  Can we expect another book soon?

MA: I am currently working on my next contemporary romance – it is a love story set at a ski resort. The book should be coming out in November. Please visit my website, http://www.marieastor.com/ for updates. Here is a little preview:

At twenty two Maggie has a lot of important decisions to make: Jeffrey, her aspiring politician boyfriend of five years has just proposed to her, and an acceptance letter from one of the best law schools in the country is lying on her desk. But is that what she really wants? The answer comes most unexpectedly when during a ski trip to Colorado she meets Taylor, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. Maggie’s attraction to Taylor is undeniable, but she is engaged to marry Jeffrey. Will Maggie find the courage to follow her heart?

LPFR: Thank you, Marie Astor, for this interview!

I received a copy of this book from the author for review.  Review for this book to come soon.  Visit the next stop tomorrow August 28th at Housewife Blues & Chihuahua Stories!

Orange Blossoms, Hurricanes, and Brides: Review of Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither

The Chemical Garden, #1

Lauren DeStefano

March 2011

YA Dystopian

The cover shows Rhine's beauty quickly fading
as she approaches the age of 20 and death.
The bird in the fancy cage represents her gilded prison.

Wither is an excellent YA novel in the dystopian genre- it's less violent than The Hunger Games, more serious than Bumped, and more glamorous than Delirium (note: I enjoyed all of those books, but hopefully that gives you a frame of reference).  A 16-year-old girl named Rhine is kidnapped and forced to marry a kind but strange man because his wife and love is dying at only 20.  Rhine will die at 20 also, and her new husband at 25, unless a cure is found for the "genetic virus" that kills all young people at these ages.  Rhine's wedding also belongs to two other girls, one much younger and one older.  This first book in the series chronicles these sister-wives as they get to know one another, their new husband, and his creepy father.  They live in a beautiful mansion with lovely gardens and a fancy pool, but to Rhine it is just a prison keeping her from her beloved twin brother.

I picked this book up at the library because of lots of positive reviews- and I certainly enjoyed it.  Most other dystopian fiction I have read is about people struggling to fulfill their daily needs, but Wither examines the future from a comfortable albeit restrictive sitting room.  Both views are important for the whole story, but with the harsh conditions that are a reality for some of my students, I find reading about luxury to be more fun.  I expect that #2, Fever (next February?), will be quite different from Wither in setting, but I hope that the romantic, feminine tone will continue at least in part.

Rhine is a beautiful character- she has two different colored eyes, and gives off an air of pride and virtue.  Rhine's new husband, Linden, reminds me of Ashley Wilkes- wussy and sheltered, but his father has President Snow written all over him... CREEPER.  EW.  I kind of like Linden, despite his lack of a spine- perhaps it's his father's fault that he's so dependent on home.  His visions of the perfect home provide a window into his grief over the loss of his first wife, Rose, and the life he wanted them to have.  Gabriel is a servant in the home, and I'm never quite sure why a male servant is allowed to tend to these imprisoned wives.  He's not my type, but apparently he's quite cute, so why can't he tend the gardens or the automobiles or do any job other than directly serving the wives in their rooms?  That's just asking for trouble.

My favorite thing about this book is how beautiful it was- the lovely imagery, the soft language and tragic pictures of the other wives, contrasted with Rhine's anger.  This beauty is bittersweet because of both the pain surrounding it and its false nature- most of it is human-controlled, hence the series name "The Chemical Garden."  I'm excited for Fever and the adventure it promises.  I would recommend this book to any YA reader who is aware that it's not as edgy as Divergent and The Hunger Games- Rhine is a different sort of heroine, but I'm expecting big things from her in the future!

MEG CABOT WEEK: Chick Lit Day!

To wrap up Meg Cabot Week here on La Petite Fille Rousse, I'd like to highlight two of Meg Cabot's adult series that I absolutely loved.

Heather Wells Series
Size 12 Is Not Fat, #1
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either, #2
Big Boned, #3

Heather Wells used to be a famous pop star, but now she is just your average assistant dorm director at a NYC college... well, except for the fact that people keep dying in her dorm.  Heather decides to get nosy and do a little bit of investigating herself, but what she finds is even weirder than what she expected.  While Heather's struggle with body image is part of her character, it's by no means the focus of these books.  This series features crazy college students doing very sketchy things.  I found this series to be hilarious and a little bit scary- these are my favorite books by Meg Cabot after The Princess Diaries.  I would strongly recommend these to anyone looking for chick lit with a mysterious kick.  According to her website, Meg Cabot is working on two more books in this series- I can't wait!

Queen of Babble Series

Queen of Babble, #1

Queen of Babble in the Big City, #2

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, #3

This series is a lot of fun, but it's hard to describe.  Basically, Lizzie Nichols, your average twenty-something American woman doesn't really know what to do with her life.  She has kind of a big mouth, but as far as I can tell, the thing that stands out about her most is her love for vintage clothing and fashion.  That's probably my fav thing about this series- the amazing clothing descriptions... oh, and the super excellent series ending that blew my mind!  Queen of Babble is pretty typical chick lit (by this I meant that it doesn't have Meg Cabot's crazy premise spin of secret powers, etc.).  Writing this now makes me really want to reread the series.

Interview with Jennifer Rainville, Author of Trance of Insignificance

The author of Trance of Insignificance, Jennifer Rainville, agreed to do an interview with me- here it is!  You can check out my review of the book here.


LPFR: As a debut author, many bloggers may still be unfamiliar with you.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?  I understand that you've had an interesting career path!

JR: First let me say that I’m delighted to have been so warmly welcomed into the book blogosphere! Yes, I’ve taken what some may consider an untraditional path to being an author...I’ve worked in politics at both the state and national level, I was a local TV news reporter in NYC and have served as a media advisor to high-profile figures. However, whether working on political campaigns, in a newsroom or as a consultant - my craft and skill set has always centered around the art of communication. Writing has been the constant in my work, regardless of the field. My unique career experience has not only given me a rich reservoir from which to pull from, but expanded the style and range of my writing...so I wouldn’t change anything about the path that led me to this moment.  

LPFR: Please tell us about your book in one sentence.

JR: A blonde NYC television news reporter has an intoxicating affair with a hunky morning anchor.

LPFR: I mentioned in my review that I found the September 11th part to be passionate and realistic.  If you don't mind sharing, were you working in media during that time?  Did you find it challenging to write about such a powerful event?

JR: The September 11th scene was inspired by my experience while working as a production assistant at WNBC 4, the NBC affiliate in NYC, that day in 2001. I had been on the job only a few days, with no previous experience in a TV newsroom...so, that, combined with the magnitude of the event, made for a powerful day.  It was challenging to write...it was important to me to accurately convey the pace, intensity and mood of a newsroom while covering a story with that much dimension, tragedy and scale. I wanted to pull back the veil on what was really happening behind-the-scenes in NYC newsrooms that day and my experience of actually being there hopefully helped me to portray the scene and the characters in an authentic way. 

LPFR: What is your favorite part of the story?

JR: That’s such a tough question! Every word, every sentence, every scene has meaning for me. I did particularly love writing the chapter when Jules and Jack unexpectedly cross paths at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles...because the central theme of that exchange is one that I am constantly fascinated by, which is, the interplay between the life that we want and the life we create and often the misalignment between the two. The scene examines the idea of self-sabotage and self-deception...how is it that after so much sacrifice and hard work, just when Jules’s greatest wishes are coming true, she still finds herself stuck in a pattern that is destructive to her well-being? Every moment of our lives is an opportunity for transformation and that moment is a pivotal one for Jules...it clearly triggers something in her. 

LPFR: The ending was a surprise to me.  Did you write the story with the ending in mind, or did the character development lead you there?

JR: The ending was a surprise to me too! Without giving too much away, for those who have yet to read it, I will say that I had a completely different ending when I wrote the first draft of the novel. As I spent more time with the characters and worked through multiple drafts, they helped me write the story...not the other way around. There were many times when the book seemed more real to me than what was happening in my day-to-day life...it may sound strange, but I grew very attached to the characters and loved being immersed in their world, so I went along for the ride with them...and was just as surprised by where they ended up. 

LPFR: You have lived in both Washington, DC, and NYC, just like Jules.  What is your favorite thing about each city?

JR: I truly love both cities. I lived in Washington, D.C. during a very formative seven years of my life, it is where I went to university and and started my professional career and so its impact on me was tremendous. I was fortunate to have been exposed to the highest levels of government, diplomacy and scholarship while living there...being a part of living history is by far my favorite thing about my time there.

New York City has been my home for more than a dozen years and every day it feels brand new. New York City has an energy and magnetism that invites you to dance from the minute you walk out your door. It evolves and unfolds before your eyes and is a magical place to live as a writer...it is my very own fantasy island. Depending on the seasons, I feel drawn to a different little corner of the city...at the moment it is NoLita...I can spend hours there just drinking cappuccino and watching the world unfold. 

LPFR: What made you decide to write and publish your first novel?

JR: I left the news business because I wanted to focus on my writing. Being a full-time writer and author was definitely always a childhood dream...and one, that even after three decades, I wasn’t ready to give up on. For years, I’d jot down notes, ideas and outlines for stories. I didn’t really know what form they would take, but I knew there was something there. The pieces of the novel came together organically...it was the one story that kept coming to me - torrents of dialogue and scenes would hit me, often when I was doing something else, so I knew this was the first story that wanted to be told. 

LPFR: What was the hardest part of the writing/publishing process?

JR: The most challenging part of writing the novel was being patient enough to receive the story. Being a journalist was a great apprenticeship because it gave my writing discipline and focus. But writing fiction is completely different. I had to learn not to force timelines and release myself from external goals, and instead create the circumstances in which the writing would flow naturally.

When it came to getting the book published,  I went the traditional route (with a top literary agency, etc.) for more than two years and became completely fed-up with the lack of progress, arcane pace and quiet frankly the pomposity of it all. Luckily we live in an age when technology has made the traditional ‘gatekeepers’ largely irrelevant. But in a town where image is everything, the hardest part of independently publishing my book was having the courage and humility to do it. Once I got over the fear and released from ego, everything started to fly! 

LPFR: What are you working on now?  Can we expect another book any time soon?

JR: I’m always writing...at the moment I’m dabbling between two genres...fiction and memoir. But I’ve learned that, for me, it is better to keep the exact story a bit of a mystery...it is the only way to be fully present in the world I'm creating. Outside inquiry and examination are the quickest ways to get yanked out. Daniel Day-Lewis has a great quote in the opening of the film Nine, playing the character Guido Contini, based on the amazing filmmaker Federico Fellini, he said “You kill your film several times, mostly by talking about it”...as a creative, these are words to live by. 

Thanks so much to Jennifer Rainville for this interview!

Review of Trance of Insignificance by Jennifer Rainville

Trance of Insignificance

Jennifer Rainville

2011 Debut!

Adult Fiction

226 pages

*Interview with author coming soon!*

I love the symbolism of the cover.
Jules is standing at a street corner, looking at the street signs.
Which way will she go?  Will she follow the directions imposed upon her or find her own way?

Trance of Insignificance tells the story of Jules, a young woman who escaped her dysfunctional life in South Boston for a dynamic career, first in politics in DC, then in television news in New York City.  She is beautiful, strong, and ambitious, but she can't seem to find the right man for her.  This story is told through events in the present, flashbacks to a past relationship, and a few glimpses of her childhood.  The book centers around Jules' attraction to a handsome, powerful news anchor and her struggle to move on when he fails her.  The depth of their passion and the problems that ultimately destroy it are revealed through the story as Jules must decide between this past lover and her new husband, who is everything she ever imagined wanting in a husband.

The main drama of the story is captivating- the challenges that meet Jules and how she deals with them make what could be simply a chick lit romance into a powerful story about perseverance.  In addition to a fast-paced plot, this book also has several story elements that I love: awesome clothes, New York City, a perfect proposal, and an unexpected-yet-authentic ending.  One of the most engaging scenes is near the beginning of the book- it is Jules' first day of working at NEWS 30, and it happens to be September 11th, 2001.  Reading about that day from a media perspective was fascinating.  We all have our stories about where we were when we found out that the towers fell, but I have never considered it from the point of view of the media.  While this story is fiction, it reads like a very personal account, and the author's rich, honest voice made this book a passionate experience for me.

While I initially had trouble keeping up with the changes in dates due to the flashbacks, the flashbacks are used to provide background on the cause of events or feelings in Jules' life.  As soon as I became comfortable with jumping between the couple of time periods/locations, I really enjoyed how the flashbacks added depth to the story.  

Four stars to an excellent debut.  I would recommend this to adult and mature teen readers who enjoy big-city stories about romance and enjoying life.  For more information, check out the author's website and blog here.  

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Review of Who What Wear (Allegra Biscotti #2) by Olivia Bennett

This book probably looks familiar to those of you who attended BBC, because that's where I picked it up!

Who What Wear

Allegra Biscotti Series #2

Olivia Bennett

231 pages

June 2011

Ages 9 and up

Allegra Biscotti, groundbreaking new fashion designer, has a secret.  She is actually a 14 year old girl named Emma Rose living in Manhattan.  In book 1, The Allegra Biscotti Collection, she is accidentally discovered and asked to keep silent about her real identity.  After all, who would take a 14 year old fashion designer seriously?  In this installment, Emma is asked to design a collection for an exciting display AND a dress for a swanky Sweet Sixteen Party for a student at her school.  With a bumbling new Italian assistant, a best friend who doesn't understand why Emma is so busy all of a sudden, and the mother running the Sweet Sixteen Party all trying to make Emma's life more difficult, how is she ever supposed to get the new collection designed in time?

Obviously this book is written for younger than YA.  The back of the book labels it as Juvenile Fiction/Independent Reader, and the content is certainly appropriate for young children.  I picked up the book mostly because of the ADORABLE cover and cute sketches throughout, as well as the catchy name.  I have not read book 1, but I plan to at some point!

I enjoyed this book because it was so fun, and Emma's best guy friend, Charlie, is hilarious.  I would love to be friends with him even now.  The descriptions of the clothes are also really fun- I wish there really was an Allegra Biscotti!

One thing that I would change about the book is that I was totally convinced that there was a sinister sub-plot brewing, but the climax was actually a bit of a let down.  The "action" ended too soon, in my opinion, but the ending was also really sweet.  Sometimes it is nice when everything works out smoothly in the end, and perhaps it has been too long since I've read juvenile fiction of this type.

I would recommend this as juvenile chick lit, and girls around the 3rd-6th grades would probably enjoy it.  It was very easy to read, and it might be a good "book club" type book for girl scouts or something- there is definitely a positive girl power message.  It could also be a great book to read to kids before bed. Super cute and very fun.

Top Ten Beach Reads

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

In my opinion, a beach read needs to be:

• emotionally on the lighter side (not Cut or The Bluest Eye)
• physically easy to carry (not a hardcover of Harry Potter 5)
• relaxing and calming for the reader (not City of Fallen Angels)

So here are my Top Ten Beach Reads:

10.  That Summer by Sarah Dessen-  Her new book What Happened to Goodbye could probably fit here too, but I stopped reading her books after the first few pages of Just Listen reminded me of a horrible middle school experience and I had a panic attack.  This was at least four years ago, so I should probs suck it up... I was a huge fan of her books, and I'm sure I would love them if I could get back into them!

9.  The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks-  This is an excellent story about Noah and Allie's children/grandchildren- but be forewarned, like all Nicholas Sparks books, there is a definite danger of some tears!

8.  The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander Smith McCall- if you are not into "Chick Lit," this is a good option for you.  This is a whole mystery series about a woman who sets up a detective agency IN AFRICA (also a good way to pretend you are summering somewhere exotic, rather than the man-made "beach" an hour from your house.

7.  The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger- This author has a unique voice in her writing.  She is somewhat detached from her characters, and there is always lots of glamour and fabulous people.  Anything by her is excellent for traveling.

6.  The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares- Oh, man.  I used to be obsessed with these books.  Lots of summer, lots of travel, and lots of cute boys.

5.  The Last Summer by Ann Brashares- I'm not sure if a lot of people have read this one.  I read it on a plane- I don't remember very much, but I remember thinking about what a good book it was to read in the summer.

4.  The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer- In The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, a young woman's famous boyfriend proposes on television, but not to her! Since everyone assumes he has proposed to her (and why would she say no?), gifts start arriving and a wedding is planned.  

3.  The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer-  This is the story of an overweight, frumpy sort of woman who is secretly a posh celebrity writer.  When she makes a pact with her best friends to lose weight and get her life where she wants it to be, she realizes that looks aren't everything.

2.  The Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot-  By-gone pop star Heather takes a job as a dorm director at an NYC college, and she loves her new job until she learns why the dorm is nicknamed "Death Dorm."  These three mysteries will entertain you and scare you a little. 

1. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding- Supposedly Helen Fielding is working on a 3rd book- how awesome would that be?

Review of The Daughters by Joanna Philbin

The Daughters

by Joanna Philbin

288 pages

2010

The Daughters is the story of three teenage best friends living in NYC who all have famous parents.  Lizzie, the main character, is the only child of world-famous model Katia Summers, only Lizzie did not inherit her mom's looks.  Although Lizzie isn't ugly, she considers herself to be weird-looking, with wild red hair, a large nose, and some other features that are not part of traditional model beauty (think Mallory of the BSC).  Lizzie mostly tries to avoid the spotlight because of her low self-confidence.  When Lizzie's childhood best friend and first kiss returns to the states from England, she starts to question her life of hiding in the shadows, and her best friends are right beside her as she takes on new challenges and stretches her wings.

This book is exactly what is sounds like- a fun beach read (incidentally there are a lot of Gatsby references in it, so Gatsby fans might particularly enjoy it).  I love books like this right now because I read so much serious stuff for my graduate classes- it's nice to be able to relax and just chill with something fun.  This book contains glamour, romance, comedy, and great clothes, and I give it 4 stars.  I recommend it as a light, quick summer read!

Review- Runaway by Meg Cabot (#3 in the Airhead series)

So if you like Meg Cabot, funny YA books, or books about glamour, this series is for you.  And if you read the first book, you have to keep going.

Summary- from Goodreads- "Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself. 

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope... what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved—since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running."  

Oh, and the Goodreads summary seems to leave out the premise of the series- Emerson Watts's brain has been transplanted into Nikki Howard, Supermodel's, body.  Kind of like how Mia suddenly becomes a glamorous princess.

Half-way through the book, I was kind of disappointed.  Not much seemed to be happening... at all.  I was going to give the book 2 stars- but the end really changed my mind.  The second half of the book contains more intrigue and more romance, which is what I look for in this kind of YA conspiracy/romance book.  I would now give this book 3.5 stars... and the whole series 4 stars.  It's interesting, original, and funny.  NOT as good as the Princess Diaries or Heather Wells series, but still a good set of books to read for fun.