Review - The Color of Heaven (The Color of Heaven Series #1) by Julianne MacLean

Title: The Color of Heaven

Author: Juliane MacLean

Pages: 316

Published: January 23rd 2011 by Julianne MacLean

ISBN: 9780986842221

Source: Sent for honest review

Description: Sophie Duncan is a successful columnist whose world falls apart after her daughter's unexpected illness and her husband's shocking affair. When it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, her car skids off an icy road and plunges into a frozen lake. There, in the cold, dark depths of the water, Sophie experiences something profound and extraordinary--something that unlocks the secrets from her past, and teaches her what it means to truly live.

I Give This ...

I was contacted by another author wondering if I would be interested in reviewing a fellow author's friends work.  It seems she already had a few books under her built but was trying a different genre under a pseudonym.  I'm not usually one for chick lit, but the titles and descriptions intrigued me.  I decided to give the first in the series a shot.

First off, this was a surprisingly light book despite the topic.  Yes there are some moments of doom and gloom, but the overall tone if the book was uplifting.  It was almost to a fault because at times the book didn't feel very adult like.  But, I think that's because grief has torn Sophie down so far she's a shell of herself.  So we see a side of Sophie that is not necessarily the true Sophie.

The death of Sophie's daughter is heartbreaking.  I can't imagine what this mother went through and maybe that's what I identified with the most.  Her idiotic husband drove me nuts.  It sounds like he wrote of his daughter long before she was gone.  His way of dealing with his grief I"m sure.  But, by acting this way he managed to make his wife feel even worse.

I wasn't surprised by the events at the bottom of the lake.   It didn't take me long to pin down what was actually happening.  But, I found it very sweet.  It helped Sophie deal with things in her past, not just her daughter's death.  From that, she was able to move forward.  And maybe...she'll also be able to truly live again.

    

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Title: The Devils Wears Prada

Author: Lauren Weisberger

Published: May 2006 by Broadway

Pages: 368

ISBN: 9780767925952

Source: Library

Description: Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.  Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul. 

I Give This ...

I have to admit that if I had read this before I had seen the movie I probably would have liked it a lot more.  The book doesn't seem as outrageous once you've seen it.  Miranda doesn't come to life as much in the book and Andrea doesn't have the same qualities on paper.  That being said, I did enjoy reading the differences.  There is some added substance to the book that they had to cut out of the movie for whatever reason.  Although after awhile the book started to feel repetitive.  I almost felt like Andrea in thinking what ungodly thing would Miranda ask for next because even I knew it was coming.  I knew the inevitable conclusion, but I founds myself hoping the book would get there sooner.  I would recommend it to those who haven't already seen the movie.

The Ten Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern

Title: The Ten Best Days of My Life

Author: Adena Halpern

Series: None

Published: May 2008

Publisher: Plume

Pages: 272

ISBN: 9780452289406

Source: Personal Copy

Description: In this hilarious and heartwarming first novel, twentynine- year-old Alexandra Dorenfield suddenly finds herself in heaven after an unfortunate encounter with a Mini Cooper. The seventh and highest level of heaven to be exact. Her dog Peaches is with her; she is reunited with her beloved grandparents; she has the wardrobe of a movie star; and she lives in the house of her dreams next door to a handsome guy. This is heaven!  But there's a catch. Alex must prove she led a fulfilling existence by writing an essay on the ten best days of her life or she will be demoted to a lower level of heaven, where the clothes are last year's styles, the men aren't quite as handsome, and worst of all, Peaches and her family won't be nearby. Witty and inspiring, this divine debut novel dares to ask a material girl and the rest of us what makes life precious.

I Give This Book 2.5 Stars!

I had a hard time with this book.  The narrative drove me crazy.  Alex is suppose to be 29, but she comes out sounding like she's 15.  And a very spoiled, annoying 15 at that.  I also don't think I connected with her because her idea of heaven was a closest full of designer clothes and the perfect guy next door, because in Seventh Heaven you get exactly what you dreamed of.  I did like the idea of earning her right to stay in Seventh Heaven, but not much of her story made me feel like she did deserve to be there.  I did enjoy her reflections of when she realized she couldn't rely on her daddy to bail her out of trouble anymore.  And I was impressed with her desire to move to the other side of the country to make something of herself.  Overall, it was really just the main characters voice that I couldn't handle.  Not sure if I will seek out something else by this author.