Book Reviews

By Amanda Linsmeier

Something Borrowed (St. Martin’s Press, 2004) by Emily Giffin is a surprising and compelling novel. Rachel White is a young attorney in Manhattan; she’s somewhat reserved, extremely supportive and always does the right thing. In fact, she’s the complete opposite of her best friend Darcy who always manages to outshine her. Darcy is spoiled, demanding and self-involved. She’s the life of the party and always gets what she wants including Dex, her very handsome fiancé whom Rachel went to law school with. The night of Rachel’s 30th birthday party she gets a little too drunk and ends up in bed with Dex. Instead of feeling guilty for that act of betrayal, Rachel only feels guilty for the lack of guilt. Maybe she’s loved Dex all along? Maybe she introduced him to Darcy because she didn’t think she was good enough? Maybe Darcy has gotten her way one too many times. Rachel and Dex continue to see each other and what begins as a drunken encounter turns into true love. But there’s still the matter of Darcy and Dexter’s engagement. As the wedding day approaches and with no cancellation in sight, Rachel becomes more consumed with Dex and more conflicted by her friendship to Darcy. Has Darcy been a good friend to her? Has Rachel ever once gotten her way? Maybe there’s no such thing as right or wrong and she should follow her heart, no matter the cost.

Something Borrowed is a great read, although I imagine it could be uncomfortable for someone who has been cheated on. Readers who enjoy this story will be happy to know that there is a sequel Something Blue which tells Darcy’s side of the story. I liked this novel, although I didn’t particularly like Rachel. Darcy comes off as being the bad guy, but I ended up liking her, even through her spoiled and childish ways, more than Rachel. Rachel struck me as being very whiny and passive aggressive. The strange thing is that even through not loving the main character and also disapproving of the infidelity, Giffin somehow made me still root for Dex and Rachel. I wanted them to be together; I wanted them to win. Something Borrowed is surprising, intriguing and it’s like watching something dangerous; you want to look away, but you just can’t because it’s so deliciously exciting.

By Amanda Linsmeier

How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life (Little, Brown and Company, 2006) by Kaavya Viswanathan is a fun and funny look at a young woman who will do anything to make her dreams come true. Opal Mehta is not your average 17-year old. Besides speaking several languages, being student council vice-president and founder of the Science Bowl Team, she’s got a perfect GPA and her test scores are out of this world. And it’s all been with one goal in mind: Getting into Harvard. Opal and her parents will do anything to make sure she gets into the prestigious school. There’s just one problem: Harvard isn’t sure about her. She is at a loss for words when the Dean of Admissions asks the question, “What do you like to do for fun?” For fun? Everything in her life has been in preparation for Harvard, to make her a better candidate, more successful, so they could not reject her. And now? Opal doesn’t know what to do. She and her parents launch HOWGAL (How Opal Will Get A Life); a strategic plan to make her the most popular girl in school and surely turn her into a more well-rounded teenager, someone Harvard couldn’t possibly say no to. The Mehtas apply their determination to this new idea. They learn teenage slang, watch MTV round the clock, get Opal a new wardrobe and study Vogue. Opal starts her senior year of high school with a fresh perspective and an array of miniskirts and designer shoes. How can the popular kids resist her? More importantly, how can Harvard?

How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life is a great novel. I thought Opal’s parents were hilarious. A little bit unrealistic perhaps, when they left her alone to have a party, but still charming. It was fun to see the transformation of Opal from total geek to one of the most popular girls in school. I don’t remember girls’ being that catty when I was in high school, so this story is either an extreme case or life really is right out of the movie "Mean Girls". Either way, this novel was an interesting character study,and all in all, a lot of fun. I wish Opal would have gotten a little revenge on the snotty cliquey girls or at least told them what was what, but I still liked it. There’s romance, humor and some deep questions for Opal. What is really important in life? Is it possible to be smart and pretty? Who is she? What does she want? You’ll find yourself rooting for Opal the way I did. If you’re past that stage in your life, you’ll recollect high school with fond memories, a bit of disgust, sheer relief that it’s over or even sadness that it’s over. And quite possibly, a combination of them all.