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Book Review of A Dangerous Dress

A Dangerous Dress
A Dangerous Dress
Author: Julia Holden
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
candieb avatar reviewed on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4


I actually heard about this book from the author. On my MySpace page, I have Frank McCourt as one of the people I'd like to meet. Apparently, the author is a former student of Mr. McCourt (how cool is that?). Anyway, she left a comment, I looked at her MySpace and picked up her book to read. Of course, I'm just now getting around to reading it!

First, let me get this out of my system -- I hate when authors don't use their real name. I could understand if this book was some sort of expose of the industry the author is in, but it's not. So it irritates me. Apparently, the author uses a fake name because she's some important person in the entertainment industry. Whatever. I can forgive it though because I wouldn't know this if I hadn't visited her website - http://www.juliaholden.com

Now, then... the book.

I knew I'd like it when the word bumf*(k showed up twice on the first page. I grew up there, so I so totally know exactly where that is. *laugh*

I loved the conversational tone of the book. I felt like I was sitting down having coffee with a good friend of mine, listening to her tell me this amazing story. For the first few chapters, it drove me nuts, but once I got used to it, I really enjoyed this type of "voice".

The story is completely and utterly superficial. It's about a dress, people. (Okay, more than that, but really, it's a dress). It's about a dress and clothing. If you are looking for something deep, this isn't the book for you.

I really wish the author had wrapped up the grandma and Paris story though. Oh, I know, blah blah blah... but I really wanted to know what good old grandma was up to in that dress in Paris!

Paris! Oh, I'm jealous. I've always wanted to visit Paris. The author does an amazingly good job of making Paris a character in the book. Well done!

The main character... oh man. What a twit. I spent a good deal of time wanting to reach through the pages of the book and give her a shake, a smack, or something. The story is far-fetched, the plot is very much unrealistic, but you know what... it doesn't matter. It was a great story, a great break from reality and I enjoyed the heck out of it. Give this new author a try... maybe eventually she'll come out of the closet :p