STORY PLOT:
Violet Parry is living the quintessential life of luxury in the Hollywood Hills with David, her rock-and-roll manager husband, and her darling toddler, Dot. She has the perfect life–except that she’s deeply unhappy. David expects the world of Violet but gives little of himself in return. When she meets Teddy, a roguish small-time bass player, Violet comes alive, and soon she’s risking everything for the chance to find herself again. Also in the picture are David’s hilariously high-strung sister, Sally, on the prowl for a successful husband, and Jeremy, the ESPN sportscaster savant who falls into her trap.
MY REVIEW:
In /This One is Mine/, Maria Semple spins the story of two women dissatisfied with their current lives and willing to do something to change that. This story has all the makings of a good “chick lit” novel: a bored housewife (and one who wishes she were), small amounts of steamy romance, quirky new age ideas, and ridiculous amounts of wealth to power it all. The pace is quick, jumping past uneventful times while lingering in the important scenes. The writing is fairly simple, but interesting and engrossing as well.
Marie Semple has created a spot on, delicious send up of all things Los Angeles in This One Is Mine. With a delightful cast of some of the shallowest people ever to grace the printed page, this is a story of New Age absurdity, conniving, greed, wealth, social climbing, adultery and so much more.
Once started, I could not put this book down. The writing is fluid and the characters fully developed. I enjoyed every last page of this dark comedy. This book will be a very good read for your book club, with all your girlfriends 🙂
Here is a guide for discussion at your book club:
This One Is Mine,
3. In the fi rst chapter, David is upset with Violet for what he perceives
to be her lack of interest in maintaining the household.
Is his anger justifi ed?
4. What does Violet fi nd sad about Los Angeles? Where do you
think this sadness stems from?
5. What do you think about Sally’s friendship with Maryam?
Why does Maryam put up with her?
6. Los Angeles could be said to be a city of ambition. How do
the characters’ ambitions relate to one another’s? What fuels
those ambitions, and when do they get out of control?
7. In some ways, Sally seems to want everything that Violet has: a
successful husband, fi nancial security, a nice house, and stylish
friends. Do you think Sally would be happy if she suddenly
9. Teddy seems to have a set of problems that make Violet’s (and
everyone else’s) pale in comparison. Do you think Violet is
drawn to him because of or in spite of these traits?
10. What do you make of Sally and Jeremy’s relationship? Do you
think there is a way that it could ever have worked out?
11. Why is Violet happy when Sally tells her that she never really
liked her?
12. In many ways, this is a very “L.A.” story. To what extent do
you think the characters’ attitudes and actions are shaped by
Los Angeles? Could you see this story taking place anywhere
else?
13. At the end of the book, Violet, Sally, and David all visit Teddy
in the hospital. In what ways did Teddy’s arrival in their lives
bring them all together? How might this story have turned out
differently if Violet had never met Teddy at the health fair?
14. In Leo Tolstoy’s
Anna Karenina,
. What similarities do you see between Tolstoy’s Vronsky
novel and
This One Is Mine?15. What other books did
This One Is Mine
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Title: | This One Is Mine |
Author: | Maria Semple |
Book Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
Book Type: | Hardcover 304 pages |
Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
Publication Date: | December 2008 |
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Many more reviews here.
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March 25th – March 21st
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I’ve got this posted over at Win a Book for you 🙂
Thanks.
I follow you through Google Friend Connect. I hope this counts! I would love to win this one!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
It’s ok..you are in.
I am a follower!
Bill 😉
billsmith2003 (at) gmail (dot) com
Hope you’ll check out my book giveaway:
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-giveaway-reliable-wife.html
This sounds like a really good read! I would love to win a copy. Please enter me. Thanks
I subscribe through email.
lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com
Oh….on another note…..I am wondering if you received the holiday card I sent back in December, for the swap Haley hosted?
Are you Lori lawson from TN? Then, I recieved your card and also I have sent you a card..in December..Let me know if you are Lori and also if you are not.. I am confused now..
I forgot to leave my email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com. And I am a follower through email:)
I am a follower (hopefully that means by email, as I cannot see a GFC on here)
formycontests@gmail.com
I would like to read this book
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I am a follower through email subscription. I would love to have this book to read. It sounds fascinating.
bstilwell12 at comcast dot net
No I am not Lori from TN. I am Marilu from Ontario, Canada! I sent a greeting card to you in December. I was given your address from Haley when I signed up for her card swap. Does that help ease the confusion? I hope so! I did not mean to confuse you! Sorry!
I signed up for an email subscription and confirmed. Hope that counts as following! I would love to win this.
Just in case, I follow with RSS.
formycontests@gmail.com
Marilu:
Iam very sorry, but I was given Lori’s address by Haley and also I signed up for domestic card swap only.. but after you mentioned this, I went through my mails, and yes now I found your envelope.. which I didn’t even open, I guess because I was done with the swap with Lori.. I didn’t think when yours came.. so very sorry about that.. any ways I will send you a card soon..not Holiday card of course…Again I am very sorry..
No problem at all!No need for apologies!! I just wondered if the one I sent was received. I am not even sure if you were given my address….lol! I know when I signed up it stated clearly that you may not receive as many as you send, and I was cool with that, and signed up to send 5 anyway. If you only signed up for domestic, I am pretty sure you would not have been given my address.