The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn

[fionnuala]

Okay girlies want to post a review of this book but have a wee story for yis all first.

Karen Quinn is an American author from New York City who recently added me as a friend on MySpace!!!!! I was both thrilled and chuffed to look at her profile and see who she was. Her profile page is hilarious as she is really witty and very good at doling out the one liners so naturally I couldn't wait to get hold of one of her books. I ordered my book on eBay and got it last week and just finished it tonight and have to say that it was very different from what I usually read but hugely entertaining nevertheless!! So here goes - :

Ivy Aimes is married with a high profile job and a big house in the best part of Manhattan or at least she was before she was fired, her husband had an affair and she found that she could no longer afford to keep her girls in private school.

Getting their children into private school is a necessity for any rich New Yorker who is worth their salt and its a mad world where four year olds have CV's, parents will go to any lengths to bribe the board of governors and even the Mafia can get involved!

Ivy sees a niche in the market and moves to the Lower East Side, makes some new friends and reinvents herself as a private schools admissions consultant with surprising results along the way.

This book is very funny and gives a brilliant insight into New York life and in particular Jewish New York life which I found really interesting!!

Okay who wants it first???

[claire]

sounds really good, would love to give it a try

[fionnuala]

Will send it to you asap Claire - just out of interest do you still want Whitethorn Woods (its only been about nine months since you expressed an interest in it??!!)

[Karen]

I read this book at the end of last year and found it rather disappointing. You can read my review here if interested.

[fionnuala]

I must be going blind Karen I looked for your review and can't find it in this section. I'm sorry to hear that you didn't like it - do you mind if I ask why? I found it refreshingly different and interesting but sure as we're always saying it would be very boring if we all liked the same things!! I'm going to pass it on to Claire who in turn can send it on if anyone else wants it so it'll be interesting to hear a few other opinions!

[claire]

Fionn you have to click on the word HERE to read it


if you send the books send them the cheapest way ok

[fionnuala]

Oh Jaysus I'm not blind I'm just a twat!!!!! Will send them soon Claire xo

[fionnuala]

Oh dear you and I have def got very differing views Karen although I can identify with some of what you're saying! I did think that the chapters were very short but that the authors intention was probably to present a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter although in fairness she probably could have doubled them up! It didn't put me off though as I was enjoying the story!

I know that most of the characters were quite shallow and led very materialistic lives however I thought that Karen Quinn presented the story in such a comical way that it detracted from this - I agree that Michael was very down to earth but I also thought that Ollie, Tiny and Willow and Patsy were also quite wholesome characters! I have to say that although I know she separated her novel into different parts that I thought she was skilled at telling a story that had a wealth of characters in it! Not once was I confused about who anybody was nor did I have to constantly turn back pages to remind myself of their individual stories which must mean that she was doing something right!

[Oonagh]

Hi i just finished this book yesterday. it took me four weeks to finish it. i found the characters shallow and god they were so many characters i kept getting confused. i liked the humour in it and i felt sorry for the female character as she was missing her mother too. I loved her friend friend thought she was very nice and so funny. On a few occassions i was tempted to give up but happy i perceived. do u want it back fionn??? or does any one else want it???