I admit it (confession number two, if you're keeping track), I have a small addiction problem. I read loads of cheesy chick-lit. Far more than is good for me. You know the type, breezy, lightweight often first-person chronicles of the ups and downs of single-gal life. They're usually told with a great deal of humor, and the girl generally gets the guy in the end--kind of like a grown-up fairy tale. Yes, it's mindless escapism, but let's face it, sometimes mindless is good. Jean-Paul Sartre has his place, but when you're mentally zapped after a long day of dealing with, well, your life, what's wrong with relaxing and just being entertained for a while?
So today's book is representative of this vastly popular genre. And it's pretty good, incorporating another of America's mindless obsessions--reality TV. The main character, having met her British Mr. Right online, finds herself in need of rapid weight loss, as he's pressuring her for a face-to-face and she's not been entirely truthful about her plus-size figure. Enter the reality show, with the promise of a competitive weight-loss program and a nice cash prize with which to adorn the new body in style.
But "The Biggest Loser" this isn't. The competition is cut-throat, the producers manipulative, and contrivances tortuous. The drama, both onscreen and off, makes for compelling reading, and while the ending follows the predictable pattern there are still enough plot twists to keep you engaged. The protagonist is sympathetic, the characters are well fleshed out (no pun intended), and the pacing is brisk. If you're looking for a few hours of light entertainment, this isn't a bad choice.
So today's book is representative of this vastly popular genre. And it's pretty good, incorporating another of America's mindless obsessions--reality TV. The main character, having met her British Mr. Right online, finds herself in need of rapid weight loss, as he's pressuring her for a face-to-face and she's not been entirely truthful about her plus-size figure. Enter the reality show, with the promise of a competitive weight-loss program and a nice cash prize with which to adorn the new body in style.
But "The Biggest Loser" this isn't. The competition is cut-throat, the producers manipulative, and contrivances tortuous. The drama, both onscreen and off, makes for compelling reading, and while the ending follows the predictable pattern there are still enough plot twists to keep you engaged. The protagonist is sympathetic, the characters are well fleshed out (no pun intended), and the pacing is brisk. If you're looking for a few hours of light entertainment, this isn't a bad choice.
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