Customer Reviews

24-Karat Kids: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I rely heavily on Amazon Reader reviews to plan my reading list, but I'm going to respectfully disagree on this.

Here's what I think happened: Judy Goldstein read "The Devil Wears Prada" and "The Nanny Diaries" and said "Hey kids ! Let's re-write these books but from a pediatrician's point of view" Then she thought of every funny case she's ever seen and exaggerated it, and changed the names. Then she thought of some ridiculous plot that allowed her to show off her extensive knowledge of fancy boutiques on the Hamptons.

Now I have nothing against good chick-lit, but there was NOTHING to this book. The heroine was *so* perfect, I found her unbelievable. Actually Goldstein seemed afraid to include any characters that weren't basically amiable (Ira goes on gambling sponsored coke binges? How eccentric!) Even the bird is quirky.

There are so many random threads to this book: the receptionist has chemo and loses her hair, well obviously then she's going to focus all her attention on her opera for kids CD, and never mention the cancer again. Someone suggests Shelley loses a few pounds and POOF ! she goes on a diet and she loses 30 pounds and that is that. Oh Fran Templar is at a party? Let's run around looking for her and then drop it all of a sudden because we remember that she's not actually a character in this book.

Usually I'll give any book 100 pages, and if I don't like it, I'll put it down guilt-free. However I felt compelled to finish 24 Karat kids simply so I could write this review. I'm not going to ruin the highly predictable ending but it seemed to me like the author looked at the book, said "Ooh look 200 pages, I'm done now!" and typed a final 3 page chapter that tied everything up.

I don't know anything about "Mary Sue", but I thought this was a fun, well-written, pleasant & satisfying read. The characters and tone of the book reminded me at times of best selling "chick-lit" books DEVIL WEARS PRADA, THE SECOND ASSISTANT, and THE NANNY DIARIES. I definitely thought that this one belonged right up there with those, as one of the better chick-lit books I've read (especially considering it was written by a NY Pediatrician and NOT an established and/or trained author).

As the heroine of the story, Shelley is both likable and REAL. I never got the impression that she was perfect, or even close to perfection. Yes, her patients loved her and yes, some of the solutions to her patients' ailments were easily resolved, but it's a fun, FICTIONAL NOVEL!!! And Shelley did make some mistakes along the way as she adjusted to her new lifestyle. Jumping to conclusions and misdiagnosing a favorite patient before all the test results were available, choices in her love-life, a change in living arrangements, her shopping habits, even in her choice of "extra-curricular activities." As Shelley makes mistakes and uses poor judgment, you come to love her more since these are the very things that make her all the more real and human to readers. For years Shelley was the "plain" girl, the "smart" girl, the "reliable" girl, whose mother was always (and still is!) shouting SUS (Stand Up Straight!) at her. For the first time in her life, she's out having fun and behaving like someone she used to only envy. Are there lessons to be learned along the way? Of course there are, and by the end of the book, Shelley has learned a few of those and takes a good hard look at the life she's created for herself.

The book is written by an experienced, high-profile NY pediatrician, so I'm sure that some of the patients, parents and ailments that were written about were based on actual things that the author has seen and experienced over the years. What mother hasn't wanted to stop her child from sucking their thumb? I'm sure there are more than a few parents who dread the "poopy" diaper!! Throw in the fact that these normal, every day new parent experiences are being poorly handled by NY's upper class, well that's what makes this book all the more fun!!

I picked up the book without ever hearing anything about it before seeing it on my bookstore table. I'm so glad I did, as it's one of the more enjoyable books I've read this summer! My only problem was with the book's ending. There were too many loose ends left hanging and questions left unanswered. While it appears that Shelley's future is left to the readers' imaginations, there were more than a few parts of the story that I would have liked to have seen a more definite conclusion for. Whether this was intentionally done with thoughts of a sequel, only the author and publisher knows, but I am hoping to hear more from Dr. Goldstein as I'm sure she's got hundreds of stories to share!!!

I couldn't get through this book. I know it's chick-lit and I have to put on my chick-lit goggles , but even so- there is good chick-lit and there is bad chick-lit. This is really bad chick-lit! The character are cardboard cut-outs that I couldn't care less about. Everyone is so stereotypical, the situations are so unbelievable yet the outcomes are so predictable.

trust me, this is a great one!- i've read all the chick lit authors and in this genre, this is my favourite book so far!- it is extremely well written and is clever and fun- i found it totally rivetting anf interesting- i fell in love with the main character, shelley and her boyfriend and her family- they were so believable- i could not put it down, read it in 2 days- and i actually missed reading about shelley a week after i finished it, even while reading another book- (which wasn't as good)- very bright authors which shows in their writing skill and diction etc- i can't wait for their next collaboration!

24-Karat Kids doesn't promise to solve anyone's problems or even offer an insightful literary experience. From the pink cartoon-y cover, it's pretty obvious that we're in for a chick-lit-lite novel.

As others have noted, we get a little more. I don't have kids and I was fascinated by the brief references to childhood development, not to mention the insights into the busy practice. Heroine Shelley just came from a tough residency, so there's no surprise about her ability to deal with patients in a chic upper East Side practice. I especially noted her sardonic assessment of one difficult patient: in a welfare clinic, she'd make a referral to Child Protective Services.

I don't agree with concerns about the author's childless state. Cardiologists don't always have heart disease. Ophthamologists can have perfect vision and oncologists can be cancer-free.

As a career consultant, I was impressed with the author's insight into success. After years of debt and med student deprivation, our heroine now experiments with her new self. She begins to enjoy clothes, fun and new people. Most new professionals won't experience such a dramatic shift, of course, but they'll often begin experimenting with new hairstyles and wardrobes. I saw similar trends among doctoral students who became assistant professors -- and in business schools, they were well-paid.

As a dog owner, I found similarities between pediatricians and veterinarians. In my urban dog park, we have homeless and low-income dog owners, as well as upscale Microsoft employees. I've learned that "good" dog owners don't come from a particular social or economic class. Some upscale, educated owners can't be bothered to make sure their dog gets exercise and attention. Some of the more life-challenged dog owners are out there, rain or shine, loving their dogs, finding the low-cost clinics to get vaccinations and licenses.

And I have to admit I emailed my vet to see if my Gracie needs a doggie sweater in the winter. Just like the parents of the 24-Karat Kids, right?

The ending of this novel seems weak and frankly unrconvincing. The author telegraphs some of the revelations that are new only to the heroine. And I think we don't get a sense of the heroine's new sense of self, which appears to be much more than skin-deep.

I couldn't put this book down! As a former New Yorker with a former sense of high entitelment I found this glimpse into the life of my children's former pediatrician ( they grew up) enlightening. It is a quick read ( I couldn't put it down) and very well written. Perfect for summer reading, especially if you are in the Hamptons, have kids or simply want to peek into the life of New York's Upper East Side.

I enjoyed this book especially because the main character's job as a pediatrician added a fun side story to the romance.

This could have been such a better book. I wish I could have given it 3.5 stars. I liked the writing style and I liked the matter of fact approach to things. That said, the plot was entirely too predictable, the end of the book was rushed and the ending was ridiculous. I think the book could have used more character development, and things could have been tied together better. There were a lot of funny patient stories, but I those could have been a stand alone book because they were so poorly incorporated into the story. I really liked the general idea - it was a new spin on chick lit, and I liked Shelly and her family. BUT, it was a little too cookie cutter and I finished the book just thinking that it could have been so much better. Great idea, great character sketches, but poorly executed.

I didn't look up the reviews before I read this book, because I just needed a fun, quick read, and it was just that. I won't mind lending it out, and allowing someone to enjoy it, and then they can pass it on. I am glad I found it on sale, and I think that is why I enjoyed it as much as I did. I would love to be able to live a "celebrity" lifestyle for a little while.

I had been waiting to read this book for months and to tell you the truth I am disappointed with the story.
Even though hyperparenting is a real phenomenon nowadays it just doesn't make a plot interesting enough to keep reading.
Dishing on the overly indulgent and excessively rich parents of our times and celebrities doesn't make a book a good one and this is the case of 24-karat kids.
Whoever compared this ultra shallow and rushed novel to The Devil Wears Prada must be on something because this book has no comparison whatsoever to the Lauren Weisberger's novel, the latter is a classic now and no one is coming close.

There's no rhythm to this novel, it's as if the authors had a deadline and decided to end it suddenly without much thought; the ending didn't leave me wanting more at all in fact I wouldn't recommend it not even if you have nothing else to read, if so get a magazine, Vogue maybe and get on with your life.