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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Skip the poetry!, April 6, 2005
This review is from: Inappropriate Men (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) (Paperback)
While it takes a long time to get used to the writing style (a combination of narrative, "sidebars" for background, poetry, e-mails, and dialog from screenplays), "Inappropriate Men," turns out to be an interesting and quick read (especially if you skip all that pedestrian poetry like I did).
Sidney Stein is a sensual and plump 30-something free spirit currently teaching at a Chicago college and clearly unhappy in her marriage to her college sweetheart. She begins an affair with Geoffrey, her father's married law partner, a man 23 years her senior who unleashes her long-buried passion. Before her marriage to Mark, she managed to bed down lovers in the double digits.
After she and her husband part amicably, she continues to see Geoffrey, and he continues to remain with his wife, with no intention of ever divorcing or leaving her. Despite knowing there is no future with him, she continues to take whatever morsels of his time he is willing to give her, as she begins to fall in love with him. Of course, they are lucky to spend more than 8 hours together in a single month.
After confessing her relationship to her brother and best friends, she follows their advice and puts a personal ad in a local paper and jumps into the dating pool. Her dating escapades are hysterical, as is a painfully bad sexual encounter with her first lover since Geoffrey. But unfortunately, there are too few of them.
I was disconcerted with the book's description - it gave you the impression that after dumping her married lover, her blind dates from hell would constitute a large portion of the book, instead, just more drivel and whining about Geoffrey, who she finally does dump almost 3/4 of the way through the book. A former flame and unrequited love also come into the fold with unexpected results. I loved the bantering relationship between Sid and her brother; I liked that a woman can be a sexual being despite her size; and I also liked the ambiguous ending. But overall, the story was lacking and thus a disappointment. Without the hideous poetry, it is a solid 3 star read.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
I blame rushing through Barnes & Nobles during my 1 hr lunch, May 25, 2004
This review is from: Inappropriate Men (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) (Paperback)
I blame buying this book on rushing through Barnes & Nobles during my 1 hour lunch; looking for something to ease the boredom of work. This book is HORRIBLE. With a capital SUCKS. I'm sorry, but this book was just not well written. While I am not against people with an elaborate vocabulary (and actually welcome it), but in a chick lit that is suppose to be relaxing.. well, her vocabulary is way too extensive. She uses 30 adjectives per sentence. Going back to the way the book is written, it appears that Ballis wrote the book first and then went around making additions everywhere. Side bar this, side bar that. It's really hard to get into the story when every few pages, there is a side bar. A book that needs THAT much explaining isn't worth reading. And my goodness, the poetry that just goes on and on and on. I'm a huge fan of poetry, and write some of my own.. but this just litters the book. The character, Sidney, tells the story likes she is talking to you face to face. I don't mind that, actually liked that; and usually prefer that with chick lits I read. However, "Sidney" is constantly apologizing for herself, with holds information, and just draws on and on. I understand that going into explict detail of your first sexual encounter with someone maybe too much, BUT YOU ARE A FREAKING CHARACTER IN A BOOK FOR PETE'S SAKE. That's why I bought the book, to divulge in another's life - fictional or not. I skimmed through this book after thoroughly reading the first chapter, but only because I spent $13 on the stupid thing. Don't bother paying for it.. and if you still want to read it, borrow it. Heck, e-mail me - I'll GIVE you my copy. Bah.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The thinking woman's Chick Lit, May 28, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Inappropriate Men (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback)) (Paperback)
At long long last, someone finally wrote a 'chick lit' book with not just a heart and soul, but a BRAIN. The usual cliche's are pleasantly absent...this girl doesn't live in NY, work for a magazine, or obsess about Manolo Blahnik. The things we love about chick lit, however, are here in abundance. Sidney Stein is as real a character as I have read in a long time. She is intelligent, but still falls prey to less-than-smart human mistakes. She is confident, but not without normal insecurities. She makes you feel like you have met a new friend, someone willing to be totally open and honest with you, someone who makes you laugh, but also makes you think. Sidney's relationships comprise the Good the Bad and the Ugly, and the way Ballis writes about them, you get the sense that this is an author with a profound observation of life. She has watched and listened, and now has taken the time to share her insights with the rest of us. Yes, the book may pose some problems for the chick litters who lean towards the fluffier stuff. Ballis doesn't care about challenging you, she sets the literary bar very high for her readers. This isn't dumbed down, pre-chewed stuff. This is meaty writing, and requires a decent attention span. For all the possible twenty-something readers, tackle this one with the head of a pupil, thirty-something Sidney has many lessons to give you. For the thirty- and forty-something readers, you will be pleasantly surprised to find a book in this genre that speaks to you and your lives so eloquently. Lucky for us, in spite of the occasional foray into serious stuff, Ballis never loses her sense of humor. This book is laugh till you wet your pants funny. Whatever your summer plans, include Inappropriate Men on your list of must-reads.
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