Customer Reviews

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein

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The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein was a fabulous, delicious and hilarious book! It's really hard to pick a favorite part of it. The entire book is written as Lotus's diary and her observations about her friends and family. Lotus lives in Brooklyn, is obsessed with all things French, and has a fantastic sense of humor. She's someone I would want to hang out with.

I love how she wanted to immerse herself in French culture and existentialism. She's really into fashion and just getting out there and trying to have a good life and include others in it. And as I've said before she's just funny, her observations about everything reminded me a bit of Georgia Nicolson, as others have mentioned. She's hard to describe because she's so absolutely layered which I loved!

I loved being reminded about why I took French in high school and how much I just love French culture just like Lotus! It was nice being back in that place. I also was excited to see how the love triangle between Lotus, her best friend Joni, and other French Club member Sean played out.

Overall this was a hilarious and heartfelt book and I can't wait to check out some of the author's other adult books. I hope she also continues down this track with another book in this same spirit for the young adult audience!

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais is a realistic-fiction
journal about a teenager named Lotus who is an anything French addict. Her
greatest aspiration is to live in France and live as an existentialist. She is not
looking for love, but when a cute boy walks into to the French Club she created,
she is head-over-heels. When Lotus hears that her best friend, Joni, feels the
same way about the new boy, Sean, she hides her feelings, for she doesn't want
to stomp on the socially awkward Joni's first crush. This book talks about how
insane a teen's life can be and shows how boys can test friendship.

It is necessary to say that this book will not be the next literary masterpiece of the
decade, but it is a truly livre intressant. I loved how the author
decided to use French continually during the book; it really brought out the
main character's character! While the book did move fast enough, I felt there
was really no plot line. The book really didn't go anywhere. Also, I didn't like
many sexual comments that littered the pages, even though I am a teen, and
this is a teenage book. Overall a merveilleux read!

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
Flamingnet Book Reviews
Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

gave to my 11 year old daughter who loved lotus. she told me she had to read it more slowly than usual so that it wouldn't end as fast as other books. My kid eats books so anything she will slow down and savor is special. Get this for your tweener reader now

Chatty, cute, and touching, Libby Schmais' YA debut, THE PILLOW BOOK OF LOTUS LOWENSTEIN, will satisfy fans of Helen Fielding's BRIDGET JONES' DIARY and Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicholson series.

Lotus is a relatable protagonist whose obsession with French culture brings a flair of uniqueness to novels-in-diary-format. Lotus may be occasionally shallow, dumb, and obsessed, which will turn her off to readers who don't enjoy those kinds of characters, but she is loyal to her friends and family through and through. The most remarkable part of this book is Lotus' growth from self-obsessed, whiny teenager to a mature young woman, capable of making sacrifices for others, but still not above being good and true to herself. Often she doesn't quite know how she can help, but whether it's hanging around rehearsals while her father attempts to make his playwriting debut, or helping her teacher make over her life, she tries her utmost hardest and approaches everything she does with the complete goodness of her heart.

The supporting characters are well drawn for a story told entirely in the protagonist's diary entries. There are underlying conflicts and subplots involving Lotus' parents, younger brother, teacher, grandmother...Lotus' world is rich with interpersonal relationships, and the other people enhance Lotus' appeal as well, as she is an extrovert and shows her best side when she interacts with others. Sean is, admittedly, a bit weak as the supposed love interest, but his lack of character didn't disturb me as much because there was so many better and more important things going on.

Overall, THE PILLOW BOOK OF LOTUS LOWENSTEIN is a great read if you enjoy novels written in diary entries, chatty main characters, and have ever thought of escaping your boring hometown for someplace more exotic. I hope that fans of Bridget Jones and Georgia Nicholson will give Lotus and her story a try, because this is a worthy addition to the subgenre. Vive la one and only Lotus!

I had been waiting to read The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein for months, so I was absolutely thrilled when I finally got my little hands on it.

I loved the basic idea behind this book - Lotus (love, love the name) is extremely precocious - she is definitely a square peg NOT trying to fit in a round hole. In fact, Lotus thrives on the fact that she is different and what does set her apart is that these differences seem to come naturally to her - she is not trying to stand out just for the sake of attention. Indeed, Lotus is quirky and seems completely clueless to the fact that she is the one who is a little "off" with the rest of her life - This made her a very likeable character to me.

Among her many quirks, Lotus is in love with all things French and France - in fact, it is her dream to visit Paris - although at the rate she is going, this dream is going to remain a dream (thanks to her terrible famille(family)! Yep, although Lotus has beautiful dreams - she is the product of a middle class family with an out of work papa, a new age maman and a chess prodigy as a frère (I can do these French/English references all day! Since I am French myself and is one of the things I really enjoyed about this book!). I read this book in practically one sitting.

I loved the Lotus character because she was herself at all times and she was okay with the fact (for the most part) that she was not part of the "in" crowd and not part of that "cliché" of popular girls. It was refreshing to read about a character who saw the world through such different glasses. It was also great to read about her passions for Paris - I mean she even goes on to open a French Club at her school! Now that is dedication.

Of course there is the required best friend and the "maybe" boyfriend, but really this wonderful YA is about a young girl who is not afraid to be herself and not afraid to find her passions and voice her desires for her life.Quirky and charming.

THE PILLOW BOOK OF LOTUS LOWENSTEIN is exactly what it says: the diary of young francophile. Though the book is short there's a lot going on. Lotus starts a club, falls in love, fights with her best friend, gets a job, raises the money to go to Montreal, and sides with her brother against her parents. (I love the scene where she keeps calling paradiddles something ridiculous. And for those who are curious, a paradiddle is a four stroke pattern, alternating then doubling, ie RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL. It's used both to show you're cool, or on tenors and a set in order to move from drum to drum without crossing your arms. That's your percussion lesson of the day.)

At first, I found Lotus's personality somewhat grating. Her habit of tossing French words into statements brought back visceral memories of fangirl Japanese. (I wondered if Libby Schmais was doing in on purpose the first time I saw a mention of THE PILLOW BOOK OF SEI SHONAGAN.) The first thing that really made me laugh was Lotus's desire to walk on cobblestones in heels; I've done it, it's not that exciting.

But Lotus's voice grew on me. She's somewhat clueless about adult lives, leading her to be rude to a coworker and such. But she's more perceptive about people her own age than she realizes, as represented by her conversations with her chess prodigy younger brother. What really made me love her is how she handles the love triangle between herself, Sean, and Joni. There's nothing wrong with being honestly non-monogamous, but anyone still in high school is too young too pull it off. It usually takes extra work to make sure no one gets hurt in an open relationship.

I think many guys would find this book too girly, but that young girls will enjoy it immensely. Lotus has an irrepresible personality and an ultimately charming voice. Besides, you might learn something about French culture. Or at least get hungry from all the references to cheese. (Why oh why can I only afford cheddar, jack, and colby? I want that little bag of small cheeses that I could buy at Sainsbury's. So delish.)

Review copy
From In Bed With Books

Lotus Lowenstein is enamored with all things French. She has been begging her parents to let her go to Paris during the summer, but her parents tell her they can't afford it. So, what's a girl to do? Start a French club, of course!

Lotus decides to start a club at school to discuss all things French. At first, its only members are Lotus and her BFF, Joni. But then the cute new boy in school, Sean, decides to join, because he loves all things French, too.

With a trip to Montreal and a lot of boy drama, this book is sure to please those who love everything French - from Parisian food to its hip style. It's even sure to please those who don't love French - and who don't know their croissants from their donuts.

Written in diary style entries, Lotus is a fun and sweet character with lots of spunk. Surely, readers will enjoy her life and find themselves immersed in the story very quickly.

Reviewed by: Angela S.

The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein well keep you entertained. whether ur reading it on a plane, at school, at the park, on your bed, or on the toilet... u'll luv it. It's fun to read, interesting, and lotus has such a great personality. it's nothing like i thought it'd be. it was way better tho. buy this 4 ur daughter who hates 2 read. or 4 ur friend who luvs 2 read. or just buy it for yourself. u won't regret it.

Lotus Lowenstein is a high school sophomore, living in Brooklyn, and fascinated by all things French. Her goal for the year is to "become an existentialist, go to France, and fall in love." This young adult novel, written as a first person diary, is often laugh out loud funny. Lotus meets Sean, the boy of her dreams, when she and her best friend Joni start a French club at school. Unfortunately, Sean wants to emulate his idol Sartre and become involved with both girls. Lotus's insights, comments, and often wrongheadedness give this book its charm. She is a lively and unique character given to typical teenage complaints and schemes. Ultimately, though, the novel's theme is the importance of friendship and honesty. While Lotus and her family are secular Jews, the Jewish content of the book is very minor. Lotus complains about going to the family seder, and her father tells her it's the right thing to do because tradition and family are important. Later, she describes the seder as, "Pharaoh Egypt Moses Blah blah blah, Dayenu, blah blah." The menu includes brisket, potato kugel, "matzo balls the size of my head," and strangely barley and rugelach. This book will appeal to young teenage girls with its strong characters and combination of humor and romance. Grades 7 and up. Hilary Zana