Customer Reviews

So 5 Minutes Ago : A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Hilary DeVries did what many of her celeb journalist peers would love to do -- see the truth that surrounds them day-to-day clearly enough to rise above it and write an hilarious and smart novel about what it's like to be a Hollywood striver swimming with sharks. So Five Minutes Ago couldn't be better even if DeVries had written about herself, but aside from some characters who bear a striking resemblence to real show biz denizens, this isn't a roman a clef or DeVries's diary made public. This is real writing.The characters are fully-formed and by turns funny and touching. The prose literally zips and zings. There's a laugh on every page -- and even better an insight about human nature that resonates long after the book in finished. In Hollywood-speak one might call DeVries a new Nora Ephron meets Carrie Fisher meets Helen Fielding, but I think this book is really the beginning of an original career.

I am not entirely sure how this book got as many stars as it did. It really wasn't that great. The main character Alex was not a nice person at all. She's whiny and seems to think way too much of herself when bothers to think at all. Her best bud Rachel is snotty and over the top. The other main characters are not much likable either. The development of the non-central characters was pretty bad too. I'll cite C Se. as an example. She was quite obviously J Lo. but for God's sake just say so or don't try to pretend she is someone else. Come up with something original at least. I am giving the book 2 stars because I actually liked the plot (when they finally got to it that is). Too bad the unlikable characters ruined it. I didn't mind the cut throat image of Hollywood. I actually expected that -- I just wanted a character to like. A good girl stuck in a bad world if you will.

Alex is self-centered, whiney and about as deep as a puddle. Her friends consist of her admin, who is probably too afraid of her bitter tongue to admit he can't stand her, and another PR-type who's as one dimensional as Alex.

And that's just the first page.

I'm not sure when "chick lit" characters became so unlikable, but this is not a book I'd recommend to anyone. It's dull, the plot isn't revealed until nearly halfway through (the first half of the book is spent name dropping) and the story isn't engaging (I kept with it so I could "discuss" it during book club).

Fans of Bridget Jones will want to stay clear. Alex isn't a character you'll like or want to get to know. Period.

Found this title while killing time at a Barnes & Noble. Hooked by the end of the first paragraph. (The author, Hilary "just one 'l'" De Vries, knows how knit words together). Stood there for an hour reading, before I realized that I'd lost all sensation in my right leg. Bought the book. Took it home. Devoured it in one sitting. But enough about me. Hilary (just one "l") De Vries is the new Carrie Fisher. "So Five Minutes Ago" is the most sharply observed cultural dissection since "Postcards from the Edge". I'm not sure I know what "Funny! Funny! Funny!" means (mmmm...perhaps, funny?), but I did curl a lip at least every other page or so and snorted more often than I'll ever care to admit, ok? I'd give this five stars, too, except I believe in grading on a curve.

i was expecting this book to be a fun dishy novel, like nanny diaries or the devil wears prada...instead, it was plotless, and although it was a quick read and i can't say i didn't enjoy it, after i finished reading it, i was left thinking "wait...what was the whole point of that book???". i would definitely recommend picking up the devil wears prada instead!

As a lover of the Chick Lit genre I found this book entertaining but would have to say a bit tedious.

Alex is a publicist in Hollywood and the company she works for is bought by a larger more sucessful company, and big changes are being made, changes that are not exactally fair. Alex is caught in the middle of being a loyal employee of the original agency and a new employee of the new agency fighting to keep her job. When Alex becomes aware of the shady plot to force an original founder of the original agency into retirement in order to make the new agency's owners more money Alex knows that something has to be done.

This book explores the reality of ageism in Hollywood, in that the takeoever agency is filled with beautiful young women, while the original agency is made up of middle aged women.

Overall I'd say So 5 Minutes Ago is a fun quick read, but not as exciting as I expected. I was anxious to get my hands on this book only to be a bit let down.

I love to read gossipy, Hollywood type books. I just could not get into this one. I found myself continuosly going back to the jacket to remember what I was suppose to be reading about. I finished only because I hate to buy a book and not finish it. The character, Alex, complains then complains again. O.K. now what, start a plot already. About halfway the plot visualizes and it's not that bad after that. I would not reccomend this book if you are looking for excitement throughout.

I thought that So 5 Minutes Ago was such a great book! I couldn't put it down. If you've always wanted to know what it's like to be in the entertainment industry, read this book! It's a hilarious story and would definately be a great read for a trip to the beach. :)

A cute start, then just went downhill from there. None of the characters were the least bit interesting--even the main character. I was hoping Troy or someone would step up to the plate to give the story some glimmer of hope, but it didn't happen--nothing happened in the whole story.

Maybe the book was especially amusing to me because I live in Hollywood. Those who live here want it to seem "fabulous", whereas it's just another place. DeVries nails it in her inimitable snowball-in-hell style, analyzing the scene down to a pile of detritus. Her main character, Alex, struggles to maintain her integrity, a characteristic unheard of her adoptive community. Easier to read than Fran Leibowitz, but equally insightful and ironic in dealing with the glamour for which we're supposed to yearn.