Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Top chick lit books

I still have a hard time describing 'chick lit' to people who ask. I do not want to ditch the CL tag and use 'women's fiction' because to me, 'women's fiction' is a depressing tale of death, abuse and woe. Prove me wrong by recommending something that breaks the mold!

Trashionista listed their top 10 chick lit, and I haven't even read everything on the list. Of the ones I have read, I didn't love them all...

10-Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
Never read it, but loved the TV show. It's on my TBR list.

9-Thirtynothing by Lisa Jewell
Never read it, never heard of it.

8-The Nanny Diariesby Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

I'm not into the whole mom-lit thing, so I'm not sure this would be for me. Not on my TBR pile.

7-The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Also never read this one - I'm beginning to wonder if I know ANYTHING about chick lit. I did enjoy the movie.

6-High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Finally something I've read. Love Nick Hornby, but is this chick lit?


5-Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

I've only read 2 Jennifer Crusie books: Bet Me and ummm, something else. Neither are on my favorites list, but "Don't Look Down" is on my TBR pile.

4-In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

The Only J. Weiner book I've read is Good In Bed. It was extremely hyped by the time I read it and I didn't love it. sorry.

3-The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I thought the first book was called Confessions of a Shopaholic--? I did read it and enjoy it, but I preferred "Can You keep a Secret" by Sophie Kinsella.

2 Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes

Finally, one I agree with. Yes!

1-Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

I agree - v. v. funny. Definitely my #1

So - what would I add to my 'best chick lit' list?
The Girlfriend Curse and the Accidental Virgin by Valerie Frankel
Tales of A Drama Queen, Hand Me Down and True Lies of a Drama Queen by Lee Nichols
I also liked Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin.

5 comments:

Dodi said...

I've only read #1 of the list. I've read several of your list. I'll have to try Rachel's Holiday. Which would one would you recommend more from Frankel?

I didn't like Something Borrowed. I couldn't get over the sleeping with your friend's fiance thing. It just stuck there in my moral compass.

How come some chick lit is shelved in Romance and some in Fiction/Literature?

Karen said...

For V Frankel, I liked The Girlfriend Curse best. I also liked Fringe Girl, but it's YA.

I don't thnk chick lit belongs in romance, but that's just me. The classifications have a lot of grey areas - is Stephanie Plum mystery, romance or fiction? I don't think they count as mysteries - you don't get enough clues to actually solve anything, but there is a mystery element.

Anonymous said...

Villette by Charlotte Bronte broke the mold 200 years ago, before there was a mold. Will you please read it. There is no resemblance between Charlotte and Emily. Villette was written after Jane Eyre and has none of its melodramatic flaws.

The Eustace Diamonds by Trollope is also pretty good. Lizzy Eustace is an original character.

bobapede

Karen said...

I did read and LOVE Villette. Lucy Snowe is one of my all-time favorite characters.

I haven't read any Trollope, althouh 'The Way We Live Now' has been on my list for a while. I'll bump it up.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you read Villtte. You get parental approval for that. When was the last time you cleaned up your room?