It's very confusing i didnt know what was going on half the time.

3.5 stars

Hey. Sometimes a girl needs a little candy. Loved it. Yes, it is undeniably chicklit. But it is legitimately funny, smart and witty about it. Definitely indulgence, but you won't mind it. It's not a total waste of brainpower. The main character is adorable, and her eye for the ridiculous is spot on. Very enjoyable!

DNF on page 147 (out of 310 pages total)

I bought a hardback copy of "Bergdorf Blondes," by Plum Sykes (first published in 2004) at a Goodwill store outside of Portland in 2016, and decided to reread the book in March 2020. What a surprise to me that I couldn't even finish it.

I'll leave my original review for this book pasted below. I have some thoughts to share about my reaction, and why I must have enjoyed this book so much when I first read it in 2007.

The main character, who only ever calls herself "Moi" in the text, is severely anorexic, along with several other female characters named in the story. This condition is slyly introduced, and then features more and more prominently in the story. The novel treats all eating disorders like a joke. Every woman in this book is intent to get married and stay married, and every woman in the story is superficial and obsessed with money.

A little less than halfway through the book, Moi tries to commit suicide by overdosing on Advil. A young man named Charlie (Moi's future love interest) finds her unconscious, naked, and with her suicide note lying beside her. Charlie is shocked and tries to help Moi. A few hours later (which is only a couple of sentences later on the page), Moi ditches Charlie for a "hot guy" in a restaurant. The wealthy man takes Moi from Paris to Italy without her consent. After a few days of sex with this stranger, Moi no longer wants to kill herself. She returns to New York City and resumes her day-to-day life.

That was the point at which I DNF'd.

In the years since I first read this book (in 2007), I have read a lot of nonfiction about eating disorders, body image, and feminism. I must be 100% honest and say that I originally found this book so funny because I lacked awareness, and I also lacked empathy. What I originally considered to be "hyperbole" and "satire" in this novel is actually the stark, brutal truth: the young women Sykes is satirizing in this story really do suffer from severe eating disorders, problems with body image and body acceptance, and internalized misogyny. Moi suffers from severely low self-esteem, and constantly allows men to treat her like garbage. The entire book exists in an echo chamber of the patriarchy. The relentless misogyny on display in the story is embedded in the narrative, unchecked.

I'm shocked that I ever found this book so "hilarious." I'm definitely not laughing now.

A few days ago, I watched an interview Victoria (Plum) Sykes gave about her novel, "Party Girls Die in Pearls: An Oxford Girl Mystery," published in 2017, and I could see for myself that Sykes is very pretty, extremely thin, and glamorously dressed. She attended Oxford in the late 1980s, and states that she never thought of herself as a "feminist," since feminists were demonized at Oxford and in the fashion world of New York City, where Sykes worked after college. It was only after President Trump's election that Sykes began to see herself as a feminist, and began to believe in feminist causes.

I realized: "That explains so, so much about the misogyny embedded in the narrative of her first book."

"Bergdorf Blondes" is both wish fulfillment for Sykes (a brunette, just like Moi) and a narrative that runs on the societal hatred and condemnation of "the dumb blonde." The story relentlessly mocks "rich girls" as "stupid and fake." The book's moments of satire are completely undercut by the patriarchal cluelessness of the narrative. It's an overall ugly novel, full of romanticized misogyny, classism, and cruel barbs against women.

I could really beat myself up over how much this book made me laugh 13 years ago. I could definitely get a "Shame Attack" like those that the characters suffer in this story. But reading 147 pages of this novel has already made me suffer enough. I don't feel like I need any more shame, so I'm being honest about my reaction instead.

I've cancelled my original 5-star rating for this book. I'm going to leave it unrated. I do not recommend this book. I definitely would not recommend this book to anyone who has suffered from an eating disorder, depression, or struggled with suicide. There are certainly ways to handle these topics with comedic insight and wit. But I don't think "Bergdorf Blondes" does it well.

This book became more excruciating with each page I turned. I cannot imagine ever reading all the way to the end. My paperback copy is already gone, and I won't be keeping my hardback copy, either. This just isn't a book I want to have in my house.


*****

Original thoughts on this book:

I read this novel in the summer of 2007, and laughed so hard in the airport that I almost missed my flight and tears ran down my eyes. I've never laughed so hard reading a book as I did reading "Bergdorf Blondes." I smile every time I think of this novel. I found a first edition hardback today at a Goodwill store in Oregon, in perfect condition. I've always owned this book as a paperback, but now I have it in hardcover too. WIN.

I've read other Plum Skyes's book, and this one is definitely the biggest flop. I'm all for a really cringey chick-lit storyline, but this novel was beyond cringe. (Trigger warning), I was rating this book two-three stars until the protagonist attempted to commit suicide. It was all downhill from there.

The Summer of 2020 is not conducive to being amused by Park Avenue Princesses, and, in any event, a lighter hand is required.

I loved this book because it is a very whimsical piece. It was a fun, light read about a high society girl living in New York. It talks a lot about fashion and friendship (that revolves around everything material: parties, shoes, clothes, private jets, etc.)

On the contrary, I don't really think it is an appealing book to everyone. I find it sort of Sex And the City / Legally Blonde / Paris Hilton / Shopaholic type of story, which at first I did not find appealing, but as I get to read the book, it became more interesting that I looked forward to reading more of it. The story is a little bit on the shallow side, which I like for relaxing, because you don't get to think much.

One of my critiques, though, is that there were a lot of abbreviations and slang terms used in the text that I wouldn't understand outright. I may get the meanings through context clues, or through trusty old google.com, but I think it's one of the downsides of the book, 'cause I didn't really get to relate fully to the text. Sure I got the gist anyway, but it would have been better if I actually knew what some of those acronyms mean, so as to get the full humor of the text.

Anyway, I still give it 5 stars :)

Light chick lit enjoyed it as a light read. Written in 2004 so not everything aged well.

“So the moral is to look like a virgin, behave however you like, and that way you will always get what you want” (84).
I adored Party Girls Die in Pearls enough to give it 4 stars. I guess it took the twelve years in between the publication of this one and the aforementioned superior text to produce quality writing for Sykes, but I am still reeling that this one was that bad! Unable to convince a library to purchase it (with good reason, I now see), I bought it myself with my limited grad student income, telling myself I would be rewarded with quality entertainment over my summer break similar to Party Girls, but alas! I highly recommend not even opening this book, but taking it back and getting Party Girls, or anything else, really. In fact, don’t even finish this review if you think it will in any way convince you to read any more! I’m such a giver!
Unwilling to call her a protagonist or heroine, as this is not even a substantial story for characters to hold those titles, our narrator, only known as Moi, lives in NY and begins to husband hunt. No, it’s not interesting like Gossip Girls, Sex and the City, etc. Yes, I realize Sykes was attempting to be satirical, but I’ll only deem satire when it’s witty, and this was just slapstick in the inanity.
Moi, who is half British, allegedly has a job, but spends most of her time shopping, attending parties, and later fiance-hunting because her best friend thinks one would look good on her arm. Moi tries out the playboy type, the married guy, the almost divorced guy, then the guy who liked her originally even though they’ve barely had any interactions and he dated her best friend (which is the only time the exclamation “Eew!” actually would make sense!). Of course, Charlie ends up being the “Little Earl” her mother has tried to marry her off to since she was young, and they have sex in the end. It definitely gave me some Pride and Prejudice vibes, but in the worst way possible. I do wonder, however, if people who read Austen’s work during the time period desired to bash their heads against a wall as people did with this book. I saw that it had launch parties and such in 2004, but that was such a weird time, where people wore velvet track suits and used their hip bones to hold up their pants. 1 star seems to be common amongst more modern readers, though.
Thoughts while reading:
Moi, you do not have a job; you had one assignment the whole book. Also, why aren’t you a blonde?! I enjoyed your manic hairdresser, George, who screamed that you needed highlights over the phone far more than you (3).
I did like Moi’s definitions of the world: “Punctual. I am up every morning at 10:30 AM and not a minute earlier” (6).
I never knew what brown signs were, but that could be useful for trivia?
Julie’s agency and self-awareness were the best part of the book: “There’s nothing more romantic than a girl who likes to be in love and is open about it” (45). Too bad none of them were actually in love…The whole book was tantamount to listening to a conversation of hormonal fourteen-year-old girls who all have ADHD. Julie is, however, able to find positivity in everything and make it gloriously backhanded: “You wedding will be my dress rehearsal—I’ll learn from your mistakes” (53). Julie is the only woman who seems to be really secure with who she is in the book: “I’m really spoiled, and very rich and exceptionally pretty, so I get to do exactly what I want [. . .]It’s okay, you don’t have to feel sorry for me. I like me like this” (298).
I had high hopes for Zach when he called Moi witty as well as pretty. All Charlie says is that she’s sweet…Plus, Charlie has no game. Spilling soda all over yourself to do a “straw trick” for a girl…But I guess they were on the same maturity level. Is Sykes trying to make a genius commentary on how little actions can endear you to a person you hardly know, or is this bad writing? I think you know my answer!
All of the talk of Brazil was nauseating. If you aren’t mature enough to call sex what it is, you shouldn’t be having it! Also, what the hell is the Amazonian jungle supposed to be?! (55). I also felt Zach was justified in getting mad that she was texting during sex. Keep in mind that in 2004, texting took a lot more effort with the different keypads!
This book is incredibly dated: The celebrities mentioned, the clothes, and, especially, the view on suicide. Sykes uses suicide as a vehicle for the love interests to get closer, then has Moi mention it every time something upsets her. I really can’t condone that idiocy. That’s not satire.
Why did Charlie even like Moi? He was fine dating her friend, he called her dramatic all the time, and he’s witnessed that she’s incredibly prone to bad decisions.
You deserve to be left somewhere if you’re an adult incapable of showing up on time….
Patrick was my second favorite character, as he was openly married and kept extending offers of fun vacations (even on holidays) to Moi amidst rejection: “ ‘What about dinner tonight, at the Carlyle?’ ‘You have to leave me alone, okay?’ ‘Colorado for Christmas?’” (237). AHAHAHA. That’s a welcome change of harassment!
Though misguided, Moi’s realizations were accurate, even if she didn’t take them: “I don’t want to get all analytical or anything, but the fact is people never change. Charlie was as fervently opposed to Bellinis now as ever” (278). Were Bellinis even that popular in 2004?!
Anyway, not worth it. I’m just really glad it was written before hostages became a trend….
I read that there was a "sequel," only to go to the description (I had to know how bad it was...) and see that it does not include any of the characters. That's not a sequel!

Gosh.
I like fluffy romantic comedies. I’ve enjoyed largely shallow entertainment about people obsessed only with appearances and dating.
But this book. Not only does it have no substance or plot or sense, but the only times it made me think were along the lines of “What a disgusting message” and “Are people really this idiotic? How are we supposed to believe they’d find ‘love’?”
And it doesn’t even make up for its shortcomings by being amusing.

[Plane read]

I wanted to jump out of the plane. It delivered on what was promised in the blurb but jesus I felt like my brain went numb reading it I’ve never read such an out of touch DUMB oblivious character in my life

Lassan kezdek rájönni, hogy mi a bajom az amerikai chick lit-ekkel, illetve azok egyik fajtájával, a glamour lit-tel, amelyben nagyon menő csajokról van szó, akik többnyire New York felső 10000-hez tartoznak, vagy legalábbis oda akarnak bejutni. Üresek. Üres az egész világuk és valahogy mindig úgy érzem, hogy még ha irónikus is próbálna lenni a szerző valahol a szíve mélyén inkább tényleg irigyli az életüket és ő maga is szeretne közéjük tartozni. Ezért utáltam annyira a Szex és New Yorkot, a könyvet előbb, aztán a sorozatból is csak vagy 3 részt tudtam megnézni, annyira felszínesnek, üresnek és hihetetlenül unszinpatikusnak találtam a szereplőket. Márpedig nekem kell legalább egy szereplő akit meg tudok kedveln.

A New York hercegnői is szatíra akar lenni, de azt hiszem az elbeszélővel van a gond. Bár ő a főszereplő, aki kicsit kívülálló ebben a hihetetlenül előkelő, divatbolond és szörnyen zárt társaságban, bár mindenáron oda akar tartozni, igazi amerikai lány akar lenni, szemben anyjával, aki meg az angolokhoz menekül. Először azt hittem, majd lesznek jópofa meglátásai és vicces helyzetekbe keveredik, s mindezt majd intelligens humorral kommentálja de ez elmaradt. Szörnyen szánalmasnak tűnt. Viszont a legjobb barátnője, aki igazi Bergdorf, szőke, gazdag örökösnő a kiváltságosok életének minden előnyével (elvégre az eredeti cím is a The Bergdorf Blondes volt) meglepően jó fejnek tűnt. Holott ő az elkényeztetett ezüstkanállal szájában született elkényeztetett nő, aki akár Paris Hilton is lehetne, mégis szimpatikus volt. Tisztában a saját határaival és megvolt a magához való esze, amit kiválóan használt. Szóval ahhoz képest, hogy eleinte valami antihősnőt vártam, sokkal jobb pontokat kapott tőlem.

Ja persze történet az nincs sok: csajok, élik az életüket, felszínes barátságok, rongyrázások, a pasik mind szemetek, kivéve az aki barátként mindig segít és titokban ő az, aki … De ez elég átlátszó trükk, nem is tartogat sok meglepetést a regény kimenetele.

Azért azt kell mondanom, hogy a könyvklubos résztől kifeküdtem. Úgyhogy azért kap vagy 2 csillaggal többet a könyv, mint amúgy adnék rá, mert határozottan hangosan felröhögtem amikor azt a részt olvastam, amikor ezek az übercsajok megpróbálkoznak elolvasni és megbeszélni egy díjnyertes regényt.

Szóval a New York hercegnői valahol ott helyezkedik el, ahol a Főnőknőm egy boszorkány (The Devil wears Prada – Az Ördög Pradat visel mint a mozikból ismerhetjük). Tucat főhősnő, semmi különleges stílus, viszont
van egy nagyon jó karakter, aki miatt nem érzem annyira idő pocsékolásnak az olvasást, mert szórakoztatott.

Eredetileg: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/20...