Simply Divine [Paperback]

Jane's work took a bad turn when her editor asked her to write for this in demand celebrity named Champagne. Champagne was paid generously to "write" a column but in reality Jane had to check in with Champagne frequently to write the column for her. This was basically the main theme. Particularly, her contacts with Champagne and her best friend's mansion (called Mullions) which was in ruins and Jane had to help her friend finds a rich man who could restored the mansion.

I have only two problems with the book. Firstly, the fact that Wolden makes Jane "in love" with Tom when she only had a one night stand was to me, a little far-fetched. There was a lack of development in Jane's love life except that she keeps holding out for Tom even after he had left for New York. My second problem is the secondary character, Tally, Jane's best friend. She was very unlikeable and her character I felt was not fully developed. Other than that, the book is relatively entertaining. I also enjoyed Wolden's style of writing which is very smooth and flows nicely. However, bear in mind that this is a comedy not a romantic comedy.

It plods. It bores. It irritates. It makes you want to confiscate all the writing utensils of the author so she can't strike again.

Jane is a Brit-chick who works in journalism (like all the others -- are there really NO other professions in London?) She has to follow some party girl named Champagne D'Vyne around, who has no talent except for having a big chest. I mean, she has NO career except to be "a party girl". Jane ghost-writes her column for her. This leads to what are supposed to be hilarious situations, but just leaves you wondering why Jane doesn't get some self-respect, smack Champagne and tell her to write her own column.

Jane has been left by her boyfriend Nick and is taking up with this guy Tom, who disappears to New York for most of the book. He's the luckiest character thus far.

Jane has a best friend named Tally Venery who has a falling- down estate called Mullions that she is trying to save because her family has lost its money due to her mom's New Age-ism. WHO CARES.

As if the contrived plot wasn't bad enough, it's full of terrible puns! Like "Breeding, apparently, is something that Japanese people do after cutting themselves." Is that supposed to be funny? Sorry, Wendy Holden, it's not --- like the millions of others you injected into the story. Fire your literary agent, or find a ghost-writer yourself.

Potential readers, don't make the same mistake I did! If you need a Brit-chick fix, read a Marian Keyes or Isabel Wolf novel instead.

The subject stays the same but the writing shows the difference. I expected to enjoy this book and its slaying of the foibles of the rich and famous, and I love British humour - it has an intelligence and an element of self-deprecation that charms, but the book disappoints on both counts. Bridget's narcissism was saved by the author's recognition of its absurdity, but Jane is such an insipid cipher she deserves everything she gets (including the equally dull hero).

There are some genuinely funny lines in this book. But these get lost in overkill: the oh-so-witty references become more about showcasing Holden's throwaway lines than adding anything to the story, heaven forbid the narrative interrupt the jokes. There's no subtlety; Holden seems to work from the assumption her readers are morons who need everything explained in bold type. If Jane is being ironic to a character, we aren't expected to realise this without being told so and then being shown how stupid the other character is for not getting it. Perhaps the characters are simple like us and need Jane to explain irony.

Am I taking this book too seriously? Possibly. We don't pick up these kind of books looking for deep meaning, but if this book purports to be a satire, it fails. Satire mocks yet says something significant under the humour: this has nothing to say. There's a mean spiritedness about it that lacks generosity. Good looking women are vilified as being brainless, yet Jane is consumed with envy and obsessed with looking like them. Unattractive women don't fare any better, their only value appears to be in bolstering Jane's ego. And the only men worth knowing must be gorgeous and entirely devoted to pleasing Jane without having the temerity to demand reciprocal treatment. These are perfect setups for satire, but Holden misses the mark entirely, making the fatal mistake of trying to take Jane too seriously. What is really disappointing is that these talented comedic writers seem unable to portray women except in negative caricatures - which in itself is ironic, considering the target audience is women.

Overall, the book appears to be nothing more than an exercise in uninterrupted vacuity and shallowness. ... I'm certain Holden's capable of better than this and perhaps her next book proves it, but I for one will never know.