« MOVIE NEWS: The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing | Main | Gulp! »
September 6, 2006 7:33 AM
BOOK REVIEW: How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life by Kaavya Viswanathan
I know, I know, I'm reviewing this very late in the day, but I bought it (in Canada) after reading that all copies had been pulled and so it was selling for up to $100 on ebay. In reality, you can buy it on Amazon from £1.50. So I need to get my money's worth from somewhere.
Plus I've read a lot about the Kaavya Viswanathan scandal, but very little about whether it's actually a good book, so I decided to go ahead and read it. Hop over the cut to see what I thought.
I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Now I know chunks of it were plagiarised, but what wasn't pinched (as far as we know) was the basic storyline and, in my opinion, it's a good one. Opal Mehta has worked towards Harvard her whole life (full disclosure: this reminded me a little too much of Rory Gilmore for comfort, but let's brush that aside). The one thing Opal's never thought about is fun so when at her Harvard interview the Dean of Admissions asks her what she enjoys doing she's stumped. Afraid that the family dream is in danger, Opal's parents instigate operation HOWGAL - How Opal Will Get A Life, buying teen magazines, taping TV shows like The O.C., listening to 50 Cent and giving Opal a stunning makeover. And it works, for a time, but we all know that she's going to have to realise she needs to be herself, don't we?
I liked Opal and I really liked the love interest Sean Whalen, but the best thing about this book for me was Opal's parents. I really think they are a great comedy creation and it's a shame we'll never see them on the big screen (since, of course, Viswanathan's film deal with Dreamworks was cancelled along with her publishing contract).
It's also interesting to read this book knowing how it parallels Kaavya Viswanathan experience. Like Opal, she attends Harvard and, like Opal, she's now been involved in a scandal that surely has everyone in college whispering about her. Plus, like Opal, she should have just been herself rather than trying to copy someone else. Ha! You see, it could have all just been a clever promotional idea (if it hadn't been for all the books being withdrawn from sale).
Still - this may be an unfashionable opinion, but I feel sorry for Viswanathan. She is so young, she got a huge (and therefore hugely intimidating) contract, she was presumably under immense pressure to deliver a saleable book and she made a series of really stupid mistakes. But you'd have to be pretty heartless to read 'This is her first novel' on the back of the book and, knowing it's likely to also be her last, not feel a little bit sad.
If you like this, try The Make-up Girl by Andrea Semple or The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart (try it even if you don't like this cos it's fab).
Came straight to this page? Visit www.trashionista.com for more female fiction news, reviews and interviews.
Posted by Keris on September 6, 2006 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Girly Stuff, Modern Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Romance | Permalink
Comments
Maybe you should also say "If you like this you'll like Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty"...
But I don't mean to be nasty - I actually agree with you. I'm a McCafferty fan and I found this book very different, but equally enjoyable. I squirmed slightly at the descriptions of Sean Whalen because he's a little too much like Marcus Flutie for comfort - in fact, I think it was the similarity in these characters that alerted fans to the suspect passages.
But I agree that this was a great book and there are some hilarious, ORIGINAL one-liners, and Kaavya Viswanathan clearly has talent. And I really think it's a great shame if her writing career is over.
Posted by: Luisa | September 6, 2006 10:00 AM
I may have to do a second chance review on this one Keris! My biggest issue reading this (and when I did I had no idea about the plagiarism accusations so was reading with an open mind) was that the whole thing read like 'Mean Girls: The Novel' with a bit of Clueless thrown in for good measure. When I heard that she'd been ripping off all and sundry, it didn't surprise me in the slightest because - though readable - the book was just like every other teen novel and teen movie I've ever seen or read.
And all the namechecking did my head in. It's like she swallowed Sephora.
Posted by: Gemma | September 6, 2006 10:09 AM
Luisa: "Marcus Flutie" - haha! That is *not* a sexy name! I haven't read any Megan McCafferty yet. Want to though.
Gemma: Well, I haven't seen Mean Girls (yet) so I can't comment on that, but I don't think you can say it was just like every other teen novel. While lots of books are about 'getting a life', the actual plan and her parents' involvement is what made it different IMO. But I look forward to your second chance review! (And how cool are you reading it pre-scandal!)
Posted by: Keris | September 6, 2006 11:09 AM
I'm not cool, I just don't read enough scandalous reporting!
I did like her parents, they were my favourite characters. But really you must watch Mean Girls and hopefully then you'll see what I mean. All the rules and so on that the friends had were lifted straight from a scene in the film.
Posted by: Gemma | September 6, 2006 11:28 AM
Mean Girls is great, you should watch it Keris!
(I'm going to have to do a second chance review of The Jane Austen Book Club at some point btw!)
Posted by: DIANE SHIPLEY | September 6, 2006 1:19 PM
It's on my Lovefilm list, don't worry. Everytime one flops on the mat, David goes, "Not another chick flick!" "But it's for work!" Heh heh.
Then do I get to do a third chance review of The Jane Austen Book Club, Diane? ;)
Posted by: Keris | September 6, 2006 1:46 PM
well I too personally liked the novel....except that it was a bit too 'me' types....I mean Opal, the girl, was too much highlighted in the first person...
If someone can give me the SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW of this book pls....i need it for a project hehe...
like theres so much cultural shock, so many croos-cultures, cultural comparisons, roles and status in the society,,,,
if anyone can pls find it and mail me to me...i'll be really glad!
my mail ID is sapanv4u@gmail.com
thanx
Posted by: Sapan Verma | August 4, 2007 8:13 PM
Post a comment
Required fields marked by *