Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too young for adults, too old for teens??, 15 May 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
Harriet Rose is a slightly irritating 14-yr-old girl; naive, overconfident and always feeling she has something important to say. Completely unlike other teenage girls, her hero is Marcus Aurelius, a 1st century Roman emperor who is considered to be one of the most important Stoic philosophers. In imitation of Aurelius's literary monument, Meditations, Harriet has been composing philosophical reflections on life for some time. When her father dies she feels even more compelled to write these meditations. In the weeks leading to her 14th birthday, her mother asks what present she would like, she answers by asking her to make a donation to charity! Instead, her doting mother and grandmother decide to have Harriet's collection of meditations secretly published and present them to her on her birthday. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it doesn't stop there. Harriet's mother has decided to become her publicist and her grandmother has taken the role of sales rep. Together they vow to get Harriet's book into every bookstore! Harriet soon finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of television appearances and launch parties, but is it all it's cracked up to be?
This book has been compared to Sue Townsend's `Adrian Mole' or Mark Haddon's `The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'. I think it is definitely more Adrian Mole in that much of this book's humour is at the main character's expense. However, I found I was smiling rather than laughing out loud, as I did at Adrian Mole. The press releases suggest that this book has a "cross generational appeal", but unfortunately I disagree with this. I think this book doesn't really know what it is - too young to appeal to adults but too adult to appeal to teens. All that said, I did enjoy reading it.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Appeals to females remembering lost youth and what might have been, 18 April 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
When I started to read this book,it seemed to me that it was more for teenage girls than adults. I persisted in reading the book and gradually fell under its charm.
Harriet Rose wrote a collection of meditations which her mother and grandmother paid to have published for her 14th birthday. The meditations are delightful as is Harriet's honesty with those around her and more especially to herself.
Diana Janney has a humourous touch and almost makes Harriet credible - Harriet's story is that of growing up, falling in love and overcoming jealousy. Many of us will remember our own difficulties as teenagers but in this instance Diana Janney's sense of humour lightens the problems and the obvious love of her mother and grandmother helps her to cope with the sudden stardom thrust on Harriet after the book wins a competition.
All in all, a book to enjoy whether you are a teenager or an adult but probably best if you are female...
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
delightfully entertaining!, 6 April 2008
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
What a very refreshing read this was! I really liked it very much. A female version of Adrian Mole in a way. Harriet Rose is a teenager who lives in London with her Mum and her Nana after the early death of her Dad. She has been writing thoughts and meditations down since she was 12, and as a 14th birthday present, her Mum and Nana have her writings published under the title 'The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose'. She touches many chords with her musings, and against the odds, the book becomes popular. Harriet has to cope with her schoolmates' jealousy, snobbery from book-sellers, press intrusion, her arch-nemesis Charlotte, who tries to inveigle her way into Harriets' fame, as well as trying to poach Jean Claude, the fit French boy who Harriet is SO not interested in! All this, a champagne and orange juice launch party, a free weekend in the country at a top hotel, television appearances, radio interviews, and then a guest speaker spot at the PTA meeting!! The price of fame!! The question is - is it worth it? Has Harriet compromised her beliefs, is she being used by an unscrupulous head teacher? These are just some of the questions and doubts in Harriets mind. Fortunately she has her Mum and her Nana working with her, and they don't let her down.
This was a very entertaining, enjoyable book, funny, poignant, sad, and very likeable. A real treat!!
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