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WordsofaReader

WordsofaReader

I talk about books to my camera on regular intervals. Sometimes people watch the results. http://www.youtube.com/user/WordsofaReader

Currently reading

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Bittersweet

Bittersweet - Melanie La'Brooy Bittersweet is the most recent published work by Australia Chick-Lit Author, Melaine La'Brooy and the only one yet unread by me come 2012. This had been sitting on my bookshelf, untouched, since I picked it up when the Borders closest to me was having its closing down sale. I had read La'Brooys other works a couple of years ago and had found them quite enjoyable and was pleased to see her latest work sitting abandoned on the bookstore shelf, ready to come home with me. The only hesitation I felt had to do with the less than appealing cover art.La'Brooys previous work had come accompanied by sweet whimsical illustrated cover art. Cover art that inspired me to delve into her work in the first place. Bittersweet; however, has a uninspiring photograph of two womens laps while they hold seemingly empty tea cups, at the same time gesturing as if they are engaged in conversation.Obviously one should not judge a book by it's cover but if I had I honestly don't think I would have ever gotten around to reading it.Luckily for me I was already familiar with La'Brooys writing and was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.I am not the biggest fan of chick-lit in general. For me to enjoy it the writing has to appeal to me and the characters have to be intelligent and relatable.To me, La'Brooy is pretty much the Australian equivalent of Meg Cabot. And what I really love about her books is the way she writes Australian locations and characters. The Majority of home grown fiction, film and television just works to re-enforce all the hideous stereo types about this country that drive me mad. Such as all Australians either live in the bush and have pet Kangaroos or spend their days by the beach drinking. La'Brooy writes universal stories and characters that just happen to take place in major Australian cities. Her characters are multicultural and her backdrops modern and believable. Absolutely brilliant!Enough background, on to the actual novel. Bittersweet follows the tale of two sisters. The eldest being Sabrina, a beautiful, glamorous, together actor who is engaged to marry her prince charming. The youngest being, Mimi, an unfit, unorganised, unemployed layabout who only just returned home after backpacking around Europe for three years. As the story progresses we learn there is much more then meets the eye when it comes to both girls and their relationship with each other.Every time I thought I had this seemingly simple piece of fluff story figured out it went and surprised me. Making me see that it wasn't as fluffy as I had originally anticipated. Sabrina and Mimi have their demons as do most of the supporting characters. The world of Bittersweet altered and grew time and again making it difficult to put down. Always pushing the reader to the next big plot point.I finished this novel over a 24 hour period and found myself almost relieved at coming to its end, finally knowing all the twists and turns, finally being able to breathe and let the characters to rest in my mind. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a follow-up to Bittersweet waiting in the wings. The sisters stories, while mostly resolved, don't feel exactly finished. I can easily see another novel following Mimi and the relationship and new career she begins at Bittersweets end as well as maybe a further look at where Sabrina's much altered life may take her.Overall I found Bittersweet an enjoyable distraction and one I am glad to have spent time with. Certainly not my favourite of La'Brooys works but one with merit none the less.