Jemima J

I just finished reading a book called Jemima J and it's described as "a novel about ugly ducklings and swans."

The book starts out with a big woman who works at a semi dead end job and is in love with a gorgeous colleague (Ben). Typical fashion she has had few to none amorous excursions, has very little self esteem, and absolutely no social life. Also in her office is another gorgeous female colleague (G) who likes to find rich men and date them becuase of the things she gets, but she is essentially a nice person as long as you can deal with the self obsessiveness that these types of people have. A couple chapters into the book after you have gathered the depths of this woman's sadness she starts to befriend G and Ben and they actually form solid friendships. During this time Jemima has also discovered the internet and online dating and has been chatting with a man (B) from LA, she's in London. Then, Ben ends up getting a better job and leaving the office. Around this same time Jemima has realized that she's sent a model like picture to B and she is no way lives up to that. So she joins a gym and over a number of months stops eating and works out 3 hours a day. Thus she becomes a 120 pound woman on a 5' 7" frame. Tiny! I mean I get excited when I hit 120 on my 5' 3" frame, which come to think of it I don't think I ever have because as a swimmer I have these lovely man muscles that weigh stuff! lol

After remaking herself she flys out to LA to see B and decides she falls in love. She takes off 3 months of work and blah blah blah she's this gorgeous thin girl who's in love with this fabulous LA hunk who's rich and gives her everything she wants and yet she's not happy. She also hasn't talked to Ben since he left her office and she realizes she misses him. Ben is also realizing he is missing Jemima but he has become a famous reporter and therefore has all these woman throwing themselves at him so it doesnt matter. THen he gets an interview in LA. At the same time Jemima has realized something huge about B and learns why she wasn't happy. Par for the course Ben and Jemima find each other in LA after loads of JUST missing each other and have one wonderful night before Ben has to fly back to LA. ANyway you can probably assume how the book ends because it is the epitomy of the feel good, romance, life is never greener on the other side, love yourself no matter what lessons.

Beyond being horrible in the story itself because of the total predictability the point of view switches from Jemima to Ben to third person, to narrator and back sometimes by paragraphs, sometimes by lines, sometimes by chapters.

I enjoy a good typical book. I also love romance and everyone ending up happy. But the fact is we all know that what your body looks like doesn't make you happy and that having everything isn't needed to be happy. I understand that sometimes you need a reminder but this book just seemed like a waste and made me angry because of what this girl went through to learn this. Definetly go to the gym if you don't like your body, but don't starve yourself and make yourself unhappy to achieve a good body. Do what makes you feel good. Go after the gorgeous guys but make sure you are going after someone you really like, unless you're looking for something else.

I understand this is easier to say than do. Trust me I'm still trying to figure it all out as well. And I go to the gym to find the better body!! But let go and enjoy life! Cause it's too short to be unhappy.

The one thing this book did give me and I liked was Jemima said at the end that even though it was an interesting route she was excited she made the decision to change becuase if you don't then you won't. And that might be the real truth of the book. We've all heard that quote about if you don't decide to change your destination, then you will end up in the path that you're already going. Or something like that....