reading this book, I've decided that What's Your Number is a miracle of a movie, having achieved what is nigh impossible for book adaptations and actually making the story ten times better.
It is one of the only reasons I've rated this book as high as I have,
But first, the good points or what the book did do better than the movie:
The companywide layoff makes much more sense than the random firing.
Not that I don't get what the movie was trying to do with that, but the fact that Delilah not sure why the movie chose to steal another character's name from this book, but it doesn't really matter, so it's not a point of favor or criticism for either of them has severance pay makes the idea that she's going weeks without worrying about looking for a job fit together a lot better.
One of the only things I could've done without in the movie is the "chase him down to confess your love" bit at the end, and though I didn't actually like the overthetop public display in the book, either, I do appreciate the effort to avoid that, even if it does make more sense for Delilah to approach Colin after having rejected him than for him to continue after someone who already turned him down.
Okay, on to my list of complaints, starting with the nitpicky:
My book is just riddled with copy errors, I was tempted to break out a red pen to make fixes, and I never, ever write in my books,
First person, present tense just drives me insane,
Moving on to story criticisms:
The embarrassment humor in this is actually worse than the movie, in my opinion, so congratulations to them for dialing it back.
I don't know why chick lit books feel the need to mimic romantic comedies on that okay, I do know why, but it simply doesn't work in this format I'd actually argue in either format, but I know some people do enjoy it.
It is just much more humorous to see someone mindlessly run outside in their underwear than it is to be forced to imagine it,
a. People dying Also not funny, but more on that later,
As someone who watched the movie first, I of course spent the book rooting for Colin and Delilah, but if I were coming into it this book fresh, I don't know
that I would.
The movie made the wise decision to eliminate Michelle, who served little purpose but to tell Delilah she's crazy for doing this and to help her find a job at the end, which resulted not only in a more authentic, closer relationship between Delilah and Daisy, but in a much more developed relationship between Delilah and Colin.
Because there is no one else to talk to, he serves as her guide through this journey, We actually get to know him and see them establish a rapport and a bond that gets you to believe in their romance when it happens.
In the book, they speak a few times and spend a weekend together, Oh, and he has nice abs and legs,
Jake Adams from the movie was just a much better way to end Delilah's arc than Nate, While Jake is clearly an elitist snob, that's really all you can accuse him of in the movie, Nate, on the other hand, is a racist serial cheater, the classic romcom "other guy" intended to make you root for the end couple, The trope may be tried and true, but it is tired at this point and especially in this story, If it's all about accepting who you are, then the relationship should end on that mature note: "You're a good person, you're just not good for me.
" And not that this is all important, but it makes the ultimate choice more romantic, more genuine, because they're not being chosen by default simply because the other person is awful.
Finally, on to my favorite section, my liberal ramblings:
Edward, Daisy's fiancé in the book, is Black and Jewish, This is awesome, or would be, except for the underlying sense of ickiness I got every time a character patted themselves on the back for being okay with this, the fact that Delilah's first question is regarding "that stereotype," and the classic insistence that Delilah and Daisy's mom is "not racist, but.
" Now, the fact that she tries to educate herself is great, I'm not taking anything away from that, and it does, thankfully, ebb off over time except for the crosses, ugh, but I couldn't shake the feeling she's the type to turn Edward into her minority shield "my soninlaw is Black/Jewish, so I can't be racist!", and that absolutely irks me.
Once again, having gay representation in this book would be awesome, Except for diving instantly into the Bury Your Gays trope, and not only is there that death and that attempt to make that death funny, but then there's the only person of color on Delilah's list.
I reiterate: people dying is not funny, and especially not when it's focused on communities that already have a higher mortality rate than average,
Mocking people with disabilities the woman with the lisp is not funny and had no place or purpose in this book,
It is Not Great to spread the idea that drug rehabilitation centers are bland, lifeless, unhelpful places staffed by people who don't even have enough expertise to recognize that someone is not actually detoxing, or that psychosis stemming from drug use is funny, because look, he thinks he's in the movie Titanic.
Ultimately, this is just an incredibly rare instance in which I'd say: "Watch the movie, don't read the book, " Typical chic flick, gets a bit cheesy and predictable at times, but VERY funny overall! A funny and enjoyable read! After sleeping with herth man, Delilah sets out on a trek to find the men of her past in the hopes of rekindling a romance with "Mr.
Right. " She has a journey across the country and back of adventure, excitement, sadness, and some great stories to tell, Along the way she gains enlightenment into herself, her past, and what she wants for her future, Although it is a fun and entertaining read, there is some depth to Delilah exploring her life choices, Originally from sitelinkhere
Having been mildly entertained by its big screen incarnation, I had expected that “Times A Lady” would at least be a fun read, with some memorable lines and a few romantic scenes that would get an old spinster like me going and content for the next few months.
I was expecting the bare minimum from this book,
Apparently, that was already too much, as it would be fair to say that the overwhelming averageness of “Whats Your Number” was a definite improvement over this waste of dead trees.
At least “Whats Your Number” had beefcake to tide everyone over “Times A Lady” consigns Colin to the telephone lines and instead offers up an assortment of guys that are far from charming or even mildly interesting.
Its not just the men that are lacking, as Delilah Darling is far from entertaining as well, With her tendency to get a little too drunk, a little too clumsy, and generally just a little too ditzy, youd think that shed fit right into the mold that Bridget Jones created all those many years ago.
Unfortunately, Bosnak is no Helen Fielding, and instead just ends up making Delilah look like one of those girls you knew back in high school that ended up pregnant way ahead of everybody else.
The harebrained schemes that Delilah thinks of in her pursuit of themen shes slept with over the years arent particularly amusing either, After the first two guys, everything just becomes an exercise in tedium and boredom, One encounter stretches the readers suspension of disbelief so thinly that it wouldnt surprise me if they decide to stop reading at that particular part of the novel.
The books overarching “moral” that you should be proud of your past mistakes because they make you who you are is standard for these kinds of books, but the long and tedious journey that Bosnak takes to get her readers there is definitely not worth it.
And the worst thing about this book There wasnt even any shirtless Chris Evans pictures scattered throughout the work to ameliorate the sheer pain of having to slog through it.
This book was absolutely hysterical! Delilah Darling reads an article about the average number of men a woman sleeps with in her lifetime, She is already far over this number atand decides thatwill be her cutoff point, When Delilah is let go from her job, and waste her numberon her revolting exboss, she decides to put her severance pay to good use and track down all the men she has slept with.
If she finds one of them worthy of a relationship, she can keep her number atwithout going over her limit and suffering a life of celibacy.
Delilah has some experiences that made me laugh out loud in her travels across the U, S. ! From buying an adorable little pup to ending up in a mental hospital, there is not one stop Delilah makes that doesnt turn into a comedic adventure.
It doesnt help that she has such a delusional naivety, Its not until she is back home and at her sisters wedding that Delilah discovers everything she ever wanted was right in front of her all along.
And to top it off, she finds out that her number was actually one short of what she thought! I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a funny, original read.
Karyn Bosnak another book that I will be picking up as soon as possible!
Firstly, I saw the movie before I read the book and that makes me a bias but I love the characters in the movie just because of Chris Evans.
Plus, who hates Chris Evans in general, RIGHT!
After the movie only I find out there was a book and I say to myself that I should read it.
I was not disappointed reading it, It is usually one way or the other like the book is better than the movie, or the opposite, In this case, I found myself reading the book even if I knew how it would end in general and I enjoy the characters and plot in the book as well.
There are many differences between the movie and the book, but the essence is still there, Delilah is quirky, slightly immature, going through a crisis regarding her job and what she wants out of life, she is afraid to accept the things that may actually be good for her, very stubborn but she is also funny and knows when to give in.
I know that some readers may find her annoying at times and I must confess I did but it was her way of acting and I understood her.
This book was great fun, light, and easy read, I read quite a number of very intensive novels, and this was a great one to use as an inbetweener when I just need a break from deep thinking by reading novels.
The book is a mixture of Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes,
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick laughoutloud read, .