Monday, October 19, 2009

REVIEW: THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CLUB


The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman

First I want to say a huge THANK YOU to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me the ARC for this book! 

The opening line of this book is pretty good, I have to admit:

I am the head cookie bitch and this is my party.

And the premise for the book is also not bad.  Every year a group of twelve diverse women gather to exchange cookies that they bake along with the latest happenings in their lives.  As can be expected with this kind of story each woman has something unique to bring to the table like: one has adopted a baby internationally, one has a father who is having an affair with her bestfriend, the narrator, Marnie's daughter is in the last stages of a high-risk pregnancy, that sort of thing.

I enjoyed the recipes at the beginning of each chapter, and I have to admit to the craving of cookies throughout the entire book, but the predictable and wooden dialogue left me stale.  I think I have mentioned several times on my blog that I love how an author can give a distinctive voice to each character, and in fact I believe that is one of the many markers of good writing.  Unfortunately, to me, every single character sounded the same, despite the authors attempt to give some variation in the word choices or mannerisms in some of the characters. 

Although Pearlman gave each character an issue or life circumstance, I really had a hard time caring about any of these women, despite really wanting to. 

The Christmas Cookie Club is being made into a film to be seen on television.

RATING:  1/5

9 Blabs:

Jenny said...

That's disappointing... I'm always afraid of that with these types of books (where a group of friends meet up regularly because of some group, etc.)

Unknown said...

That's too bad. When you had mentioned you were reading this book and posted the opening line I thought that it would be a great/fun read....too bad.

Carol said...

I was hoping this would be a fun December read. Oh, well.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Sorry you were disappointed by this one. I hoped it was good.

bookmagic said...

If I can't connect with the characters, I am usually disappointed by the book

Lisa said...

What a waste of a great opening line!

Unknown said...

I just finished reading the Christmas Cookie Club and I could not put it down after I started it. I found myself able to identify with several of the characters and I saw friends and family in the others. i was moved by the strength of these women, and i enjoyed the extra bonus of information on the ingredients. i think I will start my own cookie club!

Lisa said...

Hi Leslie! I know, isn't it funny how one person can see a book one way, and someone else another? I have found I have loved one book and others have not, and vise versa. I am SO glad you loved it! I wonder how true to the book the movie will be! Any idea who will play any of the characters?

Alyssa Kirk said...

Too bad. The opening line was awesome. I also hate it when all the characters sound the same. Hope the cookie recipes were worth it.

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