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Lipstick Jungle. Candace Bushnell.

Candace Bushnell wrote Sex and the City, a book about four New York singletons that ended up spawning a Mega-hit TV series and a number of commercially successful films.
Candace has written a number of novels since then ,among them Lipstick Jungle which was also turned into a TV series. This book also takes place in New York and features three uber-successful women; Victory Ford, Wendy Healy and Nico O’Neilly

I liked the series, so when I saw the book I grabbed it. Big mistake.

The book starts off well enough, establishing Victory as hot new designer, Wendy as president of Parador Pictures and Nico as editor of Bonfire magazine, the city’s style bible. We also discover that Victory’s last collection has just bombed, Wendy’s Twelve- year marriage is on the rocks and Nico is guilty of an extra-marital affair with an underwear model . After that the book falls apart.

Unlike the TV series which manages to resolve or at least prolong each conflict situation and still keep you interested, with clever storylines and brilliant acting the book menders around taking the reader from one crisis to the next where nothing is ever really solved and no one is ever really happy. All the time banging on about how women can have it all, which according to this book is clearly not the case

This is one instance where the TV Series is better than the book

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For nearly two decades i have been an avid reader/reader/admirer of your novels.

I devoured your books, I ate, dreamed and lived for Dr. Kate Scarpetta. I even had a little crush on her, she was fearless, on top of everything and well prepared. They were
sooo clever, so well researched, so captivating. The perfect psychological thriller, with of course the forensics pathological angle.

So, what went wrong????? Your first eight/nine novels were great. Even your Portrait of a Killer-Jack the Ripper. That was an awesome piece of research!
Pete Marino became an alcoholic rapist, your niece, Lucy Farineli, from a dysfunctional family, raging lesbian (no offense, i am sure she is comfortable) took over Dr. Scarpetta's
investigations, etc. etc..everything became just so watered down. And then we were tortured with your Andy Brazil and Win Garano series. What happened Ms Cornwell, ran out of ideas???

I believe Angelina Jolie are set to portrait Kay Scarpetta in the the two Win Garano novels. Well, i rest my case, not that I believe she is too skinny or nowhere to portrait Scarpetta, but because i think you have lost the plot and the will and maybe your devotion to your loyal readers...money is not everything that counts ....

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Short Story about the blog

- Boss creates website
- Boss creates blog on website
- Boss asks staff to contribute to the blog monthly
- 16 months and 20 blogs later ...
- Boss asks ... What blog?
  
   hmmm....go figure

A moment with Vincent ... again

A while back I decided I wanted to try my hand at growing some veggies in the back garden. Of course the fact that I did not have a clue how this was done was a bit of a problem. So I got a book and started educating myself. Several weeks and a pile of books later, my beautiful wife, in her earthly wisdom, asked if I was planning on doing a dissertation on gardening? So off I huffed, spade in hand. I got a load of composted horse manure and started laying out neat beds for the veg. We still have not planted anything, but that is being planned for this weekend. ( now that the sweaty bits are done, it has become "OUR" project). But here is the interesting bit; I have really enjoyed myself in a way that is difficult to put into words. It was much more than the simple joy of achieving what you set out to do. it was like the digging, sweating and wrestling with the soil - to pour your intent into it had a centering and calming effect. It was like meditating with your body instead of your mind. Sure, my muscles were stiff in the morning, but WOW I slept like a king! So if you are suffering from insomnia, stress or just need to cut down on grocery expenses; I suggest you come down to the shop and have a look at our gardening section. You will dig it!

See you later carrot grater!

Apple: Pssssst........
Orange: What?
Apple: I can see vegetables
(whispering)

Cheeeeeeese!
The Cape Town Team

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Erika Becker
Manager
Columbine Square Branch

Any title by Lee Child
When life is too much and your cat hates you, Lock the door, switch off the phone and reach(er) for Jack…Chocolate for the soul!

Her Fearful Symmetry by Aubrey Niffeneger
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The grand complication by Allen Kurzwell
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The Wizard Knight by Gene Wolf
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“Don’t read this book and all the cool people will laugh at you!”-Neil Gaiman

Jam every other day by Emmaleen Kriel
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“Now pick up your ‘Vorpal blade’ and revisit a childhood favorite. Re-read Alice in wonderland and Alice through the looking glass and remember…Have jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today”

Manfred Schmidt
Relief Manager

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Robert McBroom
Assistant
Mountainview

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Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
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Almiria Wilhelm
Manager
Parkview Branch

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The final empire by Brandon Sanderson
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Starbook by Ben Orki
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Janine Redelinghuys
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Parkview

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Striptease by Carl Hiaasen
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The Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett
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Santesia Thomas
Assistant
Plattekloof (CPT) Branch

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
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The last Dragonlord by Joanne Bertin
The fantasy book is in touch with everything, from dragons and mystics to romance and humour. It engrosses you in an exhilarating plot, with unforgettable characters you will fall in love with.

Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
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Torben Edgson
Manager
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Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
If you haven’t already, go read this book now! Amazingly clever completely and massively twisted and incredibly funny in an edge-of-suicide way. This is a book that can be read over and over again, each time becoming more significant and hilarious.

The Dexter Series by Jeff Lindsey
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Chantel Arnesen
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Sunningdale

Map of Bones by James Rollins
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Savage Beast by Tim Ward
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A little Light on Spiritual Law by Dianne Cooper
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Melissa Cullen
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Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
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Robert Hunter
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