Sunday, June 6, 2010

A Model Summer


Who isn't a little curious about the world of models. To someone on the outside, it sounds pretty glamorous: Traveling, cute clothes, being thin and pretty. I've never wanted to be a model, and after reading this, I would never want to be.

It was a really good book, hard to put down. It follows the story of Jirina, a 15 year old from Sweden who goes to Paris for the summer to be a model. It takes place in 1980, so hopefully things have changed. When she first gets there, she rooms with another girl at the home of the man who owns the agency they work with, and he has a crazy wife. Without trying to give to much away, the other girl gets busy with the husband and they get kicked out. So Jirina goes and stays with another model who she admires, only to find out she's not quite who she thought she was. Eventually things turn sour between them because no matter who you think your model friends might be, if you are getting more jobs than they are, they don't want to know you.

During all this time Jirina who claims she's a good girl drunks a lot, does drugs, have sex with to many men, and gets pregnant. So much for being a goody-goody. I got kind of annoyed that she didn't stick to her principals. Kind of felt like she gave into peer pressure. Which, I suppose probably happens a lot in that business. You'll do what you can to make someone like you and want to work with you.

I hated the ended. It doesn't give any sort of wrap up. It ends with her finding out she's pregnant and does a photo shoot with the photographer she's in love with, who may or may not love her. The author doesn't let us know if she keeps the baby or if she and Rob get together or what. That's not ok. But other than that, I really enjoyed it.

1 comment:

Rachael said...

Sounds like a good book, except I agree with you that endings like that-or no ending at all really-are not okay. Is it possible the author is going to do a sequel so she left it open ended?