Lipstick Jungle: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 2007

I usually expect Candace to provide sharp, witty satire and interesting entanglements among New York's social jetset, but <i> Lipstick Jungle </i> failed to impress. Wendy, Nico, and Victory are not a cohesive unit. The novel lacks banter, warmth, and motor. It is, for lack of a better word, listless and plotless. And it ends without any of the satisfaction or humour of Bushnell's earlier work.

I know she writes a story that many like to hear, the rise and fall of the rich and famous. I do like her nominally present under-current of female power in a male dominate world. however I found her story predictable, rudimentary and stilted. To me this was like picking up a magazine a reading a small line story.

I'm disappointed. While the writing in Lipstick Jungle is witty, and I sped through the book in two days, I don't think I liked it very much. I say that because I thought it was just way too full of stereotypes, and the characters just weren't that sympathetic.This book is all about the glass ceiling. What women can't do that men can. It's a bunch of women who want to be men, but also want to be women, too. Maybe it's because I'm not a first generation feminist, and I saw my mother struggling to "have it all," but while I bear nothing but admiration for the bra-burners of my mother's generation, gosh darnit, I don't think I want to try to have it all the way these characters do.Wendy was the one who made me the angriest. Yeah, her husband was a wimp, but (spoiler alert!) the way she reacted when she was talking to her lawyer just killed me. I wanted to shake her. Wendy. You. Can. Not. Work. 70. Hours. A. Week. And. Still. Be. The. Primary. Caregiver. Especially. When. Your. Husband. Is. A. Great. Full-time. Father.Like, duh.But I digress.The other ladies in the book weren't as infuriating. But it struck me that all the men were either dumb, or weak, or stupid, or something else that makes them unnecessary.I think this book was trying to do something for the women's movement, but what, I can't figure out. Showing a bunch of women who are already massively successful resorting to underhanded trickery, whining, and other bad behaviors to get even further ahead while emasculating their husbands doesn't seem to me to show women in a good light.

If you're in the mood for solid chick-lit entertainment, then "Lipstick Jungle" is for you. This is the second book by Candace Bushnell that I've read (the other being "Sex and the City"), and it's definitely the better of the two. "Lipstick Jungle" chronicles the lives of three highly successful, 40-something women who are living the high life in New York City. The group is comprised of Victory, a fashion designer on the brink of big-time success; Nico, a magazine editor aspiring to take over her boss's job; and Wendy, a movie producer looking to add a few more Oscars to her mantle. Each woman struggles with balancing her personal and professional life, and of course there are plenty of romantic entanglements. I probably would give the book a higher rating if not for the fact that 99% of everything that happens to these women is completely unrealistic, and that the ending feels very rushed and leaves a bit to be desired. Still, I enjoyed the book. It was a quick read and it held my attention the entire time. Hopefully Bushnell's next book will be even better.

I purchased this book for i believe under $8.00 from AMZ. $8.00 or $7.00 (Hardcover Edition Brand New) free shipping and no tax. I love a good bargain. But i kind of regret it. Those few dollars gave me nothing but a world of pain. Candance writes decent. I give her 1 star for being able to write over 200 pages, but that's it. That's the only accomplishment here. The book is just very JUMPY it keeps going from scenario to scenario in an odd pacing. Because of this it came out to be a difficult READ! Also i know she tries to show the fabulous life of girls in Manhattan and if anyone lives in NYC you will know life is glamorous only to a certain extent. Anyways, the way she writes about these characters you end up just not feeling a thing for them. They are not very likeable people or people anyone would root for. I believe in Chick Lit it's all about rooting for the underdog and not characters that come off as shallow and vapid. I thought I would enjoy this because of the price and regret every minute of it. Getting through the 1st chapter was just slow torture. I also had another Candace book called 4 Blondes which was a mess of a READ as well. In all honesty I purchased her books because she was the creator of SATC and in the end she really has nothing interesting to offer literature fans of the world.

I got interested in reading chick lit after reading The P.I.G. Mantras by Romina Wilcox. I picked up this book because it's a story about a women's struggle in a corporate world. In contrast, Lipstick Jungle is more of a story if you want to escape since the characters did not arrived at a "realization" as in The P.I.G Mantras. Here, the characters are high powered women in New York (Victory, Wendy and Nico). The story shows how women has to work harder in a high powered world, dealing with opposite sex may they be their colleagues, spouses or someone significant. But as in The P.I.G. Mantras, these women have their own mantra. And that is to remain strong and to develop a good relationship with colleagues. If you want to escape while on the cruise to Bahamas, this book will complete your enjoyment.

A good book on how women rule - if they have the strength, education, and the balls, Candace included the foibles and how to overcome them. Girl Power at it’s finest!

Good Candace Bushnell, portrays New York as only she can. Her books are fun to read, especially if you read all of them. Definitely a "trip".

With a 21st century edit this book would be really great. I loved the story, the reality of life, the rawness and how friendships come before anything, but it is rather dated in some ways. To read that, to be a successful woman is, to be like a man. As if success was defined by gender.

I found this book ok nothing really wrong with it but no twists or turns that get you hooked.I engaged with all three of the characters but found the ending very rushed I had to go back to check I hadn't missed anything as it seemed to hop from one time period to six months later without any reason as from what I was reading nothing really significant happened to warrant a big jump in time.I wouldn't personally recommend it was just a bit of a dull read which never really went anywhere

Great to read a book based on the older woman being smarter.Old is 40s good to read if you have worked hard for a few decades

I really enojyed this novel by Candace Bushnell. It gave the reader a glimpse of the world of New Yorks most powerful women - the tactics, the bitchiness and their lovelives. Enjoyable and entertaining.

Great book

Very good read and great likeable characters. Chic lit at its best

Great series. Shame they did not finish it.

Nice

Entertaining

An enjoyable read. Easy page turner and interesting characters . Great fun. Will try another book by the same author.

Took me a while to get into it, but after a few chapters, I couldn't put it down. Love Candace Bushnell

Love Candace Bushell

Es war ein Geschenk, leider hat es der beschenkten Dame nicht so gefallen. Sie meint die Story ist sehr durchwachsen und zieht sich etwas lang hin..

Love this book, read countless times over the years.

Unterhaltsames Lari Fari...gut auf Reisen zu lesen, nichts mitnehmendes...Serie war besser, kommt ja aber leider auch nicht mehr, schade schade....