I picked this book up from a selection a friend donated to raise money for animal welfare here in Egypt. It is not really my kind of book, but I thought I would give it a go. It turned out to be a book that mirrored my own feelings of myself at the point of reading it. A troubled soul trying to make sense of herself, trying to accept the way she looks and appears to others even though she doesn't connect with the person people think she is.I have hit age 35 and although I know I have achieved a lot, it is the post children, 5 years from 40, feeling like I am 25 at most that is doing my head in. I think I have loads of energy, until I come to do energetic things. I think I can spring up from the beanbag as graceful and effortless as I used to, but again I can't. I know 40 is not old, but it is not 25. I have always had issues about the way I look and although I do not have a facial disfigurement such as Charlotte, the trials and tribulations that she goes through, I can relate to on some level, as any woman (maybe men too) can.We live in a very shallow world, where the way you look and dress is used to either build you up or knock you down. This world has been depicted beautifully by Ms Monroe. She has captured the inner turmoils of accepting yourself and your choices in life, no matter what they cost you, including those closest to you. Are you willing to hide yourself away or face the world? Are you willing to accept the way you are or risk losing everything you have worked for? This is the choice Charlotte has to make. Even if you are happy with the way you look, you could very easily use this story to analyse another area of your life you are unhappy with. Ask yourself the same questions Charlotte asks herself. You could place yourself in Michael Mondragon's position. Is he willing to stop running from his past and accept his choices? Are you?A powerful novel in the most surprising of ways. If you are looking for a quick read with a big impact, then read it. It took me 3 evenings to read, but I am a fast reader. Take it on holiday with you, or hide away in your pyjamas over the weekend with it. Either way, it's a good read, especially for those that can see beyond the superficial ;)
"Girl in the Mirror" is one of those Jackie Collins-lite books; a mixture of Lifetime movies, soap operas and Jacqueline Susanne. I occasionally have an urge for such type a book and I have to say that this was an entertaining one! The story was rather engaging, the characters were just about as good as they could be for this type of book (I don't mean that disparagingly in any way), and it was an easy, breezy read. Yes, a lot of it is implausible and the surprises really aren't, but it's pure fun and fluff! :)3.5 stars
What do You think about Girl In The Mirror (2004)?
The books that I've read from this author has been more about conservation issues. This one is quite different. The main character--Charlotte--was born without a pretty face. She was teased and bullied until she was 18. That was enough for her! So, she went to a plastic surgeon & had a makeover. She then went to LA to see the world & hopefully, be an actress. Her life was wonderful & she was having so much fun until she started getting headaches & other health issues. Could these be due to her plastic surgery? Is there anything such as being allergic to the tissues that the doctor used?Monroe said that she wrote this book when women first started getting facelifts and other plastic surgery. She updated this book & added other social issues such as AIDS & a person's sexual preference.
—Suzanne
