Really short book, but I did have a lot of problems with it. It was very rushed, the relationships weren't developed, and yes there was instalove. There is nothing more annoying than instalove in books when it could've talked more about her development as a person in Italy. I just really don't know what to say about this book except that it was too juvenile and I didn't like how the author dealt with certain elements. This book review is courtesy of Caity's Readviews. I disliked the moral of this whole book so much, I am dreading having to spend any more time thinking about it by writing this review. I’ll try not to spend more time dwelling on this novel than it deserves, but here I go.Pretty Face (2008) by Mary Hogan is a short teen fiction novel about Hayley, a self-conscious, overweight teen– albeit, with a pretty face– in the vain land of Southern California. Hayley’s family is a little dysfunctional, with her overbearing mother constantly pressing Hayley to lose weight. To make matters worse, Hayley’s crush is interested in her best friend, not her. And then, in an uncharacteristic gesture of understanding, Hayley’s mother makes arrangements with an old college friend for Hayley to spend ten weeks of her summer break in Umbria, Italy. There, Hayley ultimately ”finds herself.” Italian culture is friendly and relaxed, time moves slowly, there is no fast food or rush hour, no televisions and computers. Hayley loses some weight by walking daily up the hills of Assisi, and in the end shares love with a gorgeous Italian boy called Enzo.While the general summary made this book seem sweet and pleasant enough for me to want to read, the underlying tone and moral of the story rather disturbed me. First of all, as someone who was an overweight teen myself, Hogan’s descriptions were often insulting and stereotypical. I don’t know how else to put it, but Hayley was gross. Everything from her smelly pepperoni burps to the way she sweat profusely at the slightest bit of walking, her make-up melting down her face (like a “Sad Clown”) and hair soaking with perspiration was just unpleasant to read about. While I had a poor body image, and was just as self-aware of my weight as Hayley, I still took myself seriously, kept good hygiene, and treated myself with respect. Unlike Hayley, I did not eat entire large pepperoni pizzas all by myself, constantly make self-deprecating jokes about the size of my butt to boys I liked, or profusely sweat and obtain blisters every time I had to walk a few yards. That’s not what it’s like to be fat; that’s probably just what skinny people (like, undoubtedly, Mary Hogan) think it’s like, as they try to capitalize off of mocking youth obesity. Overweight people can still be clean, self-respecting, polite and attractive; I don’t appreciate this author’s stereotype that they’re all disgusting and unappealing.But by far the most offensive aspect of this book is that Hayley has to lose a little weight, as well as her virginity (not to mention to a boy she just met, and will likely never see again!) before she can finally accept herself. Her self-worth comes entirely from Enzo telling her she has the “beautiful body of a woman” and “making love” to her throughout the summer. What kind of message does this send to teenage girls struggling with their body image? ‘Drop a few pounds and put out, and then you will finally feel comfortable with the Real You’? What were these publishers thinking? To Hogan’s credit, she does promote a healthier lifestyle which would be good for anyone to emulate: no TV, internet or fast food; daily walking; long and leisurely meals of fresh, local ingredients enjoyed with family and friends, the flavors savored without guilt. But once teen sex was brought into the equation, I shook my head. If these characters were adults written for an adult audience, it probably wouldn’t bother me, but these characters are minors, and this novel aimed at teens. I just felt that was the wrong road for Hogan to go down. Besides, she had spent so much time painting Hayley as this belching, jiggling, sweating, gross pig, that it was far from romantic– or even believable– to read about her sexual escapades with an attractive, young Italian man.This book was a waste of time, and I almost wish I hadn’t read it. There was not much redeeming value, the writing wasn’t spectacular, and for the record, I also didn’t appreciate St. Francis of Assisi being compared to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (for their charity efforts). The pop culture references were excessive, the jokes forced and unfunny, the descriptors of Italy lacking, the characters shallow and one-note. The only praise I can give this novel is that it was short (okay, and perhaps I learned a little bit about Italy). But in conclusion, I do not recommend this one! Mothers especially, keep your adolescent daughters away from it!Read more book reviews by Caity at caitysreadviews.wordpress.com.
What do You think about Pretty Face (2008)?
The book was an easy read, it was cute. The subject was good, but it could have been written better.
—Liljacques
mmmmh, quiero un Enzo y quiero ir a Italia.
—mojodoa
