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Bling
A Novel
by Erica Kennedy

8.6 based on 10 reviews read critic reviews how did we calculate this? based on 6 votes read user comments rate this book

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A small town girl becomes a hip hop diva. It's "Glitter" in novel form.

Miramax, 528 pages
06/16/2004
$24.95

ISBN: 1401352154

Fiction
General Literature & Fiction

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

Booklist Vanessa Bush

Kennedy, a fashion and entertainment writer, has a strong feel for character, dialogue, and the pulsing life of the hip-hop music scene. [15 May 2004, p. 1580]

The Independent Kevin Le Gendre

Kennedy, whose insider knowledge is endorsed by a career as a Vibe and In Style scribe, is a punchy storyteller who unfurls her satirical narrative like an epic gossip column, letting all the industry sugar sparkle and rot in equal measure.

The New Yorker

In this gleeful satire of the hip-hop glitterati, a girl from the sticks comes to New York to make it big and risks losing her soul along the way

USA Today

Although somewhat juvenile in tone, Kennedy's narrative moves swiftly and is filled with memorable characters

The New York Times Book Review Sia Michel

Though it's often funny, ''Bling'' is wildly overlong at 509 pages. Mimi doesn't hit enough lows to earn her happy ending. The implicit critique of mainstream hip-hop culture -- that all anyone cares about is money, fame and looking hot -- is old news, the complaint of rappers who don't sell records. And it's undermined by the lavish descriptions of parties and couture clothes.

Library Journal Nancy Pearl

It's no surprise that reading Kennedy's oversized first novel is akin to reading Us Weekly and In Style, since she writes about entertainment and Fashion for both magazines. [July 2004, p. 71]

Publishers Weekly

A firmer editorial hand could have chopped out a couple hundred pages and made the tale sleeker and just as lip-smacking.

Boston Globe Joanne A. Skerrett

Bling is pure voyeurism, and it's easy to become engaged by this hip-hop version of the classic rags-to-riches story. It has hubris, tragedy, and comedy, but it lacks the depth that would make for more than a snappy summer read.

Daily Telegraph Helen Brown

Hip-hop has always been about selling a fictionalised black urban experience for some serious dollars, and Kennedy has done just that. But I'd rather spend my holiday this year jumping around to some hot, phat beats than wading through the predictable plot and lukewarm prose of this unpackably fat book.

Kirkus Reviews

Bling is just plain bland.

The average user rating for this book is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Kula D. gave it a10:
This book was great. It gave readers the chance to go behind the scenes in the hip hop industry. Who doesn't want to go there. Kennedy did a great job of putting together the different characters and their individual life stories. The personalities of the characters identify with people that we all know. I didn't think that the book was too long, because all of the chapters added to the story line. There wasn't anything that I can think of that this book was missing. It was all around a great read. People who have an interest in urban reads will definitely like this book. For Kennedy's first book she sure did a better job than some authors who have been at it for years.

Jennifer O gave it an8:
I glanced through this book in the store a few weeks ago and put it down. The second time seeing it I decided to give it a try...and I am glad I did. I am now in the middle of reading it and it is an adventure - every day I look forward to reading the next part. Only downfall is sometimes the writing style is hard to follow (often seems to switch from 1st person to narrative voice). But otherwise, Bling has all the makings of a great story - it is humorous, dramatic, surprising twists, sometimes hard core, etc. A great summer read! I am anxious to see how it will end. Also hope to see it on the big screen one day.

jennifer h gave it a9:
I don't usually drop my life to read a book. Erica's book was to me - a down home white mom of 2 - with my own business - just downright fun to read. Somehow I came across the advance reading copy - i don't know what came of the published version, but I do know that this girl has definately got what it takes to weave a story. Erica, kudos to you - I very much enjoyed your book and look forward to other works by you!

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