Fiction Fridays: Weisberger's Last Night at Chateau Maramont Puts Us in the Celebrity Hot Seat

For me, a good book is anything that I enjoy reading, period. It can be literary, "chick lit" (a term I hate more and more), romance, historical nonfiction, memoir, biography, self-help, financial--well, I have yet to read a "good" financial book in the narrative sense--classics, feminist, even teenage vampire stories (but that's another post).
I saw a comment the other day about Lauren Weisberger's novels having "the same characters, but in different situations." While I would disagree, for the sake of argument, let's just say that is true. Wouldn't that just say that she has a strong style and voice that comes through her characters? That's why we all loved Andy from The Devil Wears Prada?
Some actors only do one "character"; Hugh Grant comes to mind, or maybe Vince Vaughn. They stick with what they know, and they are damn good at it. That's how I see Weisberger; she has a strong female character who is trying to figure out love, career, family, and friendships like the rest of us, who is slightly less than perfect but completely lovable, and who is somehow associated with something glamorous (high-profile magazine, PR, famous husband) and never quite fits in because, doggone it, she has morals and standards and refuses to fall into the trappings of fame, fortune and the like.
There are differences between her leading ladies, but at the core, I like Weisberger's novels because the characters are likable and real, the situations slightly absurd, and she always gives a glimpse into worlds that fascinate me (see parentheses above).
Anyway, Last Night at Chateau Marmont, for anyone who has ever watched The Soup, E!, TMZ, that quietly moving Sofia Coppola movie Somewhere or the like, knows that this is where celebs hang out. Weisberger knows who her audience is, and she feeds us accordingly. The pace is quick, the fun balanced with quite a bit of scandal and tragedy usually caused by some horrible person like Leo, the manager of Brooke's newly famous singer husband who will do anything to get Julian, the husband, publicity.
I loved this book and found myself stealing even just five minutes to read a little bit more. It's fun without being fluffy, interesting without name dropping too much (Jon Bon Jovi does make an appearance!), and it has heart. At the center, like her other novels I have read, is the question: What kind of life do you want to live? She emphasizes the precious gift that each day is, and that we shouldn't waste it working for a horrible boss, or worrying about being mega-rich, or running around with no time to enjoy our real friends and family. I love her message and appreciate these deeper emotional elements that go beyond cool shoes or celebrity gossip. I want to hang out with Brooke, just like I wanted to hang out with Andy and Leigh and Bette from her other novels.
Looking forward to the next Weisberger treat! Here are links to all of her novels. Enjoy!
The Devil Wears Prada Everyone Worth Knowing Chasing Harry Winston Last Night at Chateau Maramont