Comments on: REVIEW: Everything Nice by Ellen Shanman

By: Jayne

Jayne — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:08:06 +0000

I will definitely read this author again though because the style and prose were great.

I just bought another one of her books and hope to start it soon. I know that people’s perception of humor will vary vastly but she had me laughing out loud throughout “Everything Nice.”

By: Kaetrin

Kaetrin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:36:18 +0000

I just finished this book.

I totally agree with your comments about Grace.

I liked Mike’s humour – actually reminded me a lot of Eve Dallas.

I enjoyed the book a lot but at the end, it left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. I think that is because I wanted more of Mike and Gunther together. For me, the HEA has to have a bit more “substance” to be really enjoyable.

I prefer stories where the protagonists spend more time together. eg, I hated Sleepless in Seattle and Serendipity (the movies) because the h/h were hardly ever together and they kept “missing” each other. It just frustrated me. I like movies like Pretty Woman and Kate & Leopold where the characters are mostly together – same with my books. In this book, I was like, “oh, when are they gonna get together already!!!”

I will definitely read this author again though because the style and prose were great.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:58:03 +0000

Lleeo, sorry to have raised and dashed your hopes. Mike and Grace are both heterosexuals. Grace is a fantastic character. Every school could use one like her.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:55:08 +0000

Susan, you make a good point. And Shanman doesn’t trash NYC nor have her heroine long to head back home to a small town. Mike is a native New Yorker, loves the city and has no intention of living elsewhere.

By: Lleeo

Lleeo — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:53:41 +0000

Hee, for a second you got me excited that this was a lesbian romance between the unconventional new teacher (Mike, who sounds like such a great character) and Grace the principal (that biology comment was hilarious!). I am crestfallen. How could you do this to me, Jayne? That imaginary book had good promise! Now, where can I find it?

But this book sounds good, too. I might just pick it up. ^_~

By: Susan/DC

Susan/DC — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:49:23 +0000

I’d buy it simply because it’s based in a big city and doesn’t trash it. To have Brooklyn be the stand-in for the usual small town is just great. I’m so tired of the assumption that if you live in a major metropolitan statistical area you don’t know your neighbors, are miserable, and have no values.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:33:20 +0000

No, but I would have definitely hired her to write a series of articles for a teen magazine based on her lectures!

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:05:07 +0000

Well, Mike doesn’t end up changing the world that much. She just subs for about a month or two until the regular teacher is back on his feet. She ends up being much more at ease with the students but she’s definitely not going to make a career change based on this experience.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:05:59 +0000

At both the school districts in Texas I worked in you just needed 60 hours of College to substitute. As a former teacher I shy away from books about teachers who change the world, but this one sounds fun.

By: DS

DS — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:56:51 +0000

In Kentucky, at least in two counties I am aware of, all you need is a four year degree in anything and they will hire you as a substitute– public school even.

Forgot to say I’m interested in this one. Mike sounds like someone I would like to hang out with.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:47:37 +0000

I just finished this this weekend, and agree–it’s a really good read. It’s also a smart book.

Mike teaching without a license didn’t bother me as I went to a private school where the requirements are looser–we had a young alumni with a science degree and previous career in ballet and modern dance teaching English, for example.