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Monday, February 20, 2012

Book Review: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Hello, Book World!

Before I get started, I thought I should tell you all something about myself.

I have a brother a year older than myself. As you can imagine, he got to do everything first. He rode a bicycle before me, was able to cross the main road by himself before me and was also reading before me. My mother had subscribed to the Dr Seuss library and I was so jealous because he could read and I couldn't. It was the carrot dangling in front of my face, the motivation to learn how to read and I loved those books.

While books and I have not always had an intimate relationship, mostly due to an ineffective reading teacher in 7th grade, they have always been an essential part of my life, like music, and have been paramount in sculpting me into who I am today. While my tastes have changed, my love for the written word has not, nor do I think it ever will.

Since I am new to the world of blogging, it is going to take me some time to work all the kinks out, but please be patient with me and be gentle, at least until I know what I am doing.

With that being said, I am going to tell you about the book I just finished reading, The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen, published by Penguin books. I have been waiting quite awhile for this book having read her previous book, Falling In Love With English Boys.




Book Description:
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

My Review:
Everyone at some point has played truth or dare in their lives. I know I have, but what would you choose? A truth? Or a dare? Ella prefers a truth to a dare. While telling a truth you might not want anyone to know about could be difficult, for an invisible girl, it is safer than a dare, which could expose you to humiliation and ridicule. Ella has low self esteem, mostly from an unfortunate accident that happened when she was 7 leaving her scarred, but also from the fact the she goes to a prestigious school with the wealthy and elite while she herself is not well off. What she doesn't understand is that she is the one standing in the way of her own possibilities and that she if she wants to hold onto the boy of her dreams, she is going to have to be truthful, with herself more than anyone. I loved this book! I hope you will too.