Friday, August 21, 2009

Review: Ms. Taken Identity by Dan Begley


I have recently seen many book bloggers praise Dan Begley for writing a chick lit book. I find this really strange, since Ms. Taken Identity is not a chick lit novel. Yes, it is true that Begley's protagonist writes a novel about fashion, makeovers and women. But Dan Begley himself has written something far more rarer, especially for an American writer - an easy-to-read book about life, women and relationships written from a man's point of view, also known as a lad lit novel.

Ms. Taken Identity is about Mitch Samuel, an academic whose life is not the way he wants it to be. His dissertation on the subject of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is moving too slowly, he has a new student who is bugging the hell out of him, his girlfriend broke up with him. On top of that, the manuscript for his serious, epic novel has been turned down everywhere. Soon enough, a serendipitous moment unites Mitch with Katharine Longwell, the best-selling chick lit author, to whom he spins a story about a fictional cousin who has just finished a book. Smitten by Mitch, Katharine offers to help Mitch's cousin get the book published, and now it's up to him to write the novel in record time. Things get even more complicated when he goes about trying to understand women by taking dance classes and one woman in particular catches his eye.

In its genre, Begley's debut novel is a great read. It is obviously no literary fiction, but it is a fun, exciting ride from start to finish. The author breathes life into his characters - Mitch is a bitter academic in need of a personality makeover. Even when he does atone for his actions, he does not lose that fun, sarcastic note he has had since the very start. Also, the character of Katherine is a lot of fun to read, as she is a two-dimensional character at first, until Mitch realizes she may not be so trivial at all, which is when we can see there is certain depth to who she is and what she does.

The most impressive thing about Ms. Taken Identity, however, is the way Begley blurs the lines between the genres. Using the stereotypical chick lit elements, he writes a lad-lit novel, thus making us wonder if Mars and Venus are really that far away from each other. There is a little bit of Nick Hornby here, especially when it comes to posing as a different person as a result of your own insecurities, as well as Tony Parsons, most evidently in scenes between Mitch and his estranged father. However, Ms. Taken Identity is a work of Dan Begley - a witty, talented writer, whose debut novel suggests that he is not far away from becoming American lad lit royalty.

RATING: 5/5

Thanks to Dan Begley and Melissa Bullock.

19 comments:

Amanda said...

That cover is very startling.

Nikola said...

Startling? I think it's cute :)

Alyssa Kirk said...

I like the cover. It is startling in that I saw the fuzzy slippers and didn't get that it was a guy until I noticed the hairy legs.

Sounds like a good read. I need fun a lot more than I need literary!

FYI, Nikola, we gave you a Super Comments Award. Congrats and here's the link...

http://teensreadandwrite.blogspot.com/2009/08/another-award-awesome.html

Lisa said...

Huh. I'm not a huge fan of chick lit, but Lad Lit? Now THAT sounds intriguing! I may have to give this one a go. Great review, Nikola!

Ryan said...

Great review, I tend to find too many books to add to piles when I visit. Thanks!

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

This sounds like a fun book and I can always use a little fun...LOL

Thanks for posting :) AND Good Morning!

Jessica said...

Awesome review! I may have to check this one out. It has definitely sparked my curiosity. :)

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

This would be a great angle to read about. It sounds wonderful! I will have to take a closer look at it.

Oh, stop over to my blog, there is an award awaiting for you...

http://melissa-melsworld.blogspot.com/

margaret said...

Hey! So I'm reading this book too - and I'm reading it to my fiance and he thinks its funny!!! Nice review :)

margaret said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa said...

I gave you an award, Nikola! Claim it here:
http://bookblabbing.blogspot.com/2009/08/sunday-salon-and-lemonade-award.html

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

I have a couple of awards for you.

Jennay and Luke the Pup said...

Hey I gave you an award...come check it out http://myteatimeisbooktime.blogspot.com/

Jessica said...

I have an award for you! I hope you don't mind. :)

http://abookloversdiary.blogspot.com/2009/08/awards-lemonade-lets-be-friends-super.html

Anonymous said...

I hadn't heard of this one. It sounds fun.

Anonymous said...

Interesting cover. Interesting plot. It sounds like a book I'd enjoy. Thanks for the great review!

Wall-to-wall books said...

Oh, I have this book! LOL I just haven't read it yet.

Teddyree said...

Cover is super cute and thanks for a great review. I've never read a 'lad-lit', might be time to try

Kerri said...

I read this a while back. I had never heard of lad lit when I wrote my review. Thanks for teaching me something new.