Book reviews

All Is Vanity
Christina Schwarz Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Christina Schwarz Books
New book search
Christina Schwarz Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of All Is Vanity
"Margaret has given up her day job as a teacher in a private school with the intention of writing the all-American great novel, but is failing dismally -- at least until she notices that her best friend, Letty, is living it. In earnest letters to her best friend, Letty depicts her fears of inadequacy and inferiority, and the frustration of having to “make do” while other seemingly “have it all”. In an desperate attempt to earn recognition, Margaret abandons her own,
earlier, dullard idea for a novel and instead documents the downhill slide that becomes Letty's life as she encourages voyeuristically her to strive for social acceptability and the illusion of affluence by living beyond her means. As the story unfolds, ALL IS VANITY is a powerful and compelling story of friendship and betrayal which captures the vulnerability of human experience, particularly our needs for acceptance and approval. "

Alison, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of All Is Vanity
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - present (2000-2010)
Life of a profession: - writer
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Struggle over - vague finding self/purpose in life (i.e. no plot to book)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - society

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
United States Yes
City? Yes
City: - New York

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references
Unusual Style: - written like a journal/diary/letters
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to All Is Vanity
The Novel by James Michener
In Custody by Anita Desai
Vivian - The V Spot by Sherrie Krantz
Tearjerker by Daniel Hayes
Kiss & Tell by Alain de Botton


Click here for more information about this book


Christina Schwarz Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Danielle  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Norah Lofts 6:49:46 PM
Suzanne Weyn 10:35:23 PM
George W. Bush 5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Anonymous 12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino 10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield 10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls 10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan 9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi 9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine 9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington 9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody 9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden 9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 9:55:48 PM
Iris Johansen 9:55:24 PM

More message boards