Perfectly Plum: Unauthorized Essays On the Life, Loves And Other Disasters of Stephanie Plum, Trenton Bounty Hunter

by Leah Wilson (Editor)

Speculating about the cultural metaphors in Janet Evanovich's wildly popular mystery series (which includes 11 books, from One for the Money to Eleven on Top ), this anthology takes a look at lingerie-buyer-turned-bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum and catalogs her bad luck with cars (she's blown up quite a few), her good luck with men, her unorthodox approach to weapon storage, and the rich tapestry of her Trenton, New Jersey, also known as The Burg. The contributors praise the way the series smartly spoofs that familiar chick-lit epiphany—I have a bad job and what I really want is a good man!—in Bounty Hunting as a Metaphor for Dating, Why Stephanie Should Quit Her Job … but Never Will, and Nothing Better than a Bad Boy Gone Good . Several essays veer from the chick-lit perspective and focus instead on the comic theme of luck and chance that ties Stephanie to the barroom gamblers and gangster meanies of her home town in Luck of the Italian?: Skill versus Chance .

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Pop Culture, Mystery

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2007

About the author

Leah Wilson is Editor-in-Chief of the Smart Pop imprint of Dallas-based publisher BenBella Books. She graduated from Duke University in 2003 with a degree in Culture and Modern Fiction, and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Fall season premiere schedules make her a little giddy.

(Her author blog is the main blog for Smart Pop's website, and she'll be using this Goodreads account in part to do some Smart Pop pre-pub giveaways, and more!)

Reviews

[Sandi · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not that Perfectly Plum doesn't have funny moments, it's more that it reads like somebody's (or rather lots of somebody's) term papers. After the second essay, I felt like I was grading English exams and the book lost it's sparkle for me. To be honest, I didn't even bother to finish reading it.

The essays themselves were sometimes funny or thought provoking, but this one was too much like an English assignment for me and not in a great way.

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for two reasons, it was super-duper cheap for only $0.89 and Leah Wilson was the editor. I'd previously read another book she was the editor of, In the Hunt: Unauthorized Essays on Supernatural, and quite enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, but that is due to the fact that I love all things Supernatural and I'm pretty much reading the Stephanie Plum books for Ranger. I enjoyed the obviously Ranger themed essays, Ranger as a fairy godmother, totally true!, and why Ranger is the best guy for Stephanie. I will admit that the essay for Joe had some compelling fact in it and that's who Stephanie will probably end up with if/when the series ends, but I'm still a Ranger fan all the way. =) The essay about why Stephanie wouldn't be able to get car insurance in real life was amusing too.
I think any fan of the Plum books who like to dig deeper into the series and it's world would enjoy this book of essays.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely fun to read if you are a Stephanie Plum fan. This book psycho-analyzes the characters in the series as if they were real people.

[Vicki M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Others people's opinions on a fictional character and the crazy life she led. They're okay. But, I'd rather read more real Stephanie Plum books.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes. Read a few chapters and thought I was reading someone's homework assignment. I'm done with this one.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I was hoping for but this is a perfectly straightforward book about the protagonist in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Stephanie and cohorts serve up absolutely adequate escapism a couple hours at a whack and so what if we aren't all sitting on the edge of our seats in riveting chill-bump terror while she does it? If you will allow yourself, you will fall in love or at least serious like with a few of the solid repeating characters, and will find yourself rooting for either Joe or Ranger. This book does nothing to propel you forward or to hold you back, but if, like me, you want a taste of all things related, you won't be wasting your time.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed with the overall views of any of the writers.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided to me free of charge by the pubishers. When I started this book I wasn't into it and didn't like the concept. I thought it was silly to read a book about the Plum books. It took me a few chapters, but I eventually came around to the book and found myself laughing, agreeing with the authors and really looking at the Plum series differently. My only complaint is that the book only covers up to the 12th book in the series and I'm anxiously waiting for number 19 to come out! I can't wait to read that one as I'm looking at the characters, plots and settings completely differently now. This is a great read while waiting for the next installment in the series and I hope they come out with another one for the rest of the books!

Now if Stephanie would just choose between Ranger and Morelli, I'd be one happy girl!

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of essays by authors that have spent way too much time analyzing the Stephanie Plum universe. It's interesting that this book was written after #12 in the series, I wonder if they still feel the same now, after Sizzling Sixteen-which didn't Sizzle.

Some were funny, some weren't. Mostly it gave me more authors to investigate and see if I'd like their stuff.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the description of this book my curiousity got the best of me and I decided to enter the first-reads giveaway. To my surprise I am a winner! This book is a series of essays discussing particular elements of the Stephanie Plum book series. I must admit that I have not read any books in the series however after reading these essays I will be off to the library to get the first book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was perfect for reading on the bus.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as bad as some have made it out to be, but not all that good either.

[Carol Stanley-Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF U R A STEPHANIE PLUM FAN, U WILL LOVE THIS WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE. VERY FUNNY & INSIGHTFUL. REALLY HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. A MUST READ.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a kick! Especially the three articles comparing the 'three men' in Stephanie's life: Morelli, Ranger, and her hamster. One author for each male.
Me, I always vote for Ranger!!!

[Jill Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it because I enjoyed the series. It was not as interesting.

[Bcoghill Coghill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always fun to read about the disaster which is S. Plum.