163rd out of 710 books
—
703 voters
My Invented Life
by
Lauren Bjorkman (Goodreads Author)
With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about sl...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
September 29th 2009
by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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My Invented Life was a dizzying mix of slapstick comedy, Shakespearean insults, drama geeks and teenage sexuality. When Roz actually asked her ouija board if Eva was a lesbian, well, I knew this was going to be a fun book. One particular aspect I appreciated was the Shakespearean insults that were casually flung about in normal, everyday conversations. For instance, Roz says to fellow thespian Carmen, "don't be a hedge-born clack-dish" (don't be a blabbermouth). Roz also had this tendency to pla...more
Review
My Invented Life is a story about love. Sisterly love, boyfriend-girlfriend love, gay love, forbidden love – love is complicated all right.
I was drawn to this book because the main characters are sisters. The relationship between Roz and Eva was deep and complex. They were close, yet competitive – they looked out for each other, yet they teased each other. Roz’s in-your-face personality was both funny and annoying. She could hurl a Shakespearean insult at you one minute and then show you t...more
This book was not what I expected at all. I thought it had to deal with a girl realizing she was a lesbian, and I thought it would take the format of the classic coming-out story. But that's not really what it was, like at all. It was much quirkier and more original and it totally won me over!
The main character/narrator Roz is a total drama chick, in both senses of the word: she's a self-described drama geek AND due to some impulse control and lack of tact and a love of gossip she creates a lot...more
The main character/narrator Roz is a total drama chick, in both senses of the word: she's a self-described drama geek AND due to some impulse control and lack of tact and a love of gossip she creates a lot...more
My Invented Life was a thoroughly enjoyable book to read. The main character's sarcasm and creativeness kept me laughing and wanting to read more. I also love the spelling of the main character's name: Roz. Not a common spelling, but Roz is not a normal girl. She has this unique way of thinking that, really, is how all of us think: she invents one scenario in her head, then backs up and says, "Ha! That didn't really happen," then proceeds to tell reality. I have never seen it occur so many times...more
Spoiler Alert!
Sisters Roz and Eva, a year apart, have always been best friends and confidantes, but suddenly Eva is shutting out Roz, their parents, and her best friend Carmen. Roz is hurt and is looking for reasons for this sudden change in her sister.
Both sisters participate in theatre at school, with Eva always winning the main roles. When Roz wins the role of Rosalind in "As You Like It," she worries that this is the reason Eva is mad.
When she discovers Eva has a lesbian novel hidden under h...more
Sisters Roz and Eva, a year apart, have always been best friends and confidantes, but suddenly Eva is shutting out Roz, their parents, and her best friend Carmen. Roz is hurt and is looking for reasons for this sudden change in her sister.
Both sisters participate in theatre at school, with Eva always winning the main roles. When Roz wins the role of Rosalind in "As You Like It," she worries that this is the reason Eva is mad.
When she discovers Eva has a lesbian novel hidden under h...more
When I read a YA book, I can't help thinking about the students I work with and how they would like it. It's such a smart, funny book dealing with some serious topics--sibling relationships, adolescent sexual confusion, to come out or not to come out, competitiveness, revenge. It is filled with clever repartee, much of it Shakespearean. I don't always like rapid repartee, but it worked for me in this book because I was drawn deeply into the lives of the characters. Also, there was some wonderful...more
Roz and her sister Eva have always been close if somewhat competitive, but are going through a period where Eva has pulled back and Roz feels left out of her life and wants to find a way back in. One day Roz's suspicions about what is going on in Eva's life are peaked when she does a little digging and she thinks she's worked out the secret that her sister is hiding. What follows is Roz's shock confession to her friends which ultimately has her questioning and trying to figure out different aspe...more
My Invented Life was a humorous and unique debut that was a refreshing and honest look at homosexuality, sibling rivalry, and relationships in general. Roz was a fantastic main character who never ceased to bring a smile to my face with her reckless attitude and witty, sarcastic comebacks. She didn't care what other people thought of her and when her perfect older sister challenges her with a dare, Roz accepts with full force.
Eva was an interesting character and I liked reading about her and Roz...more
Eva was an interesting character and I liked reading about her and Roz...more
This is a book about confusion that is confused about what it wants to be. Tight writing this is not -- at any given time you have no idea what is going on with any of the characters, who drive the story to confusing extremes with little to no consistency or context. Reader's looking for a romp about a teen who pretends to be a lesbian to get her lesbian sister to come out will be disappointed -- what you get here is (SPOILER) a weird sister who acts weird and pretends to be gay but maybe she re...more
I was given this book for an honest review as part of a blog tour through http://www.crossroadreviews.com. Receiving this book for free in no way influenced my opinion or review.
Blurb from Goodreads:
With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hang...more
Blurb from Goodreads:
With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hang...more
3 1/2 stars...
Boy is Roz ever confused! And its a little hard to read the book, between her fantasies and the reality. The relationship between Roz and Eva is one of a strong sibling rivalry. As an only child it was a little hard for me to understand, but as a mom of two girls I completely understand the drama that goes along with having two girls in the house. I can only sympathize with their parents.
Two girls is high drama naturally, two girls that are budding thespians is Emmy-worthy, soap-op...more
Boy is Roz ever confused! And its a little hard to read the book, between her fantasies and the reality. The relationship between Roz and Eva is one of a strong sibling rivalry. As an only child it was a little hard for me to understand, but as a mom of two girls I completely understand the drama that goes along with having two girls in the house. I can only sympathize with their parents.
Two girls is high drama naturally, two girls that are budding thespians is Emmy-worthy, soap-op...more
2.5 out of 5 rating
When I read the description of this book, I thought it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it just wasn't.
First of all, the characters. The main character--Roz--got on my nerves. Her way of talking and think just got annoying. And enough with her invented life scenarios (yes, I know this is the title of the book, but we got it). While I don't have a younger sister, I think if I did have one, and she was like Roz, we would not be close at all. A lot of the things she sai...more
When I read the description of this book, I thought it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it just wasn't.
First of all, the characters. The main character--Roz--got on my nerves. Her way of talking and think just got annoying. And enough with her invented life scenarios (yes, I know this is the title of the book, but we got it). While I don't have a younger sister, I think if I did have one, and she was like Roz, we would not be close at all. A lot of the things she sai...more
Roz is a character that will not be silenced. She has a personality that rushes into things head first without understanding the consequences. Her kooky attitude shows no restraint in her ‘Invented Life’ or in the real life. She has a good will, one that may be blinded at times by her sense of karma. Her over-exuberance may be her downfall though when the reader thinks that enough is enough yet she still pushes forward.
Eva has a conflicting opinion by me. Either you can understand her or you ju...more
Eva has a conflicting opinion by me. Either you can understand her or you ju...more
Oh Lordy... what to say about this book. First, is high school really like this?? I really just don't think it can be so. But if it's true... here's hoping the apocalypse happens before these kids take the reigns in this world.
I mean... it almost seems like some sort of intellect was drizzled into the book with all the Shakespearian quotes and such inlaid, but really that's just glossing over how insipid the rest of it is.
Now I suppose that bullying and the like are an issue, but this seems co...more
I mean... it almost seems like some sort of intellect was drizzled into the book with all the Shakespearian quotes and such inlaid, but really that's just glossing over how insipid the rest of it is.
Now I suppose that bullying and the like are an issue, but this seems co...more
AME este libro!!
Es de las clases de libros que me da mucha felicidad reseñar y compartir con el mundo xD
Roz, la protagonista, es super fresca y divertida!!
Roz tiene una hermana mayor. Se llevaban muy bien hasta que Eva la elimina de su vida. Puf!
Entonces Roz empieza a dudar y sentirse curiosa del "porque". Va al cuarto de su hermana, investiga, encuentra cosas… y (de nuevo) puf! empieza la aventura ;)
Ya que Roz sospecha, peor no sabe. Y Eva la reta. De broma, claro. Pero Roz es Roz… así que ace...more
Es de las clases de libros que me da mucha felicidad reseñar y compartir con el mundo xD
Roz, la protagonista, es super fresca y divertida!!
Roz tiene una hermana mayor. Se llevaban muy bien hasta que Eva la elimina de su vida. Puf!
Entonces Roz empieza a dudar y sentirse curiosa del "porque". Va al cuarto de su hermana, investiga, encuentra cosas… y (de nuevo) puf! empieza la aventura ;)
Ya que Roz sospecha, peor no sabe. Y Eva la reta. De broma, claro. Pero Roz es Roz… así que ace...more
Roz and Eva are sister and were friends. They were friends BD (before deletion), Before Eva complete cut Roz out of her life. Roz drools after Eva's boyfriend (not for the first time) and wishes she had her sisters acting talent so she could get the lead in the school play. Roz starts to suspect that there is something going on with Eva that she doesn't want to admit to, so she comes up with a plan to get Eva to spill the beans. Unfortunately the plan backfires, well sort of. It didn't go quite...more
Review: Roz appears at first as a self-centered, shallow teenager, who is just searching for way for all eyes to be on her. She just wants to get her sister, Eva back and the way she goes about is at first ridiculous but may be what gets her to come around to Roz's way of thinking. Roz is a sweet character though I commend her for what she does, and her methods eventually help her to grow as an individual and discover what she really wants yet at the same time it comes off as a way to one up her...more
There is a lot to like here, not the least of which is the Shakespearean flavor (both a high school production of As You Like It and a heroine with a penchant for quoting The Bard). It starts out as it goes on, and I'll confess it took me a good hundred pages to begin to love it, but at the end I was a believer. The characters are complex, fluid, authentic teens- many of whom are trying to find out where exactly they fit on Kinsey's scale. There're also sibling dynamics to contend with, and oddm...more
I kept thinking that this book seemed sloppy, somehow. There's a lot going on, and I don't feel all of that is written as clearly as it could have been. The world isn't as clearly drawn as it could be too. I get that this is contemporary realistic and world-building doesn't feel like a big priority, but I got lost figuring out the social status (the cheerleaders were tops in drama somehow but that got confusing to me) and how completely separate drama seemed from school itself. Except when it wa...more
Termine este libro de mi tercer book tour, esperen reseña!!!
Este libro se convirtió en mi primer tour con un libro en inglés, leí la sinopsis y me llamó bastante, aunque pensé que había leído toda la historia con leer la contraportada pero que equivocada estaba.
Comencé a leerlo y debo de admitir que me confundieron las primeras páginas pero después disfrute de su lectura.
En este libro encontré desde drama hasta risas. El personaje principal, Roz fue mi favorito, ella tiene todo para hacerte re...more
Este libro se convirtió en mi primer tour con un libro en inglés, leí la sinopsis y me llamó bastante, aunque pensé que había leído toda la historia con leer la contraportada pero que equivocada estaba.
Comencé a leerlo y debo de admitir que me confundieron las primeras páginas pero después disfrute de su lectura.
En este libro encontré desde drama hasta risas. El personaje principal, Roz fue mi favorito, ella tiene todo para hacerte re...more
This book was pretty good. It tells the story of two sisters whose relationship falls apart all of a sudden. The younger sister is on a mission to find out why. On her quest for answers, she must also tackle other issues that teenagers deal with.
This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. I read this book in a day and a half. I was eager to find out what would happen next. I, like Roz, wanted to know why she and Eva were no longer as close as they use to be...more
This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. I read this book in a day and a half. I was eager to find out what would happen next. I, like Roz, wanted to know why she and Eva were no longer as close as they use to be...more
Since I won this book at the goodreads giveaway I felt kind of obliged to love this book. Unfortunatley I didn't. I'd rather give 2.5 stars, then 3 stars.
It took me at least a hundred pages to start liking the main character and getting curious about the solution of the big sisterly misery.
Also I needed some time to get into Laurens style of writing. To me it seemed to hectic, even for a book about teenagers.
Still there are some good parts in it and I even started laughing out loud once or twic...more
It took me at least a hundred pages to start liking the main character and getting curious about the solution of the big sisterly misery.
Also I needed some time to get into Laurens style of writing. To me it seemed to hectic, even for a book about teenagers.
Still there are some good parts in it and I even started laughing out loud once or twic...more
I loved this book almost as much I as I love the smooshed up faces of the girls on the cover!!!
Ah. Sisters. Such complex relationships most of us have with our sisters, and an especially endearing and funny one In My Invented Life. Roz the main character is quirky and loveable despite inventing a new sexuality for herself, to try to out her sister. The fact that she fantisizes over her sister's boyfriend was sooooooooo well done.
Filled with drama, both the Shakespearean kind as well as the teen...more
Ah. Sisters. Such complex relationships most of us have with our sisters, and an especially endearing and funny one In My Invented Life. Roz the main character is quirky and loveable despite inventing a new sexuality for herself, to try to out her sister. The fact that she fantisizes over her sister's boyfriend was sooooooooo well done.
Filled with drama, both the Shakespearean kind as well as the teen...more
With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.
Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which l...more
Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which l...more
Roz decides to pretend she's a lesbian because she's in love with her sister's boyfriend. There's a lot to like about this story, but a lot is anit-climatic too. As she dips into her pretend world she, and the reader, learn something about being homosexual. She even finds a gay best friend - these guys are all over the place in books these days. (view spoiler)...more
This is fun realistic teen fiction and I enjoyed it. The main character, Roz, is a quirky, funny and somewhat self absorbed girl who is just looking to find her place in her family, with her group of friends, with boys (or girls?) and eventually learns to be comfortable in her own skin.
The book is written in first-person from Roz's perspective so the reader gets full view of her. She's funny and smart and a little bit nosy. Ok, she's a lot nosy, but she always has good intentions. Seeing from he...more
The book is written in first-person from Roz's perspective so the reader gets full view of her. She's funny and smart and a little bit nosy. Ok, she's a lot nosy, but she always has good intentions. Seeing from he...more
Everybody needs to read this book! it is soo funny and i loved every minute of it. I was taking this book with me everywhere I went, sneaking a page here and there. My Invented Life is light-hearted and you can't help but smile and love the characters. It's also honest and it tackles some really serious issues like sexuality and acceptance.
Roz is one of my FAVORITE characters. I mean she is so funny, and she reminds me of me and my friends.She would always say "my father is no prostitute" that h...more
Roz is one of my FAVORITE characters. I mean she is so funny, and she reminds me of me and my friends.She would always say "my father is no prostitute" that h...more
I heard this book was funny and really didn't know what the book was about when I started to read it. It wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed the book. It dealt with serious issues in a light and fun to read way. I enjoyed the book.
The story is about Roz and her feelings, thoughts, and reasons that her older sister Eva has deleted her from her life, stole her boyfriend, and she thinks her sister may be gay. Roz likes to invent conversations in her head and decides one day to invent a story abou...more
Okay. So I didn't really expect much from this book.
With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.
That was the book's blu...more
With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.
That was the book's blu...more
May 27, 2012
Wendolyn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Youth
Recommended to Wendolyn by:
Lauren Bjorkman
Shelves:
youth
What a wonderful surprise it was to find out that one of my daughter's favorite books was written by a high school classmate of mine!
I love the opening paragraph, and this: "Roz is short for Rosella, actually. What were Mom and Dad thinking when I was born? To be fair we should be allowed to rechristen our parents when we turn sixteen. I choose Gethsemane for Mom and Elmo for Dad."
I learned about Elizabethan curse generators and learned language from the insults.
I'm impressed by the author's abi...more
I love the opening paragraph, and this: "Roz is short for Rosella, actually. What were Mom and Dad thinking when I was born? To be fair we should be allowed to rechristen our parents when we turn sixteen. I choose Gethsemane for Mom and Elmo for Dad."
I learned about Elizabethan curse generators and learned language from the insults.
I'm impressed by the author's abi...more
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I am the author of two YA novels, MY INVENTED LIFE and MISS FORTUNE COOKIE. I also contributed a short story to the anthology THE FIRST TIME.
Though I grew up on a sail boat and loved traveling the world as a kid, I'm still afraid of the ocean. I much prefer other modes of transportation these days--plane, train, or car. Walking is best.
I love books with multi-faceted, intriguing characters. The be...more
More about Lauren Bjorkman...
Though I grew up on a sail boat and loved traveling the world as a kid, I'm still afraid of the ocean. I much prefer other modes of transportation these days--plane, train, or car. Walking is best.
I love books with multi-faceted, intriguing characters. The be...more
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Sep 19, 2009 11:09pm