Kim-Lost-In-A-Book's Reviews > The Secret Lives of Dresses

I thought I was going to love this book, and I really wanted to love it. I only liked it. The story is unique (to me anyway). Some of the flashbacks were confusing. I'd be a few sentences in when I'd have to stop and go back because I'd gotten confused so when I'd go back and re-read, it was then that I would realize that it was a flashback. I didn't care for the stories of the dresses. With the exception of the last (and most relevant) one, they were all sad or negative. I would have liked to have seen more positive stories about the dresses. Unless that's what Dora had planned on doing with future stories, but we don't know for sure. I would have liked to have gotten to know Mimi more. I couldn't really relate to Dora very much but I really liked Maux and Con. I absolutley loathed Camille and Tyffanee. I don't know or have to deal with anyone in real life who is THAT overbearing and I don't like having to deal with them in fictional life either.

I will say my major praise for this book is how well it is written. The author is a lexicographer and you can tell with her writing. She knows her words and she knows how to use them. Not only that, she knows how to use them in a very good way. She's not out to impress anyone with her knowledge of words, she simply uses them well and combines them beautifully. I was also thoroughly overjoyed with the editing, as there were no typos! (that is a huge pet peeve of mine with books, especially given our advanced age of technology and spell check these days).

Overall a good book, I'm glad I read it.