Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Author of Crazy Beautiful
About the Author
Series
Works by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Constance in Love 1 copy
Bardolatry 1 copy
Kr̃lekens bojor 1 copy
I love you Michael Collins 1 copy
I love you Michel Collins 1 copy
Emma Speaks Out 1 copy
Sisters 1 copy
Associated Works
Flirting with Pride & Prejudice: Fresh Perspectives on the Original Chick-Lit Masterpiece (2005) — Contributor — 242 copies, 9 reviews
Literary Cash: Unauthorized Writings Inspired by the Legendary Johnny Cash (Smart Pop series) (2006) — Contributor — 17 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th Century
- Gender
- female
- Education
- University of Connecticut at Storrs (BA ∙ Psychology)
Western Connecticut State University - Occupations
- doughnut salesperson
bookseller
window washer
freelance editor
book reviewer - Organizations
- Readerville
- Agent
- Pamela Harty (Knight Agency)
- Relationships
- Logsted, Greg (husband)
Baratz, Lucille (mother) - Short biography
- Lauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her mother and father owned a drugstore. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!). Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed. Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent bookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years. In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum. Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991. In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time. Lauren’s favorite color is green. Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Monroe, Connecticut, USA
- Places of residence
- Monroe, Connecticut, USA
Danbury, Connecticut, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- Connecticut, USA
Members
Reviews
Crazy Beautiful is a very unique retelling of the beloved tale of Beauty and the Beast. Lucius is a tortured soul. Every day he is reminded of the mistakes he made in the past. He has hooks for hands and is always stared at, made fun of, called all sorts of names, and/or completely avoided by the kids in his new school. On the bus ride to his first day of school he meets Aurora. Aurora who is everything he is not. She is beautiful, trendy, bright, popular and perfectly normal. Aurora who show more instantly feels a connection with Lucius but is hesitant because of the rumors surrounding him... the explosion, his hands, the hooks, the possibility that he might be crazy.
The story is told through alternating viewpoints between Lucius and Aurora. I think Ms. Baratz-Logsted did a fantastic job providing us with both perspectives giving you a more in depth feel for both characters. Plus you get the added bonus of seeing how one situation can be perceived differently by either character.
Now I will forewarn you, if you plan on reading this because it is marketed to be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, then you will be in for a surprise. For in this story you will find no magic, no rose, no castle. Instead you will find a monster who wasn't overcome by vanity, but instead made the wrong choices in life and now has to live with the repercussions of his own making. This is a love story, but more than just a story about two very different kids falling for each other. It is a story of two kids living life the only way they know how. It is about forgiving and loving oneself. About seeing someone for who they are and not for what they look like. About healing and second chances.
Ms. Baratz-Logsted's writing is lovely and I felt it lent this modern story just the right hint of enchantment and fairytale splendor. My only complaint was that it was so short (208 pages). I read it in one sitting and was saddened that it ended so quickly. I would really have liked there to be more but I also want to make it clear that in no way did I feel like it lacked anything either. On the other hand, it gives you the feeling that you are taking a glimpse into Lucius and Aurora's life. You know there was more before you came along and you know there will be more after you are gone. I think it was pulled off beautifully.
This book was provided for review by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley. show less
The story is told through alternating viewpoints between Lucius and Aurora. I think Ms. Baratz-Logsted did a fantastic job providing us with both perspectives giving you a more in depth feel for both characters. Plus you get the added bonus of seeing how one situation can be perceived differently by either character.
Now I will forewarn you, if you plan on reading this because it is marketed to be a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, then you will be in for a surprise. For in this story you will find no magic, no rose, no castle. Instead you will find a monster who wasn't overcome by vanity, but instead made the wrong choices in life and now has to live with the repercussions of his own making. This is a love story, but more than just a story about two very different kids falling for each other. It is a story of two kids living life the only way they know how. It is about forgiving and loving oneself. About seeing someone for who they are and not for what they look like. About healing and second chances.
Ms. Baratz-Logsted's writing is lovely and I felt it lent this modern story just the right hint of enchantment and fairytale splendor. My only complaint was that it was so short (208 pages). I read it in one sitting and was saddened that it ended so quickly. I would really have liked there to be more but I also want to make it clear that in no way did I feel like it lacked anything either. On the other hand, it gives you the feeling that you are taking a glimpse into Lucius and Aurora's life. You know there was more before you came along and you know there will be more after you are gone. I think it was pulled off beautifully.
This book was provided for review by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley. show less
Pursuing the Times - Lauren Baratz-Logsted Oh, I think this is just the thing to turn my feminist ire to after I finish Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference. Why, yes, I'm annoyed by the way the NYT scorns women writers, particularly when they write for women readers.***And may I just say, smugly, that I was right? Perfect timing. Baratz-Logsted takes Pride and Prejudice, sets it in the modern world of 21st century publishing, and creates a show more memorable protagonist in Mercury Lauren, a popular writer of chick lit, who can't get no respect. Mercury could be one of her own satirical creations: she's a wack job in private life, but also a serious and hard-working writer. Unlike the myriad tales of earnest male writers suffering for ennui and thwarted promise, Mercury isn't angsting about her talent or her sales. She's good at what she does, and has the steadily-growing royalties to prove it. But because the writing of women for women is widely disparaged in the US, she is constantly assailed by men (including her own brother) who've never read Chick Lit and can't imagine it has anything to say to men. As much as I loved the goofy I Love Lucy hijinks, and I did, I loved even more that it was a romantic comedy in which the male lead had to prove himself deserving. Don't let the writer's light touch fool you: there's plenty of meat on those petite bones. Funny, sexy, and with something to say about the human condition, it's a delightful read.
Personal copy
*******
It surprises me how often I pick the same book at the same time of year. Often within days. show less
Personal copy
*******
It surprises me how often I pick the same book at the same time of year. Often within days. show less
The Offspring received the ARC from the author, whom they have adored since Annie's Adventures, which they got to read in manuscript (!). Since everyone else was in the middle of something, I got dibs. Such fun! Enough snark to appeal to fans of The Daily Show and enough heart for those who adore The Princess Dairies.
The book is set during a presidential campaign, so it is more focused on that than on issues, although it does lean more towards the purpose of electing people to work on a more show more perfect union. Since students tend to consider politics as unrelated to them, it's a pleasure to see a character opening to how the horse race ties in to the actual lives of the citizenry. But that's just me politically geeking out.
What I especially like is that the developing relationship is about creating a friendship with someone who is also attractive.
In all, a zippy, charming read that should appeal to readers on both sides of the aisle. Loved it. show less
The book is set during a presidential campaign, so it is more focused on that than on issues, although it does lean more towards the purpose of electing people to work on a more show more perfect union. Since students tend to consider politics as unrelated to them, it's a pleasure to see a character opening to how the horse race ties in to the actual lives of the citizenry. But that's just me politically geeking out.
What I especially like is that the developing relationship is about creating a friendship with someone who is also attractive.
In all, a zippy, charming read that should appeal to readers on both sides of the aisle. Loved it. show less
Why I read it: I saw tweets about this really funny book from a guy's perspective from Jane at Dear Author and then I saw it on NetGalley so I snapped it up.What it's about: (This is the blurb from Goodreads) Women have been known to lament, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." For Johnny Smith, the problem is, "Always a Best Man, never a groom." At age 33, housepainter Johnny has been Best Man eight times. The ultimate man's man, Johnny loves the Mets, the Jets, his weekly poker game, and show more the hula girl lamp that hangs over his basement pool table. Johnny has the instant affection of nearly every man he meets, but one thing he doesn't have is a woman to share his life with, and he wants that desperately. When Johnny meets District Attorney Helen Troy, he decides to renounce his bro-magnet ways in order to impress her. With the aid and advice of his friends and family, soon he's transforming his wardrobe, buying throw pillows, ditching the hula girl lamp, getting a cat and even changing his name to the more mature-sounding John. And through it all, he's pretending to have no interest in sports, which Helen claims to abhor. As things heat up with Helen, the questions arise: Will Johnny finally get the girl? And, if he's successful in that pursuit, who will he be now that he's no longer really himself? The Bro Magnet is a rollicking comedic novel about what one man is willing to give up for the sake of love.What worked for me (and what didn't): This book is SO funny. I was cackling my way throught his book and I think I started laughing pretty close to page one. Johnny is hilarious. I actually found him to be a really nice, sweet, funny, considerate guy but most of the girls in the book didn't feel that way. When he meets Helen, he so wants to impress her, that he decides to ditch the sports references and other things which girls are always telling him are annoying. Helen is the District Attorney so he also has to cover up his fondness for finding loopholes in the law (he likes the puzzle solving aspect of it) on crime shows and when talking to his lawyer friend Steve. "So let me get this straight,": she says. "It's not loopholes you have a thing for, it's ice holes?" "Oh, yes," I say. "From when I was little and my dad used to take me ice fishing. Ever since he got MS and can't get around as well anymore, I liked to remember the times when we used to be together on the ice, sitting around the ice holes." Well at least the part about his having MS is true. "That's sweet," she says. Hey, I'm on a roll here. "Not only do I like ice holes," I say, "but I like sinkholes." "Sinkholes?" "I mean, I'd hate to get my truck stuck in one, but they're so interesting, the way they just appear all of a sudden. And peepholes, I like those too." "Peepholes?" "It is always good to see who's on the other side of the door so you know whether you want to let them in or not. Oh, and blowholes - you know, whales. They should be saved." "So," she says slowly, reviewing my case item by item. "you like ice holes, sinkholes, peepholes and blowholes?" I nod. "But not loopholes?" I nod gain. Hole this, hole that - even when I'm determined not to just be myself, I'm such an asshole. I just can't help it.Pretty soon, the girls have him watching General Hospital (the conversations about the Cassidines and the Spencers are hilarious!), redecorating his condo and even getting a cat (because, he's told, girls like cats). So, he and his equally clueless-about-women BFF Sam go cat hunting. "Which one should we check out first?" I ask Sam, looking over the listings. "First? What do you think, we're going to drive all over Danbury like we're house-hunting or something, interviewing various feline applicants?" "I'll take that as a 'we're just going to one place and take whatever they have'?" "Precisely. Here's one. 'Free, six adorable kittens in need of a good home'." "But I dont need six. I only need one." "What are you, stupid? We look at the six and pick out the one you like best. How hard can it be?" "But is says 'good home', not 'homes'. Clearly whoever placed the ad is looking to have all the kittens adopted at once." "Oh, for Christ sake Johnny just get in the truck and drive."But, as funny as this book is (Did I tell you? It's REALLY funny), there are some really poignant moments too. Johnny is loyal. He goes to the local hardware store every day to buy supplies for his paint business, partly because he doesn't like being tied down by buying in bulk, but mostly because he wants to help out the local hardware store - he's not a fan of the big chains. He goes to Leo's coffee shop every day out of loyalty to Leo rather than go to a Starbucks or similar. He even goes to Leo's everyday later in the book just to cheer the old man up when he's not really even in the market for coffee. He has an "opportunity" early in the book to get laid but she's so drunk he feels uncomfortable and leaves rather than take advantage of her. See? I told you he's a good guy.In the end, Johnny decides that even though he loves Helen, he has to to come clean because if he can't be himself (or a slightly cleaned up version of himself - he finds he looks good in J Crew, but he really prefers to be called 'Johnny' rather than the more mature 'John'), then she's not the woman for him. Which is also sweet. I liked that he came to the conclusion that he deserved honesty in his relationship.Helen has secrets of her own and I don't think it will come as a surprise to readers that they are more suited to each other than either knows.Because the story is told in Johnny's first person POV, we don't get to know Helen all that much but it's such fun to be in Johnny's head that I didn't really mind that. I would have liked to see another conversation between the couple at the end or maybe a scene showing their life as they decided to live it once all the secrets are revealed but it was otherwise an excellent read.It's very much on the "sweet/subtle" side of the heat intensity so it is suitable for younger readers too.What else? In the end, the message of the book is that there is someone out there for everyone, even self-confessed assholes. Sure, it doesn't have the best title or cover in the world. But, this is a great book. I highly recommend it.Grade: B show less
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