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Loading... Ruby Bluesby Jessica Rudd
Top Five Books of 2013 (1,249) No current Talk conversations about this book.  birdsam0610 | Apr 7, 2013 |   (  ) sally906 | Apr 3, 2013 | I had a sinking feeling at first with this, as there are a number of strained comedy routines that don’t quite work, but by about page 20 I found I was laughing aloud quite a lot. It’s a genre piece, chick lit: much description of clothes and make up, a touch of Feminism 101, quite a bit of embarrassment of the heart and loins. The eponymous Ruby is the chief adviser to an Australian Prime Minister whose popularity is plummeting, and the chick lit adventures are supplemented by a plot involving political intrigue and blackmail, which manages – just – to provide a central thread. One of the selling points of this book is that the author is the daughter of Kevin Rudd, a former Australian PM. But actually the implied promise of insider knowledge isn't borne out. For example, fairly early on someone reminds Ruby that she has to prepare the PM’s briefings for Question Time, and 30 minutes later she has the folder ready. Um, I’m pretty sure that job takes something closer to four hours. And Ruby’s intern-assistant Bettina, the source of most of the laughs, is a vastly improbable creation. That, and a stretch towards the end where nothing is happening except some characters renting fancy dress, makes me slow to recommend the book. But I did laugh. (  ) shawjonathan | Jan 11, 2012 |  )1  dajashby | Jan 9, 2012 | no reviews | add a review
Ruby Stanhope is back, bigger and better than ever! - with more cocktail spills, more romantic thrills, more political skewerings and LOLs. In Campaign Ruby, the very fabulous Ruby Stanhope got the Leader of the Opposition elected and fell in love with Luke. Two years into his first term, the new PM is on the nose. And Luke is demanding romantic dinners at home rather than takeaway on the run. What's a girl to do when she's about to turn thirty, when her wardrobe turns drab, her love life turns luke-warm and the government is leakier than a cheap umbrella? Can she find her inner Nancy Drew in time to save her boss? Will she succumb to temptation when Elliot, the hot vet, enters the scene? Luke? Elliot? Work? Love? Unladdered stockings? Can she have it all? And, more importantly, what should she wear to the Midwinter Ball? Jessica Rudd, 28, had three career changes in as many years - law, PR, politics - but is now going steady with her life as a writer. She hopes Ruby Blues, sequel to Campaign Ruby, will give her readers as many laughs as she had writing it. Jessica is based in Beijing. 'A light-hearted, skilfully written political romp...the Gen Y comedy of manners par excellence.' Age 'Ruby Blues is a delight to read. Beyond the laughs, it contains some serious messages for us (about our priorities) and for our leaders (about being themselves rather than just spouting predictable talking points). Will someone please buy the PM a copy?' Canberra Times 'Fresh funny and smart. Loved it.' Mia Freedman, West Australian magazine 'Ruby Blues should serve to establish Jessica as an author of thoroughly fun and thoroughly female books. Ruby Blues is like The West Wing meets Marian Keyes: fast-talking through the corridors of power blended with putting-make- up-on-in-a-bike-taxi drama and work-life-balance calamity.' Sunday Mail Brisbane 'Rudd is a natural storyteller, one whose narrative and character construction reveal an underlying intelligence. There is substance behind the easy writing style.' Weekend Australian 'Ruby Blues is Allison Pearson (I Don't Know Show She Does It) with parliament...Rudd should really have written At Home with Julia - she would have done a better job.' Sunday Age 'Ruby Blues is one of the best novels I've read this year. Easy to read, hard to put down, it has everything Campaign Ruby had plus more, namely a hunky veterinarian...Rudd's writing is witty, modern and on-trend with her target audience. If you love politics, chick lit, fashion and twitter, then this book is for you.' Examiner 'For politically savvy Gen-Y chick lit, you can't go past [Jessica Rudd]...It's a savvy and entertaining read.' Saturday Age 'Laugh-out-loud moments abound: the scrapes, foibles and follies are hilarious: and the bitchiness is biting. Someone, please, grab the film rights.' Good Reading 'Hilarious, clever and sharp - this is one of my favourite books of 2011.' Sunday Star Times. No library descriptions found. |
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Wikipedia in English
5
BEST EVER!
Awesome!!
Writing this review a little while later with a sense of perspective, I still stand by my initial comments. Jessica Rudd is a highly talented writer who makes chick lit incredibly funny. She is the Manolo Blahnik, the Godiva chocolate, the Dior Addict Extreme of this genre (i.e. the crème de la crème). I also read a rumour on Twitter that Ruby could be returning for a third adventure…the champagne is chilling and the eReader is charging in anticipation of this event!
But I digress. Now that you know what a wonderful writer Jessica Rudd is (yes, she is former Australian prime minister Kevin’s daughter), let’s focus on Ruby. I would say that Ruby is possibly one of the funniest creatures to grace the page – at least until I met Bettina. More about Bettina later.
When we left Ruby at the end of Campaign Ruby, she’d bagged the man and her boss had been elected Australia’s Prime Minister. Now the dust has settled and someone’s leaking secrets from the PM’s office and things with Luke could be way better. Plus, there’s also the dreaded 3-0 coming up…what’s Ruby to do? Hark the arrival of the new intern, Bettina. Bettina is super organised and super co-ordinated. I need to expand on that last point so you understand – Bettina matches her clothes, bag, shoes, car and stationery. Rather loudly. She drives a purple Monaro (that’s a muscle car – super-duper hotted up) and she has matching seat covers (so not macho). Bettina adores stationery, the sparklier and more colourful the better – one of my favourite lines in the book is from Bettina’s mother, who states that she knows Bettina is seriously upset when she refuses a trip to Smiggle (Australian stationery store, colourful and quirky). I think Bettina could be my BFF! There’s also a sexy vet, Elliott and the hardest question of all, what to wear to the most important ball of the year?
Apart from Ruby’s usual clumsiness and talent for getting into awkward situations, there’s serious stuff at play. The amount of infighting within the party is unbelievable as is the workload. Jessica Rudd manages to make the incredible grind that politics is seem sexy – and funny too. Plus it’s fun to try to work out if any character is based on any real Aussie politician…
This book is incredibly funny and the pages just whizz by. Jessica Rudd is a talented comic writer who can also do serious emotions well. The characters are incredibly well done (I think Bettina is the most memorable character I’ve ‘met’) and I look forward to more from her.
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