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saltysiren's review
3.0
Honestly I don't know what I expected from this book, maybe nothing, however it was a nice quick read and I enjoyed it.
The author goes into detail about the history of the engagement rings, diamonds, and other factors and what the commitment of impending marriage requires and means.
Personally, I found myself to be the "anti-marriage" for a really long time until I finally found my person, and it was just right. But even when she showed me the engagement ring she wanted me to have, versus what she gave me as a place holder, she had concerns it wasn't "big enough."
However, similar to the author I don't really care about that stuff, I want to be "unique" to myself and really all that mattered to me was it was "shiny" go figure, the sparkle does matter.
I also enjoyed that this book injected some humor into what could have been a really dry research paper style read.
The author goes into detail about the history of the engagement rings, diamonds, and other factors and what the commitment of impending marriage requires and means.
Personally, I found myself to be the "anti-marriage" for a really long time until I finally found my person, and it was just right. But even when she showed me the engagement ring she wanted me to have, versus what she gave me as a place holder, she had concerns it wasn't "big enough."
However, similar to the author I don't really care about that stuff, I want to be "unique" to myself and really all that mattered to me was it was "shiny" go figure, the sparkle does matter.
I also enjoyed that this book injected some humor into what could have been a really dry research paper style read.
hellojoie's review
3.0
Mara Altman's Sparkle deals humorously with her experience of conflicting feelings on that thing women of marrying age are "supposed to" seek with all their force: the engagement ring. She wants but doesn't want the One Ring (couldn't resist the reference), and grapples with exactly what it signifies--is it a token of love and a symbol of stability, or a marking of territory and a statement of wealth? She explores the history of the engagement ring, with some discussions more interesting than others (I could Wikipedia "engagement ring" myself, but her interviews were pretty great). And of course, she relies heavily on her own personal and hilarious experience of getting engaged--and not knowing exactly what that may mean.
This was my first try with one of the "Kindle Singles" (short form e-books Amazon has been marketing), and I really did enjoy it, although in tone and quality it read a bit like someone's very long blog post. Still, it was well worth the $2 and made me laugh out loud more than once--a great quick summer read.
This was my first try with one of the "Kindle Singles" (short form e-books Amazon has been marketing), and I really did enjoy it, although in tone and quality it read a bit like someone's very long blog post. Still, it was well worth the $2 and made me laugh out loud more than once--a great quick summer read.
tara_dear's review
2.0
I enjoyed the book. Made me think a lot about how I feel about the symbolism of wedding rings. What I didn't like was the unnecessary language.
whatchareadingheather's review
4.0
Going into this book, I was expecting some kind of cutesy rom com revolving around an engagement. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I was wrong. ‘Sparkle’ is a relatively informative take on the history of diamonds/engagement rings while also keeping a humorous personal aspect to the story. It was also very well paced to the point where I almost didn’t realize that I was reaching the end of the book. Great for anyone looking for something short and lighthearted to read while on the go or in a time crunch. And I was engaged enough to when I genuinely wanted to read MORE about the topic of discussion.
peridotpages's review
3.0
Sparkle
Author: Mara Altman
Overall: 5 out of 5
Format: e-Book (on my Kindle)
Source: Received as a RAK
Kindle Single
Description: (Goodreads) The tradition of giving a diamond solitaire engagement ring has long been the ultimate statement of love and romance, but no sooner does newly engaged Mara Altman set her sights on a unique, inexpensive, and--gasp--muddy brown diamond ring, than she begins to doubt the decision of breaking this custom. If she doesn’t have a diamond ring, are others questioning the strength of her relationship and the depth of her love? In an almost obsessive quest, Altman seeks to discover how and when the tradition of diamond engagement rings began. Her witty insight, thoughtful observations, and self-deprecating humor lend this Kindle Single its unique luster, resulting in a modern look at the meaning behind happily ever after.
From My Point of View: In all honesty, I have no idea what a Kindle single is. Amazon says a Kindle single "presents a compelling idea--well researched, well argued, and well illustrated--expressed at its natural length." Hm. Whatever that means. I've pretty much determined it's a non-fiction novella. =)
Obviously, this was my first Kindle Single. It was total LOVE. I do think, however, you have to be interested in the topic for a Single to grab you because I tried to find other singles I wanted to buy and came up blank. They all sound so boring (I'm a fiction kind of girl, myself).
This one, however, was awesome. Right from the beginning I was hooked. I found myself agreeing entirely with virtually every word written and feeling just as passionately about the subject as Altman did. It was also interesting to read about the history of diamonds and how they came to be such a status symbol (don't misread this here -- it was by NO means a history lesson, but I did learn a lot). Turns out, it's all in the Marketing.
I happen to be one of the few women in the minority when it comes to diamond rings.
I. Don't. Like. Diamonds.
*Pause for the gasps.*
It's true. I think they're ugly. I hate how they sparkle - like they're dirty or something. But I don't tell people this because I'm afraid of what they'll think. "Oh she doesn't like diamonds because she can't afford them." Well you know what? I don't like Louis Vitton! And not because I can't afford it, but because they're all ugly. And I KNOW there are people who feel the same way. It's the same concept with diamonds. Who cares what I can afford -- it's what I *personally* like that matters. (Louis does happen to be out of my college student's budget price range, but that's neither here nor there.)
So, when it came time to pick out my ring, I truly did not want diamonds. I ended up choosing a White Sapphire ring (and I'm not a colored engagement ring kinda gal, so white it was)! It was EXACTLY what I wanted AND, like an free sample when you buy so much at Macy's make up counter, it came with actual meaning since Sapphire is my birthstone.
As you can clearly tell, I was deeply effected by this book (well, to the point that I no longer care what anyone thinks about my ring because I am totally in love with it -- deeply might have been a bit over the top). And you can probably tell from the length of this review(/rant) that I loved it. =)
If you're a bit of a one-off like yours truly, I'd pick this one up as a confidence booster. It clearly worked for me.
Author: Mara Altman
Overall: 5 out of 5
Format: e-Book (on my Kindle)
Source: Received as a RAK
Kindle Single
Description: (Goodreads) The tradition of giving a diamond solitaire engagement ring has long been the ultimate statement of love and romance, but no sooner does newly engaged Mara Altman set her sights on a unique, inexpensive, and--gasp--muddy brown diamond ring, than she begins to doubt the decision of breaking this custom. If she doesn’t have a diamond ring, are others questioning the strength of her relationship and the depth of her love? In an almost obsessive quest, Altman seeks to discover how and when the tradition of diamond engagement rings began. Her witty insight, thoughtful observations, and self-deprecating humor lend this Kindle Single its unique luster, resulting in a modern look at the meaning behind happily ever after.
From My Point of View: In all honesty, I have no idea what a Kindle single is. Amazon says a Kindle single "presents a compelling idea--well researched, well argued, and well illustrated--expressed at its natural length." Hm. Whatever that means. I've pretty much determined it's a non-fiction novella. =)
Obviously, this was my first Kindle Single. It was total LOVE. I do think, however, you have to be interested in the topic for a Single to grab you because I tried to find other singles I wanted to buy and came up blank. They all sound so boring (I'm a fiction kind of girl, myself).
This one, however, was awesome. Right from the beginning I was hooked. I found myself agreeing entirely with virtually every word written and feeling just as passionately about the subject as Altman did. It was also interesting to read about the history of diamonds and how they came to be such a status symbol (don't misread this here -- it was by NO means a history lesson, but I did learn a lot). Turns out, it's all in the Marketing.
I happen to be one of the few women in the minority when it comes to diamond rings.
I. Don't. Like. Diamonds.
*Pause for the gasps.*
It's true. I think they're ugly. I hate how they sparkle - like they're dirty or something. But I don't tell people this because I'm afraid of what they'll think. "Oh she doesn't like diamonds because she can't afford them." Well you know what? I don't like Louis Vitton! And not because I can't afford it, but because they're all ugly. And I KNOW there are people who feel the same way. It's the same concept with diamonds. Who cares what I can afford -- it's what I *personally* like that matters. (Louis does happen to be out of my college student's budget price range, but that's neither here nor there.)
So, when it came time to pick out my ring, I truly did not want diamonds. I ended up choosing a White Sapphire ring (and I'm not a colored engagement ring kinda gal, so white it was)! It was EXACTLY what I wanted AND, like an free sample when you buy so much at Macy's make up counter, it came with actual meaning since Sapphire is my birthstone.
As you can clearly tell, I was deeply effected by this book (well, to the point that I no longer care what anyone thinks about my ring because I am totally in love with it -- deeply might have been a bit over the top). And you can probably tell from the length of this review(/rant) that I loved it. =)
If you're a bit of a one-off like yours truly, I'd pick this one up as a confidence booster. It clearly worked for me.
brittlovesbooks's review
4.0
"I waved my unadorned Love Vein in his face. I was giving him The Finger. Let's do this already!"
How cute was this?! I love Mara Altman. This is the second single of hers that I have read and I feel like she just gets me. Corny, but true. Her sense of humor has me smiling, nodding and laughing out loud. Love it!
I recommend this for anyone who has discussed tying the knot with their significant other... or talked about rings with their girlfriends ;)
How cute was this?! I love Mara Altman. This is the second single of hers that I have read and I feel like she just gets me. Corny, but true. Her sense of humor has me smiling, nodding and laughing out loud. Love it!
I recommend this for anyone who has discussed tying the knot with their significant other... or talked about rings with their girlfriends ;)
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