Sadie Hawkins Sunday Review #4: Modelland

Modelland
Modelland, Book 1

Author: Tyra Banks
Pages: 576
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Source: Library

Description from Goodreads:
No one gets in without being asked. And with her untamable hair, large forehead, and gawky body, Tookie De La Crème isn’t expecting an invitation. Modelland—the exclusive, mysterious place on top of the mountain—never dares to make an appearance in her dreams.

But someone has plans for Tookie. Before she can blink her mismatched eyes, Tookie finds herself in the very place every girl in the world obsesses about. And three unlikely girls have joined her.

Only seven extraordinary young women become Intoxibellas each year. Famous. Worshipped. Magical. What happens to those who don’t make it? Well, no one really speaks of that. Some things are better left unsaid.

Thrown into a world where she doesn’t seem to belong, Tookie glimpses a future that could be hers—if she survives the beastly Catwalk Corridor and terrifying Thigh-High Boot Camp. Or could it? Dark rumors like silken threads swirl around the question of why Tookie and her new friends were selected . . . and the shadows around Modelland hide sinister secrets.

Are you ready? Modelland is waiting for you. . . .

First Sentence: "You want to be there."

Review:

I've never done a vlog review before, and I doubt I'll do many. However, I thought it might be the best way for me to get my thoughts across for this particular book. I'm not going to type out all or most of what I said, but I will give you a quick paragraph's summation of my general thoughts on Modelland, as well as some additional feedback.

Honestly, Modelland was not as bad as I was expecting, but this doesn't mean it was good. The world it's set in makes no actual sense, as there don't really appear to be any people actually working in food production. Still, there are times when it comes close to being a funny satirical novel. It doesn't make it though. I think, with better editing and plotting, Modelland could have been a delightful satire. Also important in that would be the removal of at least 300 pages. Sustaining comedy over 600 pages just is not going to happen. Think of the best humor books you know, and you'll probably find them to be short. Brevity is your friend. Run through the same joke too many times, and it's not going to be funny anymore.

The other downfall of the book is that Banks makes the unique heroines too weird. They are objects of pity and disgust, rather than someone that a regular girl would relate to. The reader ought to see herself in Tookie and the other Unicas, but instead I think they're hardly better than anyone else.

Tyra, bless her heart, tried, but she's just not wearing the author mantle well.

Rating: 1/5

Favorite Quote: "'Look, I told you to leave her alone.' he said in a biting voice. 'Why can't your bitchy little brain understand that?'"

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Up Next:
The next Sadie Hawkins Sunday book will be Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers. There was a huge break before I got Modelland finished up, but I hope to be back to pretty much weekly now. Thanks for the great suggestion, Renae!

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