I know I said I don't do many book reviews. But, well, I had so much fun reviewing Nicola Morgan's Wasted and Caroline Smailes' Like Bees to Honey that I figured, why stop there? So today I bring you: Mousetrapped!After visiting Disney World several times, I've had an odd fascination with Orlando. The endless plethora of box-like outlet malls, the wide streets that go on forever with no centre in site, and the crowds of squishy short-wearing tourists -- it seemed like a town plunked down solely to feed its exotic Disney neighbour. So when I won a copy of Irish author Catherine Ryan Howard's Mousetrapped, I couldn't wait to delve in.
Three big dreams, two Mouse Ears and one J-1 visa. What could possibly go wrong in the happiest place on earth?
When Catherine Ryan Howard decides to swap the grey clouds of Ireland for the clear skies of the Sunshine State, she thinks all of her dreams – working in Walt Disney World, living in the United States, seeing a Space Shuttle launch – are about to come true. Ahead of her she sees weekends at the beach, mornings by the pool and an inexplicably skinnier version of herself skipping around Magic Kingdom.
But not long into her first day on Disney soil – and not long after a breakfast of Mickey-shaped pancakes – Catherine’s Disney bubble bursts and soon it seems that among Orlando’s baked highways, monotonous mall clusters and world famous theme parks, pixie dust is hard to find and hair is downright impossible to straighten.
I love reading about behind-the-scenes work-life stuff (yes, I'm that pathetic!), and I wasn't disappointed: Catherine writes with wit and humour about her time in Orlando, and you get a true sense of what living in a town dominated by a massive theme park really feels like. The book includes lots of information about other facets of Disney and Florida -- including Celebration, the town created by Disney -- and provides a wonderful account of a space-shuttle launch.
Ireland v Disney: who comes out on top? You'll have to read to find out!
Coming up tomorrow: an interview with author Gary Murning.
That's a toss-up!
ReplyDeleteAlex, I know. They're both tough! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review Talli. This sounds great and obviously coming from Ireland I'll be very interested on the outcome! Think Orlando must be a bit of a strange place to live...pretty surreal I would imagine.
ReplyDeleteBeen to Orlando but not Ireland-yet. Good review! And perfect timing. Tonight's my bookstore browse and buy outing. I'll be looking for this one!
ReplyDeleteIRELAND!!
ReplyDeleteOrlando is definitely a bizarro type place -- at least I thought so!
ReplyDeleteLynn - it's on Amazon UK if you want to check it out!
Palindrome - I'm saying nothin'!
Ooo, as a So Cal girl--and a Disney nerd, I definitely need to check this out. Had not heard of it so thanks for pointing it out. It is officially added to my TBR list. :)
ReplyDeletewhat a crazy good idea for a book! I'm afraid I'd be all over the Ireland part. I like Florida but Ireland - ooh that place I love!
ReplyDeleteI love your book reviews! I say that you can never have too many! Sounds very intriguing! Thanks for sharing Talli!
ReplyDeleteOoo I'm excited for your interview tomorrow!
Thanks Jen! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! You and I have a lot of the same taste in books so I add everything you read to my to read list, and this one is already there!
ReplyDeleteOoh, fun! Orlando is a very weird city to spend any amount of time in. The fact that there's a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum open at midnight should alone be warning. And yes, I totally went there. At midnight.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book. I love Disneyland too and I've never read a book with behind the scenes from the happiest place on earth.
ReplyDeleteCD
I have a birthday this month, and Mousetrapped is on my list, so I'm hoping...
ReplyDeleteCool! Sounds like a great book! Thanks for your review.
ReplyDeleteKaren G - I agree! And I enjoyed reading it. She's got a great sense of humour - I think you'll like it!
ReplyDeleteSummer - Why? WHY?
Clarissa - It's fascinating to read about.
Queenie - Fingers crossed!
Bossy Betty - You're welcome.
Talli, thank you so, so much! What a lovely surprise. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks everyone for the comments! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Catherine. It's a great book!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great. I love reading about behind-the-scenes work-life stuff too. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering about this for a long time - never having been to USA ever - after having read a couple of chapters I was drawn in with the humour so after your review (and Keris's a while ago) it's now on the wish list. Great review, Talli!
ReplyDeleteOrlando v Ireland, is that a world cup match?
ReplyDeleteOf course Ireland wins, I would love to go to Disneyland, I would enjoy the plastic ness of it for a few weeks.
Bizarrely, there is a person dressed as Mickey Mouse in our village at the moment, advertising a pub, v strange but I am having a strange week.
Although I have just rescued my week by going to a Joseph O'Connor book signing in my local town, lovely man and had a great chat about writing with him, his new book 'Ghost light' is out and my 'signed' copy is on my bedside table.
I'd go to Disneyland for my kids. Ireland, for me.
ReplyDeleteThere's a podcast called, Bringing Disneyland Home (it's probably on Youtube as well). You should look it up—it has great videos of all the rides and the parades, etc.
I haven't been to either place, but I'd cast my vote for Ireland. What an interesting premise for a book, looks great!
ReplyDeleteNever been to Ireland, but have been to Disneyland and Disney World. I'd vote for Ireland to come out on top. For the life of me, I can't understand adults who go there with no kids.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an eye-opening book.
Straight From Hel
I loved my one and only Disney trip! Loved it. I was prepared to be all cynical about it all but I couldn't help but get swept away by the magic! There were 5 of us adults. But we found the inner unablashed kiddies in ourselves.
ReplyDeleteIt was brilliant.
So hmm.. disney v ireland... I'll have to read the book to find out! LOL!
Thanks for the info on this fab book!
Take care
x
Nice review! I've been to Disney World once, when I was 20. SO much fun! I went with my friend and her mom, who is a certified Disney nut. She's in the Disney Vacation Club and goes at least 4 times a year. (No joke.) So going to DW my first time was awesome because they knew all the best restaurants and rides!
ReplyDeleteI love reading about behind-the scenes stuff, too. This book looks great! Thanks for the review. :)
This sounds like a must-read for me. I've been to Disney World & would love to read about it from an Irish person's perspective. Oh, she must have loved that heat & humidity down in Orlando! Thanks for the recommendation! :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a super book! Have a great weekend, Talli...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun book! Thanks for the review :)
ReplyDeleteIf it's too hard to choose I would say California and Disney Land instead. LOL. Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteI've visited both Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Southern Calif. and enjoyed both. Disney tried to open a theme park here in Northern Virginia. The proposal failed. We didn't want to turn out like Orlando. Lovely review, Talli, as always.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. You should continue doing them. I've been to Disney World, but I've been to Ireland. If I had to choose between the two places, Ireland in a heartbeat. :)
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
Great review! You've given me an idea. I've won some books in blog contests - I'm going to post reviews on them. Why did I never think of this before? Thanks, Talli!
ReplyDeleteGood review!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Disney World once, and if it weren't for the massively scary crowds, I would have enjoyed it much more. But Epcot is pretty freakin' awesome!
Disney World is full of imagination, creativity and fantasy and I LOVE spending a couple of magical weeks/year there.
ReplyDeleteOrlando the city is awful, and not my kind of town.
I also love Ireland.
And many other places around the world.
But I love a good, funny, behind the scenes book...you've sold me. :)
I like your book reviews, Talli.
Shhhh...I have a confession to make. I am a Disney virgin. Or practically. My parents took us to Disneyland when I was 4 but I don't remember it so it doesn't count. And I have yet to take any of my children to either land or world. I know, I'm a bad mom and they aren't afraid to tell me!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this book before, but I do like knowing the behind-the-scenes details you can only get from first hand experience.
As one currently freezing butt off in Irish summer, I'm predisposed to Disney...
ReplyDeleteI am a Disney virgin too!
ReplyDeleteI read it last weekend and I second everything you say. The author has an incredible sense of humour and really transports the reader to Orlando.
ReplyDeleteYou're so good at reviews Talli.
Sounds interesting, even though I never understood the hype over Disneywhatever. But still sounds intersting. Quite impressive.
ReplyDelete