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Book Review By Sandra Calhoune
Bling by Erica Kennedy

Mimi is a 20 year old African American aspiring singer from Ohio who receives the chance of a lifetime when Lamont Jackson, the head of a hip hop record label, handpicks her for an interview. In Mimi, Lamont sees a diamond in the rough, someone that he can groom for superstardom. Lamont quickly offers Mimi a spot on his label. Since Mimi is already in a girl group she is forced to think fast on her feet and make a decision that could impact her entire future. Mimi decides to ditch the girl group and stay in New York city and be groomed for stardom by Lamont. Although Mimi has always wanted to be in the spotlight she is unprepared for the major changes that she will be undergoing along the way. Lamont assigns his glamourous sister-in-law Vanessa de La Cruz as Mimi's grooming coach and fashion consultant. Lamont hooks Mimi up with Lena Whitaker, the rich and extremely spoiled daughter of a LA attorney. With the help of Vanessa and Lena, Mimi is indulged with spa treatments, shopping sprees at Gucci, carloads of clothes, dinner at A list restaurants and dancing till dawn at the most exclusive clubs. As Mimi is introduced to this heady and exciting world, she begins to realize that Lamont and his team are turning her into the packaged Mimi machine rather than Mimi the individual. Although all Mimi ever really wanted to do was sing, she is quickly finding out that she has no creative control over her music. As Lamont and Mimi's professonal relationship turns passionate, Mimi is unware that Lamont is still engaging in sexual relationships with other women. Nor is Lamont aware that enemies are lurking in the shadows waiting to take him down from his lofty hip hop throne. And as the ugliness surrounding her celebrity lifestyle comes crashing to the surface Mimi must confront her own value system and make major decisions regarding her future in the music industry.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Life of a profession:
Strong "rags to riches" component? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Job/Profession/Status story Yes
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
City? Yes
City: - New York

Writing Style
Lot of foul language? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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