This true story of a sixteen-year-old girl who comes to New York with dreams of modeling is riveting. It’s written like a novel, addressed specifically to a young adult audience, and once I picked it up I only put my copy down when reading would have been dangerous. (Warning: Don’t try driving and reading, or yoga and reading, unless you are actually trying to injure yourself. And even then, don’t try it.)
Seriously, though. Cheryl Diamond’s Model is intelligent and … funny. I mean, it’s tragic in certain ways, but it’s full of witty and snarky observations about the modeling industry.
Lately there has been a flurry of YA novels about models (see Airhead by Meg Cabot and the Violet series by Melissa Walker, just to name a few). Cheryl gives us the inside scoop, the real story, and one that is familiar territory for any of you who have read the Violet novels in particular.
Now, there are those of you out there who are probably thinking, “Models are stupid! They can’t write books! They don’t have brains, just bodies.” I’m sorry to inform you that you’re incredibly mistaken, because this book is very, very smart. Yes, there are a few folks, a very few, who seem to have it all. Brains and beauty. Don’t be jealous, my friends.
Cheryl’s story is about trying to make it in the competitive world of New York modeling, about the way she was treated by stylists, and bookers, and sleazy men. It’s harrowing. It’s frustrating. It makes you want to hunt a few people down and give them a piece of your mind. But it’s also a story of success, and in the end you can’t help coming away feeling proud of this young woman with tons of determination and serious attitude.
Basically, if you’re at all interested in modeling, or if you’ve read or are planning to read any of the YA novels about modeling, you need to read Cheryl’s memoir. In fact, even after reading it, I’ve got a ton of questions for this woman. Which is to say, I’m not done talking about Model just yet. So consider this part one of a multi-part series.
Buy Model, a Memoir
I still have to read this! The NYT talked about Cheryl’s book and my Violet books in the same story, which was fun:
http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2008/04/13/style/t/index.html#pageName=13brubach
Can’t wait to see what your q’s for her are!
Melissa, you so. totally. HAVE to read this book. It’s like you and Cheryl were twins separated at birth, seriously.
Another book to add to my must read stack!
I have an ARC of this. It sounds pretty good. I guess I’ll have to read it ASAP! I love your site by the way! Great review!
Thanks a ton, Hillary. And I’m totally psyched to hear what all of you think of the book. Feel free to disagree with me in comments, or to add to the discussion, or to recommend more books, or … well, you get the idea.
I love your book. It has inspried me to go into photography and publish more of my writing peices and art . I hope you will write another book at the end of your modeling carrier. ( excuse my spelling)
cheryl! i totally love your book! ur now officially one of my idols. XD
I loved this book and the inside description the the modeling industry but I found it very hard to believe that all these people seemed mesmerized by her when that is rae in the modeling world. And why would her parents be all willing to send her off to live ALONE in New York City?! Without enough money, because she did go without a home for 2 days before her paycheck. And since when did landlords rent to min ors? This seems like a fairytale story. Not to say it wasn’t well written or interesting. Just not realistic. It was also quite annoying how Cheryl couldn’t go a page without complementing herself. She constantly mentioned guys flirting with her and girls being jealous of her. Otherwise a great book.
i’m reading it ,and i’m addicted to it like i can’t put it down.I sa it at the libraray and was like,this book looks interesting and i picked it up and i’m HOOKED literary.
It is an amazing book loe it and recommend anyone to read it!!!!!
The book was awesome. This is one of the good books.