Miss Understanding

by Stephanie Lessing

Zoe Rose never quite fit in.

As the only kid in kindergarten with an enormous red afro, Zoe was taunted by the other little girls for refusing to share her "Annie" wig, even when she swore it was her own hair (it was).

In second grade, after seeing her best friend ridiculed for wearing a dirty, pink, polka-dot party dress to school every day, she became obsessed with understanding what makes normal girls tick and why they're so cruel...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061133884
• ISBN13: 9780061133886
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Feminist vs. Fashionistas!

It's often said that "clothes make the man (or woman)." But Zoe, the lead character in this funny and powerful novel, has a different take on the issue than most of us are used to encountering. She's the sister of Chloe, the main character in Lessing's last novel, She's Got Issues, and Zoe is definitely the opposite of her shoe-obsessed sibling. For Zoe's about to unleash a feminine revolution! Her ideas pivot around debunking society's devastating effect on girls who don't look or dress pretty. How will she do it? She'll empower these traumatized girls into owning the fact that dressing (and acting as well as thinking) differently from everyone else is a statement of individuality that can plummet them into success in whatever relationship or situation that arises! Zoe is weird, spunky, incredibly funny, and not afraid to confront any brick wall that threatens to obstruct her visionary goals. But what she hasn't counted on occurring are the opposition of her own sister and the nasty behavior of a jealous and angry co-worker, not to mention the antagonism of her boss's mother (who just happens to be Chloe's mother-in-law, ahem!). The antics start out seemingly silly but then flesh out into a full-fledged war that first degenerates and then turns into a most unlikely soft touch that transforms everyone involved. Ah, what could it be? You won't want to make plans for evenings while you're reading this novel. Yet you will be both sad that the story's over and yet so happy about the unexpected ending you meet as you turn the last page. Chick lit is changing! It's got plenty of light, fun-hearted laughs still but is beginning to get some meat over it's plot-driven bones! Congratulations, Stephanie Lessing - you're helping the genre acquire some definite, sophisticated class! Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 12, 2007

Another fun book from Stephanie Lessing!

MISS UNDERSTANDING by Stephanie Lessing November 11, 2006 Rating **** ½ (4.5 Stars) MISS UNDERSTANDING is the second book by Stephanie Lessing, and while this book is a little bit "darker" than the first, SHE'S GOT ISSUES, it certainly was just as fun. MISS UNDERSTANDING picks up where SHE'S GOT ISSUES left off, but the focus is no longer on Chloe the "shoe editor", but is now on Chloe's older sister, Zoe. Zoe is the anti-Chloe. While Chloe didn't seem to have much in the brain compartment (but was prone to say the most profound things once in a while) and was obsessed with shoes and fashion, Zoe is pro-feminist, hates fashion and is very very smart. Unfortunately, she is so wrapped up with fixing the world as she'd like it to be that she doesn't realize how she alienates others and has done so nearly all her life. Because of that, she's a loner, marching to her own drummer. Chloe's husband Dan had hired Zoe to be the editor at ISSUES magazine, a woman's fashion magazine that Dan's decided can use some changes. In the opening chapter, Zoe has just taken her billionth pregnancy test (her worst nightmare is to become pregnant) and Chloe has come over to Zoe's apartment to find something for Zoe to wear to work. Zoe's wardrobe doesn't consist of any thing appropriate to wear at a fashion magazine. As Chloe tries to put together something decent (readers will laugh out loud at what Zoe finally ends up wearing to work that first day, with some awfully embarrassing results!), Zoe is trying to make a list of possible editorial titles for upcoming magazines ("Why Your Girl Boss Hates You Way More Than You Hate Any of Those Other People!", and "Why Some Girls Eat Their Makeup!", are just two examples). Chloe takes second billing in this novel, as she requests a sabbatical from work and makes appearances via phone calls and faxes, and thus Zoe is on her own, trying to get a handle on her new position. It seems like everyone is against her, but she does find some co-workers that come to support her cause, including Alex, the advertising director. In fact, Alex reacts in such a favorable way to a letter that Zoe has composed for the first editorial, that the two bond. Dan also tries to support Zoe, as he watches the readership of ISSUES slowly erode away. There also seems to be some sabotage going on, with some of the employees trying to ruin Zoe's work and hoping she gets fired. Readers will love MISS UNDERSTANDING for its smart and witty writing, and the standout characters that drive this book to its conclusion. The author paints a vivid picture of what it's like to work for a high-end fashion magazine, throwing at the readers all sorts of characters that are not necessarily stereotypical. Zoe is totally clueless when it comes to making friends, dressing for success, or just being plain normal (she is so obsessive compulsive it will boggle the mind), but there is one thing that the reader will pick up on. She has a heart. The once ostracized girl on

MISS UNDERSTANDING

WHAT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR!!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK. ITS QUICK READING AND YOU CAN ALWAYS EXPECT A CHUCKLE.

Lessing does it again!

Miss Understanding takes places in the offices of Issues Magazine, but this time, Zoe, the sister of the main character in "She's Got Issues" is the main focus of the book. Zoe is a feminist who wants to change the way women think. Unfortunately, she can't quite make it happen at a place like Issues. There is a lot of back-biting and competition among the editors and Zoe is determined to keep going and try to give the magazine a more literary feel. Along the way, she has issues with her sister's mother-in-law, the owner of the magazine. She also has issues with every single one of the employees of the magazine. She can't get along with her boyfriend either. She's also a hypochondriac and there's something else wrong with her as well, but you'll have to read the book to find out. In the end, Zoe doesn't quite fulfill her goals for the magazine but she gets something even better for all her efforts. This is a much smarter book than She's Got Issues with a much more complicated main character. The same humor shines through but this time there is a lot more to think about. Readers looking for airhead chick-lit won't find it here. Miss Understanding deals with serious issues in a comedic way and I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun book with a serious message about women in the workplace.

It's another winner!

Funny, funny, book, lots of catfights, but serious issues are explored about why women can't get along and the power of friendship. Overall fun, light, but interesting read.