Civic Beauties: A Novel with Songs

by C.D. Payne

Book Overview

Now back in print: The prophetic comic novel of Presidential politics and mischief-making twin daughters. Hailed by Midwest Book Review as "a witty, inventive, unique, engaging, laugh-a-minute novel... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1882647203
• ISBN13: 9781882647200
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Aivia Press
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

remarkable characters, unique story.

Although the background of this story is American politics, one need not know anything, or be interested in politics to enjoy this book. A joyous read for teenagers or adults, though more for the female readers, this book follows twin teenage girls with contrasting persona's, and their whimsical friends who you either hate or love from the very first introduction. C D Payne is a master at capturing the reader from the starting line of his novels, and never allows any boredom. Some authors go into great detail to describe the exact particular spring morning, this you will not find, and Paynes language is uniquely creative, and mindbogglingly cool but not aimed at visualizing a tree, but at the fantastic characters, and the inside of their idiosyncratic minds, and their absurd surroundings. A terrific read, equally good as Youth in Revolt, a sort of female version of Nick Twisp, and very sexy book too.

A whole lot funnier than Al Franken

I was buying Franken's "Why Not Me?" and the clerk in the bookstore suggested "Civic Beauties" too. I hadn't heard of the book or the author, but I liked the first few pages so I took a chance. I found the Franken book fairly predictable, but really enjoyed Payne's fresh and inventive story. You never know what's going to happen next with Toni and Cara. I think maybe Al and George W. should read this book. "Youth in Revolt" doesn't sound like my thing, but I may give it a try.

Witty, inventive, laugh-a-minute novel of pure delight.

Civic Beauties is a novel of teenage sisters and their minister father's campaign for the Vice Presidency of the United States. While one of the lovely sisters dallies with a picketing environmentalist, her identical twin conspires to "blow the elections sky high". The pace of C.D. Payne's rollickingly funny novel is hectic and non-stop as one memorable and unique character after another suddenly breaks into "song". Civic Beauties is a witty, inventive, unique, engaging, laugh-a-minute novel of pure delight and just a touch of the kind of innocent lunacy that seems to be a necessity for politicians and their families.

Right up there with "Animal Farm" and "1984."

An insightful commentary on our times, and this one has laughs and comic songs. Maybe not as addicting as "Youth in Revolt" but with more substance.

Read this book or die!!!!

Actually, you won't die if you don't read Civic Beauties. But you will be missing out on a great new novel by C.D. Payne, author of Youth in Revolt. Fans of Nick will not be disappointed by Payne's new effort. You will be rolling on the floor as you read about the antics of Antonia and Carissa Mason, identical twins whose father is running for US Vice President. There is a fresh batch of unique characters, and the numerous, amusing plot twists make you wonder how the author ever came up with them. Please read this book, I promise you won't be disappointed!