Committedcertainly does--and she's in no hurry to change her mind. Why should she? She's got the perfect life (as she sees it); in particular, she has a very interesting job: she's a private investigator for the quaintly-named Hound Dog Investigations, involved in tricky but satisfyingly challenging cases. There's her supportive father (who more than makes up for her less appealing mother). And there's her long-term boyfriend Jason: her five-year relationship with him is another comforting factor in her status quo. Then Jason proposes--and, without hesitation, Hannah say no--why rock the boat? But the boat is definitely rocked for her when Jason decides, shortly after, to get engaged to another woman. Her father thinks she's let a good thing pass her by. And Hannah realises its time to coolly take stock of her life--and what she wants from it.In bothGetting Over ItandBehaving Like Adults, Anna Maxted made her mark as a novelist of humour, humanity and insight; her skill with plotting is matched with a talent for realising the individual personalities of her characters with maximum vividness. That's very much the case inBeing Committed, with Hannah the perfect heroine--even though the reader may want to shout at her at times. If Hound Dog Investigations is unlike any detective agency that ever existed on this planet, it's hardly a problem: every other detail in this delightful and funny novel rings absolutely true.--Barry Forshaw
inBehaving Like Adultsshe tackles date rape having dealt with bereavement in her first book,Getting Over It, and with eating disorders in her second novel,Running In Heels. It sounds grim--"doomed chick lit"--but the joy of Anna Maxted's books (and they are joyful, despite everything) is the humour and sympathy of her writing.The heroine of this story is Holly, who runs a dating agency. She split up with Nick, her childish boyfriend of five years, because "he didn't know how to make an effort in a relationship" (he lives on "hygiene's edge" not washing or talking enough, and being a generally lacklustre dating companion). She decides to throw a party to celebrate the success of her business and chooses rich and arrogant Stuart as her date for the evening. He brings Holly home, pushes her to the floor, and rapes her, and she doesn't tell anyone. As she says: "as long as I skated along the surface of my composure, I was fine. There was more underneath, I knew, but it was dark and cold and deathly and I refused to go there."The rest of the novel deals with the repercussions of the rape, with Holly trying to carry on as normal, but being unable to. She is forced to redefine her life and her relationships, especially with Nick.Behaving Like Adultsis well observed, moving, funny and intensely readable. --Eithne Farry
Advantages: Very good book, by a new author. Disadvantages: A slight cliffhanger at the end
...I really enjoyed reading this book, to tell you quickly what it is about: a young woman in her twenties whose Dad dies early in the story, as she goes about grieving, some things happen with her friends, familly, love life - and her cat!!
It's really funny, and AnnaMaxted uses real life humour (things that really happen) and you can really relate a few characters to people you know! It portrays a person with problems that you can really relate to, which I think is important in a book. You can sympathyse with her situation - but trip up as easily as her!!
I would recommend the book to anyone, and have lent it to friends who also enjoyed it.
Only problem: you get to the end and really want to know what happens next, and unless there is a follow-on (although I haven't heard of one) you never will. But maybe that's the way it should be!...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: easy to read, good value, funny Disadvantages: none
...You have GOT to read this book, it's really funny and excellently written. It is by AnnaMaxted and costs £5.99. It is called 'Getting Over It' and is about a 26 year old woman, Helen Bradshaw, and her life.
I thought it was more of a comedy than modern fiction book but it is really good. Basically, Helen is about to dump he boyfriend, Jasper, when she hears that her Dad is in hospital after having a heart attack. This starts to change her perspective on life and when he dies, her life seems to fall around her. Luckily, she has some good friends, including Tina, her flatmate, to help her through it but some are more tactless than others. In the end, she has to really deal with her problems herself.
Anyway, i won't tell you any more for fear of spoiling the book but i would really recommend it. Happy reading!!...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Out of the Ordinary Disadvantages: Title Belies the Content
....... and he's not the sort of chap who takes no for an answer.
If you have never read any fiction on the rarely broached subject of date rape, then AnnaMaxted's book is a good place to start. Date rape is something that happens to far too many women, and Holly's story is not an uncommon one.
I'm not going to give away the ending (and believe me, highlighting the subject matter does not even touch the surface of the story beneath it), suffice to say that Holly goes through the wringer, running the whole emotional gamut from denial to self hatred and finally to acceptance and re-building her confidence to deal with the rape and come to terms with it in her own mind (the scariest place of all).
I enjoy AnnaMaxted's work generally and was surprised by the intensity of this story compared to her other novels. I had been looking forward to its...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Very good book, by a new author. Disadvantages: A slight cliffhanger at the end
...I really enjoyed reading this book, to tell you quickly what it is about: a young woman in her twenties whose Dad dies early in the story, as she goes about grieving, some things happen with her friends, familly, love life - and her cat!!
It's really funny, and AnnaMaxted uses real life humour (things that really happen) and you can really relate a few characters to people you know! It portrays a person with problems that you can really relate to, which I think is important in a book. You can sympathyse with her situation - but trip up as easily as her!!
I would recommend the book to anyone, and have lent it to friends who also enjoyed it.
Only problem: you get to the end and really want to know what happens next, and unless there is a follow-on (although I haven't heard of one) you never will. But maybe that's the way it should be!...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: easy to read, good value, funny Disadvantages: none
...You have GOT to read this book, it's really funny and excellently written. It is by AnnaMaxted and costs £5.99. It is called 'Getting Over It' and is about a 26 year old woman, Helen Bradshaw, and her life.
I thought it was more of a comedy than modern fiction book but it is really good. Basically, Helen is about to dump he boyfriend, Jasper, when she hears that her Dad is in hospital after having a heart attack. This starts to change her perspective on life and when he dies, her life seems to fall around her. Luckily, she has some good friends, including Tina, her flatmate, to help her through it but some are more tactless than others. In the end, she has to really deal with her problems herself.
Anyway, i won't tell you any more for fear of spoiling the book but i would really recommend it. Happy reading!!...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Very well written, addresses a painful subject with tact Disadvantages: None
...I have never read one of AnnaMaxted's books before now but I will buy book of hers another after having read this one.
Having read some of the other opinons on this book I have decided not to go into too much on the storyline as I wouldn't want to spoil it. Reading a book is like watching a film - you don't want to find out too much. However, this is a review so I will stick my neck out a bit!
From the back of the book you will see that our main character is Holly, who owns a dating agency and lives with her ex and starts to date a new man to hoist her ex out the flat. Obviously it isn't going to be a smooth ride but what happens to Holly on her second date with a virtual stranger proves chilling and the reality of it is that could happen to anyone. The way the topic is then dealt with is perfect - AnnaMaxted used tact to brace...
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29.09.2005
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