Journal Entry 1 by sunlightbub from Wallasey, Merseyside United Kingdom on Saturday, October 08, 2005

From Amazon:

When Dr Jennifer Niederhauser accepted a position as project manager for Prowdes Animal Sanctuary she had no idea that she would be forced to work alongside the stripper from her best friend's hen party. Haunted by the memory of her failed relationship with her first and only love, Dr Timothy Lauder, she refuses to participate in the world of dating and men. For years she has solely focussed all her efforts on her career as a conservationist specialising in primates. However when Dr Lauder unexpectedly walks back into her life everything becomes complicated. She finds herself making constant errors in judgment and unable to separate her working life from her private affairs. Will Jenny succeed in her mission to rehabilitate chimpanzees back to life in Africa and at what cost?

'Girl meets ape' is a hilarious romantic comedy based around the life of a bookish 27 year old woman. The story is a novel twist on a common problem facing us in modern times: how much should we sacrifice for our career? I found it easy to relate to the main character as the author delves into why she acts the way she does. Although Jennifer may be slightly more extreme than the majority of the population, the way in which she attempts to protect herself from hurt struck a chord deep within me. Chris Manby has cleverly created a number of other interesting characters which demonstrate how we should not judge a person necessarily by the job they do, but by how they go about it and what their true motivations are. It was also inspiring to see how someone with a very limited support network is forced to rely on her own inner strength which in turn actually helps her to gain a group of friends she can depend on.

This book is highly educational but manages to avoid being boring. I was impressed by the factual content relating to life at a wildlife sanctuary and the obvious time which was spent on research prior to writing the story. The subject matter was fascinating and has even woken a small naturalist side of me that I never knew existed. 'Girl meets ape' beings conservation to the main stream.

I was delighted that Jennifer ended up with the gorgeous stripper and gentle animal-keeper Guy, although it took a long time to get there. If you are looking for a warm, feel-good book to read, set away from the hectic pace of living in a city then 'Girl meets ape' is definitely for you.

On the way to my Secret Spook!! 

Journal Entry 2 by asterw from Athens, Attica Greece on Saturday, November 19, 2005

Well, I have to say once again that your package made my day! Thank you soooooooo much! And the truth is that I haven´t brought many chick lits with me, so I was really happy to get this one! 

Journal Entry 3 by asterw from Athens, Attica Greece on Monday, December 26, 2005

I read the book about a week ago. Although I did like it in general, I thought that there was not enough action, not at least until the end of the book. And I would really like to see more things happening between Jennifer and Guy. Nevertheless, it was a nice chick-lit book.

I'm going to send it this week to Sobergirl, as part of a relay

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Update 2/1/2006: Finally I didn't manage to mail the book last week, so I took it with me in Greece and mailed it today. 

Journal Entry 4 by Sobergirl from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Oooops....
I've had this book for quite a while and now realized I NEVER JOURNALLED IT! Sorry about it!!!
I don't like chick lit very much so it's up for grabs on the "European Fiction Relay II" 

Journal Entry 5 by Sobergirl from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The book will travel to Flicki who caught it on the relay!

I have added a magnetic Unicef bookmark to the book. 

Journal Entry 6 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Saturday, April 08, 2006

Received this one today - thanks so much! The bookmark is also very cool. :-) 

Journal Entry 7 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Sunday, August 20, 2006

I finally finished this one on the Isle of Arran! So this book has come around a bit more than obvious at first sight. :-) I enjoyed it, even though it was rather predictable. Timothy was such an obvious wanker that I somehow lost interest in Jennifer rather soon... and she was not the most likeable character right from the start, so who would create somebody like her? Still, the apes and the people at the sanctuary were cool. :-)

I'll be sending this off to Amberkatze soon (i.e. when I'll have also finished the other book I wanted to send over). Thanks for sharing, everybody! 

Journal Entry 8 by Amberkatze from Wien Bezirk 10 - Favoriten, Wien Austria on Saturday, September 16, 2006

Thank you Flicki for this one! I have to say though that I already read this a few months ago so I already know how good it is :) Actually after reading this book I decided to look out for more by this author and have a few of her books on my bookshelf waiting to be read!

I will take this along to the next English Bookcrossing meet-up as I am sure there will be someone there who will enjoy it! 

Journal Entry 9 by Amberkatze at Nelsons in Wien Bezirk 04 - Wieden, Wien Austria on Sunday, October 01, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (10/3/2006 UTC) at Nelsons in Wien Bezirk 04 - Wieden, Wien Austria

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Releasing at this months English BC Meet-up! 

Journal Entry 10 by Karschtl from Wien - irgendwo / Vienna - somewhere, Wien Austria on Tuesday, October 03, 2006

From the English MeetUp.
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Edit: February 2007

I was in the mood for some chick-lit again after I finally finished my thesis and had read only scientific stuff for weeks.

The story is an old one, that's true. But I did appreciate the "educational" side of the story and the fact, that it's not taking place in a big city like London but in the country. Makes a nice change. Still, I definitely have read better stories, but also worse.. 

Journal Entry 11 by Karschtl at Nachteule - Thurngasse 19 in Wien Bezirk 09 - Alsergrund, Wien Austria on Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (3/6/2007 UTC) at Nachteule - Thurngasse 19 in Wien Bezirk 09 - Alsergrund, Wien Austria

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English MeetUp