Getting Over It
1 journaler for this copy...
2001 ReganBooks trade paperback from my friend Mary, who knows how much I love Brit chicklit. I've already read a copy of this, which is making its way around the globe on an international bookray. It's about the death of a parent with a domestic violence subplot thrown in for good measure, but it must've caught me in the right mood because I liked it. (I usually prefer escapist reading.)
From Publishers Weekly [edited to remove spoilers]
Had Maxted published this sharp, witty tale of a British woman's love life and real life before the Bridget Jones phenomenon, Fielding's novel might have been noted as a pale comparison. Written in a hip, readable, often poignant and always funny style, protagonist Helen Bradshaw's story is set in modern-day London, where the 20-something editorial assistant comes to terms with her father's death and her own life. The plot spans one year, beginning with the day Helen learns of her father's fatal heart attack. Helen struggles with boyfriend Jasper, landlord Marcus, "best friend" Michelle, and her boss at GirlTime magazine. A complex part of Helen's healing process is repairing her relationship with her overbearing mother who, though she mourns her husband inconsolably, eventually finds new direction in her life. Helen discovers real love and learns enough about real friendship to hold onto her loyal, true buddies, saving a life in the process. As she stumbles from one crisis to another, Helen is always likable, even if the decisions she makes often make the reader want to give her a good shake. Although the narrative tackles many issues, from the loss of a parent to the horrors of domestic violence, Maxted's bouncy, upbeat tone never falters. Revealing a touch for comic timing and versatility, she paints scenes of hilarious pratfalls, biting sarcasm and heart-wrenching pathos. While comparison between this work and Fielding's is unavoidable, Maxted's laugh-out-loud debut novel will come out ahead.
From Publishers Weekly [edited to remove spoilers]
Had Maxted published this sharp, witty tale of a British woman's love life and real life before the Bridget Jones phenomenon, Fielding's novel might have been noted as a pale comparison. Written in a hip, readable, often poignant and always funny style, protagonist Helen Bradshaw's story is set in modern-day London, where the 20-something editorial assistant comes to terms with her father's death and her own life. The plot spans one year, beginning with the day Helen learns of her father's fatal heart attack. Helen struggles with boyfriend Jasper, landlord Marcus, "best friend" Michelle, and her boss at GirlTime magazine. A complex part of Helen's healing process is repairing her relationship with her overbearing mother who, though she mourns her husband inconsolably, eventually finds new direction in her life. Helen discovers real love and learns enough about real friendship to hold onto her loyal, true buddies, saving a life in the process. As she stumbles from one crisis to another, Helen is always likable, even if the decisions she makes often make the reader want to give her a good shake. Although the narrative tackles many issues, from the loss of a parent to the horrors of domestic violence, Maxted's bouncy, upbeat tone never falters. Revealing a touch for comic timing and versatility, she paints scenes of hilarious pratfalls, biting sarcasm and heart-wrenching pathos. While comparison between this work and Fielding's is unavoidable, Maxted's laugh-out-loud debut novel will come out ahead.
