This one is fresh. I have not read a funnier description of a heartbroken bachelor before, maybe I have not read enough, yet this would be funnier I speculate. This actually seemed a generalization of a twenty-something bachelor's life and of all his everyday feats. If I had to quote everything that is funny or interesting or entertaining in this book I have to write the whole book here again. This is more of giggling and tittering type than of laugh-out-loud.This book stuck a chord with me too, like it did with a lot of sulking men out there. It was a little too whiny but author did not hide it, instead mentioned it himself in various ways. I bought Mr.Commitment before this, but before I could complete it I gave it to my only best friend for safe keeping. By safe keeping, I mean that it would never come back to me again. But it is satisfying to think of it as my small token of gift for her tolerant nature towards my complete lack of knowledge about real world and real people and their nature which alters with each person, situation, and time. What stupid things people do when they are in desperate need of company or a partner or when heart broke. I still could not believe that he pulled this profound yet conflicting story through perfectly with humor and wit. The turn of events in just 3 days is stupendous. It was depressing at first to concur with the decision of Will and Kate about the wedding, but I accepted it easily later when I thought of the theory of wedding and marriage in India. There were a lot of things I related myself to with Will. It is not easy to make yourself acceptable and presentable over the phone while talking to a person you have not met before and come out successful. Most of the things I thought I alone would do when I am living in a room all to myself, were described most accurately by Mike. Maybe everyone is alike and it is just best kept secret that makes us all feel different and unique about ourselves. Everybody has a person in their life whom they put on a pedestal and devote themselves to that one person while brooding about miserable turn of events which caused the separation from that one person they choose to be with under all conditions, gay and grave. But there are only few of them who has got an Alice. What of all of who have not got an Alice. With no rhyme or reason some lives are kicked into an unending well of desolation and dejection. Maybe we should never care for someone more than the magnitude of pain we can endure in their absence. Wow, I just formed sentence that does make no sense but feels profound and deep, at least to me. He left a little clue in the form of changing voice and nature of Alice before the climax was thrown into the face of the reader. I grabbed that clue, but still was dubious as he introduced Aggi again.The ending was exemplary. I love this book.
I never would have found Mike Gayle had it not been for my flatmate insisting I read one of his books. I have to admit I wasn't too sure at first. The blurb read a bit too much like chick lit novel for my liking. I'm a man, and I like manly things dammit! Luckily I got past my silly male ego and embraced my metrosexuality, and a good few years later and I'm one of Mike Gayle's biggest fans. My Legendary Girlfriend was Gayle's first novel, having spent time as a journalist and features writer. This book was a huge success as Gayle followed in the footsteps of fellow lad lit author Nick Hornby to write a book about relationships from a male perspective with very high praise indeed.To read the rest of my review please visit my blog: http://stevenscaffardi.blogspot.co.uk...
Membaca Turning Thirty itu menyenangkan dan menghibur meskipun bukan novel yang luar biasa. Karena itu, aku pikir nggak ada salahnya mencoba baca buku My Legendary Girlfriend dengan asumsi bisa menghibur. Rupanya aku salah. My Legendary Girlfriend bercerita tentang William Kelly, yang akan berusia 26 tahun di awal cerita. Will baru seminggu menjadi guru SMP, tinggal di apartemen kumuh di London, dan masih terobsesi dengan mantan pacarnya yang telah putus tiga tahun lalu, Aggi. Seperti judulnya, My Legendary Girlfriend ditujukan mengenai kenangan Will terhadap pacarnya yang legendaris yaitu Aggi. Di sepanjang novel, Will akan selalu mengingat BANYAK hal mengenai Aggi. Aggi begini, Aggi begitu, Aggi akan seperti ini dan itu. Sedangkan gambar telepon di sampulnya menunjukkan aktivitas Will yang bepusat di sekitar telepon di mana dia bisa merasa hidupnya lebih baik. Sungguh deh, bukannya terhibur membaca novel ini, aku malah merasa frutasi dan super sebal dengan Will yang kebanyakan waktunya dihabiskan dengan meratapi nasibnya dan Aggi. Yang lebih menyebalkan lagi dari novel ini adalah terjemahnnya nggak bagus yang membuat kalimat-kalimat yang ada menjadi aneh dan nggak logis. Dan sesungguhnya Tom adalah adik Will yang lebih muda delapan tahun, tapi di beberapa bagian di novel diterjemahkan sebagai "KAKAK". Sungguh menyebalkan.
—Rise
This book, it depressed me. It felt like I was being dragged through a very slow and painful death--Will Kelley's death. This novel is like a rubber band that's stretched too far and would most likely snap. Which would make it deserve at least 3 stars, but I gave it a 4 because I liked how I didn't expect the ending. I'm GLAD he got up, move on, and never returned to that Agnes girl who's probably going to end up with an idiot. Will is a lovable character, and my pity and sympathy were turned to
—Mags
I loved this book. The main character was a wreck, but I could totally relate. I've been in his shoes even though I hope I was never quite so desperate. It had a few cringeworthy moments, and the pace seemed a bit slow at times. But all that was necessary to appreciate the full impact of the final payoff.Very much a slice-of-life type story, this book's 277 pages took place mostly in Will's apartment over the course of three or four days. With flashbacks, long phone conversations, and detailed accounts of every moment, thought, and feeling Will experienced, the author paints a vivid portrait of a man's life. He's a pathetic, obsessive, lonely, aimless, tortured man, right on the cusp of his 26th birthday. Even so, you want him to be okay, to "get sorted". He's a hopeless romantic, and darnit but doesn't the world need more of those?The story is full of witty lines, touching moments, angst, and cultural references. It's set around the mid 90's so it's nostalgic too.There are overlapping, sometimes imaginary love triangles, longings, regrets, shocking revelations, apathy, and redemption.If you have even a single romantic bone in your body and you're in the mood for a book where the main character is flawed but likeable, you should read this book.
—Zanriel
