- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (4 Feb 2010)
- Language Unknown
- ISBN-10: 0141039914
- ISBN-13: 978-0141039916
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 920,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Footnotes to Sex
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Product Description
Review
'A wonderfully impressive first novel: subtle, smart and very funny. I loved this book' --Sarah Waters
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Wise, stylish and embarrassingly funny, shows we're all fools for love'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Marie Claire magazine actually thought this was a book about a man and a woman in a sexless relationship! Who can blame them when Penguin uses the classic device of deliberately omitting pronouns on the blurb and May's lover is called Jansen, a man's name. It's well-written and original, representing the many relationships, gay and straight, which are -
amazingly enough - not all about sex. Or even a little bit about sex.
Both Jansen and May (women) reject the offer of passionate affairs to return to their world of 9 o'clock bed-times, long discussions about work, arguments about what to cook and pyjama-clad-cuddles. You expect it to end with them finally having sex, but it doesn't, they're arguing in a desultory way on holiday. In this case, as in many relationships, usually undocumented in literature, sex is not the source of their contentment.
The writer of the blurb clearly hasn't read the whole book as double chocolate biscuits don't even feature - they eat digestives and cinnamon scones! It's not a romantic comedy, either, thank goodness, although Penguin would like you to think it is. Instead, we have something much more sincere, interesting and true to life.
What a shame Penguin don't dare market it as a book about women...
amazingly enough - not all about sex. Or even a little bit about sex.
Both Jansen and May (women) reject the offer of passionate affairs to return to their world of 9 o'clock bed-times, long discussions about work, arguments about what to cook and pyjama-clad-cuddles. You expect it to end with them finally having sex, but it doesn't, they're arguing in a desultory way on holiday. In this case, as in many relationships, usually undocumented in literature, sex is not the source of their contentment.
The writer of the blurb clearly hasn't read the whole book as double chocolate biscuits don't even feature - they eat digestives and cinnamon scones! It's not a romantic comedy, either, thank goodness, although Penguin would like you to think it is. Instead, we have something much more sincere, interesting and true to life.
What a shame Penguin don't dare market it as a book about women...
Format:Paperback
I really liked the tone of this novel. There's a lot of realistic dialogue, and you can feel the protagonist's despair as well as getting annoyed with her.
May is supposed to write a PhD about a French writer whom she's besotted with, but she keeps procrastinating. May's long term partner Jansen is very patient, but there's also the threat of Jansen's ex lover who's in town. What also adds dynamic to the story is that May's younger sister comes to stay. May accuses her sister for wasting her life, not realising that she's talking about herself ...
The title is very clever, luring the reader in, but what's so funny is that there's not a single sex scene in the book, and somehow, even if it's disappointing, it's the lack of sex that drives the novel forward ... You are waiting for May and Jansen to make up through sex, or for May and the French writer to have sex, but it doesn't happen ... Very sad, very realistic, about a couple who's stuck in a routine. That Jansen doesn't leave May is admirable. I had expected May to change and become more independent towards the end of the novel, but she's pretty much a hopeless case.
May is supposed to write a PhD about a French writer whom she's besotted with, but she keeps procrastinating. May's long term partner Jansen is very patient, but there's also the threat of Jansen's ex lover who's in town. What also adds dynamic to the story is that May's younger sister comes to stay. May accuses her sister for wasting her life, not realising that she's talking about herself ...
The title is very clever, luring the reader in, but what's so funny is that there's not a single sex scene in the book, and somehow, even if it's disappointing, it's the lack of sex that drives the novel forward ... You are waiting for May and Jansen to make up through sex, or for May and the French writer to have sex, but it doesn't happen ... Very sad, very realistic, about a couple who's stuck in a routine. That Jansen doesn't leave May is admirable. I had expected May to change and become more independent towards the end of the novel, but she's pretty much a hopeless case.
Format:Paperback
I loved this book and the funny and observant writing. I found May's character infuriating but loveable and cringed with embarassement for her and for myself when I related to her.
I loved to hate Francine's character and enjoyed Jansen and Elizabeth, the carefree and directionless sister of May.
I laughed throughout and gobbled up the story in a weekend - something I rarely make time to do, but I couldnt put it down. I found it subtle and enjoyed its originality and humour.
I loved to hate Francine's character and enjoyed Jansen and Elizabeth, the carefree and directionless sister of May.
I laughed throughout and gobbled up the story in a weekend - something I rarely make time to do, but I couldnt put it down. I found it subtle and enjoyed its originality and humour.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pretentious and Dull
I read this as part of a book club and persisted for a good length of time before flicking ahead to see if anything of any note at all happens. Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2009 by avodaith
A JOY FROM START TO FINISH
A wonderfully subtle and unnerving comedy of anxiety and thwarted ambition. Anyone, male or female, who procrastinates over life's decisions, both big and small, will identify... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by Alafan
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