- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; paperback / softback edition (6 July 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140281878
- ISBN-13: 978-0140281873
- Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 1.8 x 19.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 322,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
My Life On a Plate
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Some would say Clara (Jabba the) Hutt has achieved "the goal": husband, house and 2.4 children. She is a "smug married." However, there's always a downside and Clara's not-so-perfect life consists of carting her boys to and from school, giving her a chance to see how the truly flawless mothers exist; trying to decipher, after eight years of marriage, whether her mysterious husband actually exercises his bodily functions or not; and, of course, her eccentric family, which consists of a thin, beautiful, insane mother and a string of ex-step-daddies, plus ex-step-siblings. Added to the Clara cocktail are her swinging single friends, the perfect mothers who turn out to be Jezebels in M & S clothing, and the strange Irish dancer who she must interview, renamed by her five year old as "bloody Dunphy."
Hailed as the Bridget Jones of the 21st century, India Knight's first novel My Life on a Plate is a good giggle. If anything, it is the inverse of Bridget Jones since Clara Hutt starts with everything and heads in completely the opposite direction. Funny, warm and full of "does my bum look big in this?" sentiment, Clara ponders the question: "everyone wants to be married--don't they?" --Neena Dutta
Review
A wickedly funny and painfully honest comic novel. It's a triumph (Sue Townsend )
Made me laugh out loud. Does for divorcees what Bridget Jones's Diary did for singletons (Lynn Barber Daily Telegraph )
The funniest novel of the year. A brilliant take on modern matrimony (Evening Standard )
A sharp, witty novel...groundbreaking in women's fiction in that it attempts to investigate modern marriage: what it does to women, to their sex drive and their sense of self (Marie Claire )
Brilliantly funny (Vogue )
A comic tour de force (Daily Telegraph )
That rare thing: the lightweight comic novel that is well written, neatly constructed and actually funny (Guardian )
Clara is a thoroughly engaging, modern heroine who never descends into head-clutching cuteness. If India Knight doesn't produce a sequel, sharpish, she needs her head examined (The Times ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Made me laugh out loud. Does for divorcees what Bridget Jones's Diary did for singletons (Lynn Barber Daily Telegraph )
The funniest novel of the year. A brilliant take on modern matrimony (Evening Standard )
A sharp, witty novel...groundbreaking in women's fiction in that it attempts to investigate modern marriage: what it does to women, to their sex drive and their sense of self (Marie Claire )
Brilliantly funny (Vogue )
A comic tour de force (Daily Telegraph )
That rare thing: the lightweight comic novel that is well written, neatly constructed and actually funny (Guardian )
Clara is a thoroughly engaging, modern heroine who never descends into head-clutching cuteness. If India Knight doesn't produce a sequel, sharpish, she needs her head examined (The Times ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book. Not a life altering read but not suppossed to be. A witty little novel with fantastic characters. I actually found myself being able to normalise some of my strange behaviours! I love the fact that the main character, Clara is so utterly flawed like most of us but so ready to admit it - I want her as a friend!! It has a kind of english eccentricity that charmed me completely. My boyfriend decided he had to read it when he heard me laughing so much and he doesn't do fiction!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
OK, I agree with most of the comments in the previous reviews so won't repeat them. But to sum up:
Negatives: Another story based in London; another heroine bored of her (cushty) life; more label-obsessed, somewhat shallow characters; an impossibly implausible ending. Yawn.
Positives: It is written by India Knight who is possibly the best columnist around at the moment; it is side-splittingly funny yet heart-renderingly sad; it portrays an interesting snapshot of a dysfunctional marriage; the heroine is ballsy and 'quite bad' at times, and for once she is not a simpering/ chardonnay-swilling/ working-for-an-ad-agency girl waiting for her Price Charming.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A brilliant book, extremely funny and very well written, I couldn't put this book down until I'd finished it and my only complaint would be that I finished it too soon and I would have liked it to be twice as long. India Knight has such an "adulty", unique way of putting things, she's very observant about everyday life and isn't afraid to talk about things that most people are too scared to even think about. Very down to earth and it was great that she addressed problems like being on the podgy side and not bothering to dress to impress, problems that most women over 30 would identify with. I can't wait for the follow up......I hope there is going to be one ! .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing
Despite being a great fan of India Knight - this was very disappointing in every aspect. Unbelievable characters and all very shallow.
Published 1 month ago by Angela Newland
Disappointed
After loving India Knight's "Don't you want me?" and reading several good reviews on this book, I finally decided to give this book a try. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sin
my very very favourite
I adore this book. It got me through many tough times, always raising a laugh when things looked bleak. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ms. SL Naylor
A real laugh out loud book! Hysterical
I could not put this book down. I read it cover to cover on a train journey with tears dripping down my face... it is hysterical. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. R. A. Williams
Hmmm...
I picked this up after reading 'Comfort & Joy' at Christmas and really enjoying it.
This book follows the character of Clara (the same person as in comfort & joy) and... Read more
This book follows the character of Clara (the same person as in comfort & joy) and... Read more
Published 16 months ago by C. Rucroft
a hilarious read at such a great value!
the book is one of the funniest reads i have ever brought. The main narrator is self loathing in a satirical way, that really captures the reader. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Hibbs
Love , love, loved it!
This book had me laughing out loud - I've re-read it, lent it out and bought it for friends. Great fun - I love India Knight.
Published 20 months ago by welshdresser
Shocking
It's shocking to think that India Knight has written such drivel, including jokes about people dancing like "spastics" and, when her main character spills food down her front, she... Read more
Published on 11 April 2010 by Jo Devon
It may work for you - or not?
It didn't for me, certainly, though it was funny at times, I admit. The lack of dialogues was something I missed from the beginning, and then, I found it irritating how the couple... Read more
Published on 7 April 2008 by N. Krisztina
Lost count of how many times I have re-read this!
This book is hilarious! Its the kind of book that actually manages to get me out of a bad mood - I have read it so many times it is falling to pieces. I absolutely love it! Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2007 by helpful
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