Ariel Leve has the ability to turn any personal disaster into a funny, endearing, self-deprecating story. Her 'Cassandra' column is one of the most popular in the "Sunday Times", and this book gathers together the very best of the pieces, arranging them into themes, ranging from ways of getting through the day, to health concerns, romantic disasters, personality defects and a whole calamitous catalogue of worst case scenarios. Hypochondriac, neurotic, habitual sweater-of-the-small-stuff, Cassandra is one of life's worriers. She counts it a good day if she manages to get out of bed. If someone should ask: What's the worst that can happen? she has a ready-made list and lives in permanent fear of what's to come. But at least, as a pessimist, she's fully prepared for any eventuality: people who see the glass half full are only a spill away from disappointment. Whether you've been dumped by the love of your life, lost your job, said the wrong thing at a party, or forgotten to have children, Cassandra is there to remind you that it could be worse - you could be her.
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'A funny, smart, delightfully cranky book about everything from Facebook to dating to Angelina Jolie's dinner conversation' - A.J. Jacobs -- Review
'Insightful and sharp - this is a very funny book' - Joan Rivers -- Review
'Packed full of laugh-out-loud one-liners and thoughtful observations on everyday life ... forthright, funny and extremely honest' - The List
-- Review
`Ariel Leve is brilliant and funny. Buy this book and keep it close' - Bill Nighy -- Review
'Insightful and sharp - this is a very funny book' - Joan Rivers -- Review
'Packed full of laugh-out-loud one-liners and thoughtful observations on everyday life ... forthright, funny and extremely honest' - The List
-- Review
`Ariel Leve is brilliant and funny. Buy this book and keep it close' - Bill Nighy -- Review
Review
`Ariel Leve is brilliant and funny. Buy this book and keep it close' - Bill Nighy
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Christopher Meadows
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Ariel Leve's selection of short columns is something of a surprise. In a world which emphasises and expects individual happiness to be the end-all of existence, the stark honesty behind this book is a breath of fresh air. Pessimism is the order of the day here, ranging across a variety of topics - relationships, travel, health, each approached with the view that things are a) already pretty bad and b) are likely to get worse.
The title, The Cassandra Chronicles, suggests someone providing prophetic truths, which everyone else ignores - and that seems to be part of the context of the book, the author a lone realist in a society of people who wake up in the morning with a smile on their faces.
One of the strengths of the text is the universality of the issues presented; reading it, I often thought "I know how that feels". I imagine most readers will feel the same, though their responses to the situation described might be less pessimistic than those presented. This link from the text to the reader, a staple of stand ups everywhere, is transmitted very well here.
That each column is loaded with wry, self-deprecating wit is an added bonus.
The text specialises in creating a particular mood, and then injecting it with the above humour. In both instances, it succeeds excellently. This may make the text a victim of its own success - I would advise reading this book in short burst, as otherwise the `down' mood can begin to feel oppressive. However, each item in the book can be read separately, and so provide short bursts of melancholy entertainment.
This is an extremely well written collection, which made me smile throughout, interspersed with laughter, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Sharply humorous, with a great insight into every day life, this is a book that proves very hard to put down.
The title, The Cassandra Chronicles, suggests someone providing prophetic truths, which everyone else ignores - and that seems to be part of the context of the book, the author a lone realist in a society of people who wake up in the morning with a smile on their faces.
One of the strengths of the text is the universality of the issues presented; reading it, I often thought "I know how that feels". I imagine most readers will feel the same, though their responses to the situation described might be less pessimistic than those presented. This link from the text to the reader, a staple of stand ups everywhere, is transmitted very well here.
That each column is loaded with wry, self-deprecating wit is an added bonus.
The text specialises in creating a particular mood, and then injecting it with the above humour. In both instances, it succeeds excellently. This may make the text a victim of its own success - I would advise reading this book in short burst, as otherwise the `down' mood can begin to feel oppressive. However, each item in the book can be read separately, and so provide short bursts of melancholy entertainment.
This is an extremely well written collection, which made me smile throughout, interspersed with laughter, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Sharply humorous, with a great insight into every day life, this is a book that proves very hard to put down.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Ann Fairweather
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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When I started to read the 'Cassandra Chronicles', I got a shock : it felt like something I could have written !...The more I read, the more I discovered someone who is very much like me : a pessimist ! Nowadays, this kind of people are rare, or they keep quiet, overwhelmed as they are by the legions of forcefully cheerful, 'happy' sort who dictate joviality everywhere. So, how refreshing, how astonishing to read stuff from someone who dares to say that, yes, life is not too short but possibly too long, that going out is a bore, that not doing much with your life is ok, and so on.... A very very funny book if you can take the bleakness of Ariel's outlook on life. (well it's not that bad )
I did not know her columns in the Sunday Times, but the book did not feel like columns put together, but rather like very witty, sarcastic, wry musings and ponderings on every day life. I really want to congratulate Ariel Leve on putting out a book with such audacious views, that so many people will perceive as 'negative'. Well, maybe they are, but thanks god for the change !!!
I did not know her columns in the Sunday Times, but the book did not feel like columns put together, but rather like very witty, sarcastic, wry musings and ponderings on every day life. I really want to congratulate Ariel Leve on putting out a book with such audacious views, that so many people will perceive as 'negative'. Well, maybe they are, but thanks god for the change !!!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Ariel Leve is an award winning investigative journalist who writes for The Times. Her credentials are impeccable and she certainly can write. As well as her more serious work she writes a column called Cassandra, in which, like her mythical namesake she predicts woe, woe and woe.
The articles revolve around her life, her neuroses and her obsession with her health. This book is a compilation of the articles as well as some previously unpublished material.
Each article is short and pithy and the articles are grouped together in thematic chapters. It is the perfect coffee table or loo book. Something to dip into every now and again when you want to read something funny, gentle and untaxing.
And she is funny. My problem with the book is that individually the articles work beautifully, clumped together in one volume they tend to become a little bit repetitive. Reading this for review I felt compelled to read it from cover to cover, to give a fair opinion of the book, but it would have worked better had I the time and luxury to dip in and out as and when I felt like it.
The articles revolve around her life, her neuroses and her obsession with her health. This book is a compilation of the articles as well as some previously unpublished material.
Each article is short and pithy and the articles are grouped together in thematic chapters. It is the perfect coffee table or loo book. Something to dip into every now and again when you want to read something funny, gentle and untaxing.
And she is funny. My problem with the book is that individually the articles work beautifully, clumped together in one volume they tend to become a little bit repetitive. Reading this for review I felt compelled to read it from cover to cover, to give a fair opinion of the book, but it would have worked better had I the time and luxury to dip in and out as and when I felt like it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
one book, two titles (!)
WHY did the publisher change the previous title "The Cassandra Chronicles" into "It could be worse..."?? Read more
Published 4 months ago by maria
1.0 out of 5 stars
No it can't be worse
Amazon US does not share its reviews with the UK site, so here is the comment I wrote about Ariel Leve opus, and which is available on the US site. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2011 by Serge Berthier
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cassandra Chronicles
I'm a keen reader of these journalism column genre of books. Jeremy Clarkson in particular, being one of my favourites. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2010 by Ghost of Kai
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious!
I am not subject to depression in fact I am the opposite of Ariel Leve's persona -- pretended? -- obsession. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2010 by Kenneth A. Erickson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Life on the flipside!
It is clear from the start that The Cassandra Chronicles is really not going to be everyone's cup of tea. In fact I would say it will only appeal to a minority audience. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2009 by Crafty Marie
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Cassandra Chronicles
The book contains a series of musings on a variety of subjects, helpfully arranged into themed chapters such as `Getting through the day', `Personality Defects' and `Sweating the... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2009 by S. Thomas
1.0 out of 5 stars
Why would anyone buy this book . . .
. . . was a good question asked by the author's father. I found the content of this book to be too repetitive to be enjoyable. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2009 by kehs
3.0 out of 5 stars
Why Would Anyone Read This Book?
I wasn't aware of Leve before reading this book, but she's a writer and newspaper columnist who spends her time between London and New York. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2009 by Ben Saunders
1.0 out of 5 stars
Cassandra's Chronic
If this was about a real woman I think she would have hung herself by now. For the most part Ariel Leve is trying desperately too hard to sound funny so making her sound completely... Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2009 by Kevin Roche
2.0 out of 5 stars
Gloomy, depressing and frankly boring
Ariel Leve gets up in the morning and while still in her pajamas (that she seems to be wearing all the time) starts her day with hating herself. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2009 by Klingsor
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