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The Understanding of Women
 
 
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The Understanding of Women [Kindle Edition]

Janina Matthewson (Author), Sharron Denekamp (Illustrator)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
Kindle Price: £0.99 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
* Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

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Product Description

Product Description

James is in love with Imogen. Imogen has disappeared. With the help of an imaginary ex-girlfriend, James follows Imogen’s trail towards the grand romantic reunion he wants. He’s pretty sure…

James could always understand everyone. Everyone but Imogen. Imogen was a mystery, and now James needs to find her.

A light, whimsical novella of a boy who knows both too much and too little.

Reviews:
"Even though it's quite short, The Understanding of Women shakes you in questioning reality, as well as tackling lost love and regret. This novella is thought provoking and stays with you for days." - Writer's Little Helper, Jessica Patient

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 445 KB
  • Print Length: 67 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B009NGDJGE
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #284,743 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A joyful, quirky read. 17 Oct 2012
By CitizenNate
Amazon Verified Purchase
It's not often that the compulsion to write a review or leave a comment arises but the fact that "The Understanding of Women" has provoked this is a testament to it's quality. It is one of those books that triggers some affinity that ties you to it like discovering a slightly obscure band and their brilliant debut album. Like a debut album, Janina Matthewson has released something that feels fresh yet slightly quirky and confident in it's own voice. The premise of an unreliable narrator is here give na twist with an even more unreliable narrator's side kick and the dialogue between James and Maybe-Meg is funny, genuine and free flowing. Although the story may seem as if it's ready for a Richard Curtis style rom-com it sits far more comfortably in the film oeuvre of Wes Anderson. If it seems odd to use films to describe a book, then that's because the writing immediately conjured images to me that made it seem ideal for filming. I devoured this book with great glee and can confidently say it is one those tales I will return to with pleasure in the future. Looking forward to what the author produces next.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Great little read 16 Oct 2012
By A_lost_karl
Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this on the way to work over two days (short commute) and it was just a lovely way to start the day off. Ms. Matthewson has created a well structured novella here with an interesting concept at its core. Questioning whether it's better to provide what others want from us or provide ourselves with what would make us happy was a smart idea and one that works well in this story. With another layer to the story apart from what would be an engaging tale about lost love and regret it makes for an entertaining and thought provoking read.

One star knocked off as I would have liked it to be longer. There are some fun ideas here that I would love to have seen developed more. The work finishes just as I was full of questions about the main character and his world.

It's produced more questions than it answers, so now I'm going to have to pester other people to read it just so I can have an argument about it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars The literary equivalent of a fondant fancy 17 Dec 2012
By Bob Arctor
The Understanding of Women straddles the boundary where a long short story starts to become a short novella. I'm not sure of the word count, but it took me an hour or so to read. For me, that's about my limit for reading from my mobile's screen (I don't have an e-reader of any type, so the Kindle app is as close as I get). But it turns out that a little screen actually suits the story pretty well. It's not an epic tale, just a neat, small story with a lot of heart.

James wakes up at the start of the story, hungover and lying on the floor of a library. As he is taking in and trying to make sense of his surroundings, he realises he is not alone - Maybe-Meg, a girl who might be entirely imaginary has arrived to help him track down his ex-girlfriend, Isobel. As well as a tendency to have conversations with imaginary people, James has the gift of being able to understand exactly what people want, regardless of what they say. This has enabled him to have a string of successful but ultimately unfulfilling relationships with girls - until he met Isobel, who remained a complete mystery to him. Now Isobel is gone, and James wants her back.

His quest takes him on a journey around London, tracking down mutual friends and visiting everywhere Isobel might be. Along the way, he learns more about himself, and in doing so he is forced to start thinking more clearly about what he's actually looking for.

Janina Matthewson writes clearly and she does a good line in understated humour. Her unfussy prose never threatens to get in the way of the story, and as a result the book zips along nicely. I read it in one sitting, but you could equally well break it up into shorter sessions, as it's divided into several sections or mini-chapters.... Read more ›
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