Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

not up to standard, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this as soon as it came out in hardback as I had enjoyed all the author's previous novels. However I found this book slow and heavy, half the time I wasn't sure who was 'talking' and I don't feel the characters were as crafted as I had come to expect from this author. I actually gave up about half way through the book as I had totally lost interest.

Keyes Gone Off the Boil, 13 Oct 2008
Good God, what has happened to Marian Keyes? Most of her novels were wonderful. Characters like you and me, making their way through rainy Mondays in a crap job, visiting their crazy family on weekends and wondering why the man you like never, ever likes you back. They were such a good laugh. But now she's trying to be a 'serious' writer and it doesn't work because she's just going for the shock factor. Anybody could write something disgusting about a man beating up or raping a woman. It requires no talent to write graphically. Subtlety is another matter. I bought this at a jumble sale for a dollar, and I'm going to throw it away. I also threw away her novel before this one, which was all about a newlywed whose husband had died in a car accident and the main protagonist had her fingernails ripped off. I too could make up improbable and disgusting injuries. Again, nothing talented about that. If she continues to write this pretentious crap littered with depressing and stomach-churning gore, I will certainly never bother with her books again. And it's only got a star because the system won't let me submit with no stars. Keyes, people pick up your books to be entertained, not totally depressed and frightened. Learn that.

Really depressing, 09 Oct 2008
I am a huge Marian Keyes fan but I am finding this book so depressing (am about half-way through) that I haven't been able to pick it up for about 2 weeks.
It is fair enough to deal with "gritty" subjects, but if I want to read a book like that I'll go and buy one. With Marian, you can normally rely on the storyline and topics, and you know what you're getting. With this one, you don't.
I actually like the Lola parts - they are the only funny bits I've found so far - it's the other parts I don't enjoy. It is also very long drawn-out and although I'm half-way through I am still not sure what the "secret" and the point of it is - either it is terrifically obvious and I have already guessed it, or it is something very unexpected and I have to wait till the last chapter, which I just find annoying.
I've found myself skipping entire pages and leafing through to the end to see if it's worth reading on.
It's a shame because it is a big fat book, and if I was enjoying it, I'd be delighted to have so much MK in one go!

One of the worst books ever!, 30 Sep 2008
I have read many books and all of Marian Keyes and is one of the worst books i have ever read! It took me 4 and a half weeks to read and couldn't wait to finish it so I could a better book! It was far to long but u never get to know any of the characters properly, starts off funny and then gets a bit depressing. Very dissapointed!

Enjoyable, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this book was a wonderful read. I generally did not want to put it down.
This was the first Marian Keyes book that i have read and since doing so, I have bought 2 more of her books.
I believe the voice of 'lola' could at times be too much and her stories/observations were long winded, however overall i thouroughly enjoyed this story.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

not up to standard, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this as soon as it came out in hardback as I had enjoyed all the author's previous novels. However I found this book slow and heavy, half the time I wasn't sure who was 'talking' and I don't feel the characters were as crafted as I had come to expect from this author. I actually gave up about half way through the book as I had totally lost interest.

Keyes Gone Off the Boil, 13 Oct 2008
Good God, what has happened to Marian Keyes? Most of her novels were wonderful. Characters like you and me, making their way through rainy Mondays in a crap job, visiting their crazy family on weekends and wondering why the man you like never, ever likes you back. They were such a good laugh. But now she's trying to be a 'serious' writer and it doesn't work because she's just going for the shock factor. Anybody could write something disgusting about a man beating up or raping a woman. It requires no talent to write graphically. Subtlety is another matter. I bought this at a jumble sale for a dollar, and I'm going to throw it away. I also threw away her novel before this one, which was all about a newlywed whose husband had died in a car accident and the main protagonist had her fingernails ripped off. I too could make up improbable and disgusting injuries. Again, nothing talented about that. If she continues to write this pretentious crap littered with depressing and stomach-churning gore, I will certainly never bother with her books again. And it's only got a star because the system won't let me submit with no stars. Keyes, people pick up your books to be entertained, not totally depressed and frightened. Learn that.

Really depressing, 09 Oct 2008
I am a huge Marian Keyes fan but I am finding this book so depressing (am about half-way through) that I haven't been able to pick it up for about 2 weeks.
It is fair enough to deal with "gritty" subjects, but if I want to read a book like that I'll go and buy one. With Marian, you can normally rely on the storyline and topics, and you know what you're getting. With this one, you don't.
I actually like the Lola parts - they are the only funny bits I've found so far - it's the other parts I don't enjoy. It is also very long drawn-out and although I'm half-way through I am still not sure what the "secret" and the point of it is - either it is terrifically obvious and I have already guessed it, or it is something very unexpected and I have to wait till the last chapter, which I just find annoying.
I've found myself skipping entire pages and leafing through to the end to see if it's worth reading on.
It's a shame because it is a big fat book, and if I was enjoying it, I'd be delighted to have so much MK in one go!

One of the worst books ever!, 30 Sep 2008
I have read many books and all of Marian Keyes and is one of the worst books i have ever read! It took me 4 and a half weeks to read and couldn't wait to finish it so I could a better book! It was far to long but u never get to know any of the characters properly, starts off funny and then gets a bit depressing. Very dissapointed!

Enjoyable, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this book was a wonderful read. I generally did not want to put it down.
This was the first Marian Keyes book that i have read and since doing so, I have bought 2 more of her books.
I believe the voice of 'lola' could at times be too much and her stories/observations were long winded, however overall i thouroughly enjoyed this story.

A few flaws, 18 Sep 2008
I can see how this might work for some people, but it definitely wont work for me. I have IBS which is triggered by dairy amongst other things, and a lot of these recipes have things that I cant eat suxh as butter and cream, although they do sound tasty.

However, my main concern with this book is the misleading information. Reference to good fats in butter and double cream, in my opinion, is complete nonsense. The fats found here are saturated fats, the bad kind. The 'good fats', or fatty acids, that are an essential part of our diet are found in foods such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and oily fish, NOT butter and cream. I think Neris and India should have put a bit more research into this before misleading their readers.

That said, there are some good points in the book, their overall mission i agree with, exercise more, eat better, lose weight.

Last 'diet' book I ever buy!, 14 Sep 2008
Like most women on the diet merry-go-round, I rush to embrace any new ideas for weight loss that appear easy and fad-free. Having ploughed through the introductory chapters where the authors describe in graphic detail their own battles with flab, I eventually got to the part where they divulge their weight-loss secrets. Unfortunately, there was nothing new here; it is basically yet another 'starve yourself for a while then start eating again' regime, extended into a book which could quite easily have encompassed a leaflet. Needless to say,I didn't follow it, but joined an exercise class, starting eating sensibly and have lost almost 2 stones in weight.

Jumping on the bandwagon, 28 Aug 2008
I am another one of those people whose life has changed completely due to this book. I look at food and health very differently than I did before. Granted, it could have been any low-carb diet because it's the low-carb lifestyle in general that has won me over. But if it wasn't for the witty true-to-life writing style of this book, I would probably still be yoyo-ing on low calorie diets! Thank you India and Neris, I lost tons of weight, I am happier and healthier and I have learned so much about food and on top of all that, I've become a cook! Always thought I hated cooking but now I enjoy it!

If you have already unsuccessfully tried every other diet, please give this a chance. It may seem drastic at first but you get used to it really fast. And it is absolutely one hundred percent healthy, do your research and you will find this out for yourself.

It worked for me !, 27 Aug 2008
I am not a diet-book person or one for "faddy diets". I saw this quite by chance at the top of the bestsellers list on Amazon at the end of Jan 08. I bought it on impulse as the time was right for me to do something about being overweight.
Once I committed myself to it (with the company of a friend - which was invaluable), it took me 6 months to lose 5 stone. I have remained stable at the weight I want to be now for a month. It's early days but I feel confident that I can keep to it, and all I can say is that it worked for me !
The basis of the initial diet is very low-carb - i.e. no potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, fruit whilst the majority of the weight is lost. You can eat any meat or fish, eggs, green veg and supplement it with "good fats" on the side - olive oil, butter, cheese, double cream etc. Once you have shifted all but about a stone you then gradually re-introduce low-carb foods to adjust back. It is a sociable diet and easy to adapt to eating out and around friends' houses - think roast dinner without potatoes but butter on veg / caesar salad with dressing but no croutons / cheese (and pate !) for dessert instead of puds !
A few of my friends have done the Lighter Life diet. It was never one for me because i knew that being off food completely for a quick weight loss would then make me panic when I was supposed to re-introduce them. I believe this is sustainable and has made a fantastic difference for me.
I would recommend buying the cookbook for some simple but effective recipes that both my husband and children ate quite happily.
Good luck !


This book needs to come with a health warning!, 18 Aug 2008
While I have to admire this book for attempting to address the issues that underlay a person's overeating, there's not much else to like about it. The "diet" has been put together by two amatuers with no experience in diets or nutrition other than having been on lots of diets in the past. Not a great place to start from...

It's interesting to read that the author claims this book presents a mediterranean diet when that clearly isn't the case. What they actually advocate is cutting out an entire foodgroup (carbohydrates). For the rest of your life. Which frankly, is just plain stupid.

Carbohydrates have received a bad rap in recent years but there's many different types and the authors show their naiveity by excluding the entire group. Put very simply, highly processed, simple carbohydrates are something we should exclude from our diet as much as possible. Complex carbs (whole grains) provide much-needed energy.

The diet advocated by these two woman is quite dangerous. Losing weight safely is easy - you need to burn more calories than you consume. Eat healthily (and most of us know what that means by now) and do regular exercise. It's the only sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off long-term.

Add this book to the enormous pile of faddy, dangerous diet books.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

not up to standard, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this as soon as it came out in hardback as I had enjoyed all the author's previous novels. However I found this book slow and heavy, half the time I wasn't sure who was 'talking' and I don't feel the characters were as crafted as I had come to expect from this author. I actually gave up about half way through the book as I had totally lost interest.

Keyes Gone Off the Boil, 13 Oct 2008
Good God, what has happened to Marian Keyes? Most of her novels were wonderful. Characters like you and me, making their way through rainy Mondays in a crap job, visiting their crazy family on weekends and wondering why the man you like never, ever likes you back. They were such a good laugh. But now she's trying to be a 'serious' writer and it doesn't work because she's just going for the shock factor. Anybody could write something disgusting about a man beating up or raping a woman. It requires no talent to write graphically. Subtlety is another matter. I bought this at a jumble sale for a dollar, and I'm going to throw it away. I also threw away her novel before this one, which was all about a newlywed whose husband had died in a car accident and the main protagonist had her fingernails ripped off. I too could make up improbable and disgusting injuries. Again, nothing talented about that. If she continues to write this pretentious crap littered with depressing and stomach-churning gore, I will certainly never bother with her books again. And it's only got a star because the system won't let me submit with no stars. Keyes, people pick up your books to be entertained, not totally depressed and frightened. Learn that.

Really depressing, 09 Oct 2008
I am a huge Marian Keyes fan but I am finding this book so depressing (am about half-way through) that I haven't been able to pick it up for about 2 weeks.
It is fair enough to deal with "gritty" subjects, but if I want to read a book like that I'll go and buy one. With Marian, you can normally rely on the storyline and topics, and you know what you're getting. With this one, you don't.
I actually like the Lola parts - they are the only funny bits I've found so far - it's the other parts I don't enjoy. It is also very long drawn-out and although I'm half-way through I am still not sure what the "secret" and the point of it is - either it is terrifically obvious and I have already guessed it, or it is something very unexpected and I have to wait till the last chapter, which I just find annoying.
I've found myself skipping entire pages and leafing through to the end to see if it's worth reading on.
It's a shame because it is a big fat book, and if I was enjoying it, I'd be delighted to have so much MK in one go!

One of the worst books ever!, 30 Sep 2008
I have read many books and all of Marian Keyes and is one of the worst books i have ever read! It took me 4 and a half weeks to read and couldn't wait to finish it so I could a better book! It was far to long but u never get to know any of the characters properly, starts off funny and then gets a bit depressing. Very dissapointed!

Enjoyable, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this book was a wonderful read. I generally did not want to put it down.
This was the first Marian Keyes book that i have read and since doing so, I have bought 2 more of her books.
I believe the voice of 'lola' could at times be too much and her stories/observations were long winded, however overall i thouroughly enjoyed this story.

A few flaws, 18 Sep 2008
I can see how this might work for some people, but it definitely wont work for me. I have IBS which is triggered by dairy amongst other things, and a lot of these recipes have things that I cant eat suxh as butter and cream, although they do sound tasty.

However, my main concern with this book is the misleading information. Reference to good fats in butter and double cream, in my opinion, is complete nonsense. The fats found here are saturated fats, the bad kind. The 'good fats', or fatty acids, that are an essential part of our diet are found in foods such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and oily fish, NOT butter and cream. I think Neris and India should have put a bit more research into this before misleading their readers.

That said, there are some good points in the book, their overall mission i agree with, exercise more, eat better, lose weight.

Last 'diet' book I ever buy!, 14 Sep 2008
Like most women on the diet merry-go-round, I rush to embrace any new ideas for weight loss that appear easy and fad-free. Having ploughed through the introductory chapters where the authors describe in graphic detail their own battles with flab, I eventually got to the part where they divulge their weight-loss secrets. Unfortunately, there was nothing new here; it is basically yet another 'starve yourself for a while then start eating again' regime, extended into a book which could quite easily have encompassed a leaflet. Needless to say,I didn't follow it, but joined an exercise class, starting eating sensibly and have lost almost 2 stones in weight.

Jumping on the bandwagon, 28 Aug 2008
I am another one of those people whose life has changed completely due to this book. I look at food and health very differently than I did before. Granted, it could have been any low-carb diet because it's the low-carb lifestyle in general that has won me over. But if it wasn't for the witty true-to-life writing style of this book, I would probably still be yoyo-ing on low calorie diets! Thank you India and Neris, I lost tons of weight, I am happier and healthier and I have learned so much about food and on top of all that, I've become a cook! Always thought I hated cooking but now I enjoy it!

If you have already unsuccessfully tried every other diet, please give this a chance. It may seem drastic at first but you get used to it really fast. And it is absolutely one hundred percent healthy, do your research and you will find this out for yourself.

It worked for me !, 27 Aug 2008
I am not a diet-book person or one for "faddy diets". I saw this quite by chance at the top of the bestsellers list on Amazon at the end of Jan 08. I bought it on impulse as the time was right for me to do something about being overweight.
Once I committed myself to it (with the company of a friend - which was invaluable), it took me 6 months to lose 5 stone. I have remained stable at the weight I want to be now for a month. It's early days but I feel confident that I can keep to it, and all I can say is that it worked for me !
The basis of the initial diet is very low-carb - i.e. no potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, fruit whilst the majority of the weight is lost. You can eat any meat or fish, eggs, green veg and supplement it with "good fats" on the side - olive oil, butter, cheese, double cream etc. Once you have shifted all but about a stone you then gradually re-introduce low-carb foods to adjust back. It is a sociable diet and easy to adapt to eating out and around friends' houses - think roast dinner without potatoes but butter on veg / caesar salad with dressing but no croutons / cheese (and pate !) for dessert instead of puds !
A few of my friends have done the Lighter Life diet. It was never one for me because i knew that being off food completely for a quick weight loss would then make me panic when I was supposed to re-introduce them. I believe this is sustainable and has made a fantastic difference for me.
I would recommend buying the cookbook for some simple but effective recipes that both my husband and children ate quite happily.
Good luck !


This book needs to come with a health warning!, 18 Aug 2008
While I have to admire this book for attempting to address the issues that underlay a person's overeating, there's not much else to like about it. The "diet" has been put together by two amatuers with no experience in diets or nutrition other than having been on lots of diets in the past. Not a great place to start from...

It's interesting to read that the author claims this book presents a mediterranean diet when that clearly isn't the case. What they actually advocate is cutting out an entire foodgroup (carbohydrates). For the rest of your life. Which frankly, is just plain stupid.

Carbohydrates have received a bad rap in recent years but there's many different types and the authors show their naiveity by excluding the entire group. Put very simply, highly processed, simple carbohydrates are something we should exclude from our diet as much as possible. Complex carbs (whole grains) provide much-needed energy.

The diet advocated by these two woman is quite dangerous. Losing weight safely is easy - you need to burn more calories than you consume. Eat healthily (and most of us know what that means by now) and do regular exercise. It's the only sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off long-term.

Add this book to the enormous pile of faddy, dangerous diet books.

Interesting read, 19 May 2008
I don't know all the metaphorical significance of this book, but I feel on the surface that the book is an intersting read, that you want to know what is going to happen to the family and especially the protagonist. You also feel for these people, which is, considering how short the story is, uncommon.
You have to read it to appreciate it, but it definately deserves a place as a classic.

Here goes yet another interpretation, 03 Apr 2006
Metamorphosis is one of the most famous works in world literature, and possibly has the most memorable opening lines in the history of story telling, - 'As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning after disturbing dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous insect'. A standard interpretation of this allegorical tale is that Gregor's transformation from hard working travelling salesman, providing for his family, to a grotesque useless insect that provokes disgust and pity and ultimately rejection by his family, represents physical disability, and society's treatment of it. I can see this in the story, but I read Kafka as essentially portraying his nightmare of the barrier between the public and personal inner world being removed. The private mental life, with its sensitive and raw secrets, its ugly and embarrasing little features, the desires and instincts that we strive to keep hidden, and/or are forced to repress. The bug is the embodiment of the ugly and raw inside turned out, exposed for all the world to see. Particularly nightmarish for Gregor (kafka) is the fact that those who see are those he loves and whose rejecton he fears most of all - his family.
That a short story of less than one hundred pages allows so many interpretative possibilities stands as a testament to Kafka's unique power to draw the reader into a hypnotic world of dark archetypal imagery. Upon finishing this novella, you may feel as though awoken from disturbing dreams, dreams that will nevetheless have cast some strange new light on your waking day.

Creepy yet gripping, 17 Jul 2005
Although the creepiness of this short by Franz Kafka is apparent from the opening, disturbing paragraph, its true weirdness isn't made clear until halfway through the story. Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, awakes one morning to find that he has been transformed into a hideous "insect" - cleverly, in true Kafka style, we never find out what type of insect he has metamorphosized into, our only insights are Kafka's various detailed descriptions of Gregor's feelings and physical apperance to his family... and himself. The style of this extremely enjoyable novel is reminiscent of his unfinished work, The Trial in which a man is on trial for an unknown reason (and it works well).

Struggling to hold his family together, the weirdness and fierceness of this story is now made apparent. Gregor's father attacks him - causing a turning point within the story as we now see Gregor's family resent his condition.

We never find out why or how Gregor has transformed but again, like in The Trial it simply doesn't matter. Using little direct speech, Kafka has woven Gregor's horror and disgust with his family's despair and fright to make a totally impossible situation seem almost real. The fact the only setting is Samsa family's apartment makes the atmosphere disturbing and creepy(very isolated and tense).

Gregor's family depended on him for money and therefore, as I think Kafka is trying to say, a bearable life. Gregor has to witness his family's downfall silently (literally, as he has lost the ability to talk), his only communication being indirect (I mean, with no speech) with his sister and the cleaner who visits him room ocassionally to clean and bring food. We see the Samsa family fall rapidly and become unable to cope with Gregor any longer.

The ending is no surprise, but I don't want to give it away simple because it significantly affects the ending - however, I feel that Kafka struggles to make his point stand-out - even though his ending paragraphs are brilliantly profound. Obviously, the plot in a child's nutshell is about a man who has turned into an insect and, seemingly without being able to help it, causes his family's downfall because of their dependence on him financially and emotionally - however, I think the novel should have been longer and therefore fleshing-out Kafka's point further.

I enjoyed this book very much, a classic - read it for the amazing language if nothing else. A brilliant story and message, Franz, but... a bit more material and it'd be perfect!

Final impression is that Kafka is a truly fantastic author. His use of language and tone is perfect (I noticed this in both Metamorphosis and The Trial). Buy and see for yourself!

Strange yet brilliant in ways, 18 Sep 2003
It was not my choice to read this book - it is a set book for an English course. If it hadn't have been for the course, I may not have ever read it. However, having now read the majority of the book, I have enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
This was the first book by Kafka that I have read. I was struck by how different his writing style is compared to writers I usually read. There is little dialogue in most of his stories, instead there are long sections of prose, which is highly punctuated.
The collection of stories in this volume are very weird. "Metamorphosis" for example is about a young man who awakens to find that he has changed into a "monstrous insect". It is a really surreal story, because of the absurdity of the situation, yet it is thought-provoking and quite insightful.
My only criticism of this volume is that, at times, his stories are a little too surreal. There are some included in the section entitled "The Country Doctor", which I have no ides what is trying to be said.
If, like me, you have never read a book by Kafka before, try reading this first. There are moments of tragedy, comedy and horror - what more could you really want?

The Greatest Writer of the twentieth century?, 15 Aug 2003
This book has been taking up space in my cupboard for a few months, since I had to read metamorphosis for my English degree. Yesterday I picked it up again, having graduated, and have only put it down since to write this.
Kafka is perhaps the most brilliant writer of the last century in perception and the way he can imaginatively express his ideas. 'Metamorphosis' is the most famous tale here, using the central metaphor of a man who awakes to find himself transformed into an insect, but the other stories have just as much to offer.
I was particularly surprised by the early 'Meditations' that appear here. The Editor notes that Kafka told his publisher to stop printing them, embarassed by what he saw as his early failings. This view is not born out by the shorts that appear here, each one taking a situation, observing the human behaviour taking place with humour but sympathy. Kafka makes the reader aware of the absurdity of his characters actions, but at the same time we are led to inherently understand the reasons for them. He never sacrifices a basic humanity.
'The Judgement' and 'The Stoker', the latter of which is the first chapter of the uncompleted novel 'Amerika', are strikingly effective stories. Any fans of Ishiguros 'The Unconsoled' should read these to see where that writers style comes from.
Kafka seems to be able to render the uncertainties, and lurking terror in the commonplace situations that take place in the modern world, in a light which every reader can share in. He expresses the inexpressible, instinctive doubts that anyone can feel at certain times. The unlikely situation of the one page parable, 'The Sudden Walk', is perhaps my favourite, as he depicts the sudden euphoria of taking action, in however small a respect. Again, we see the slight absurdity of the feelings this arouses, but see the subjective truth in them.
This collection has reinvested my faith in the sublime quality of literature that appears too rarely these days. I will definitely be reading the novels. A necessity for all literature fans.

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

not up to standard, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this as soon as it came out in hardback as I had enjoyed all the author's previous novels. However I found this book slow and heavy, half the time I wasn't sure who was 'talking' and I don't feel the characters were as crafted as I had come to expect from this author. I actually gave up about half way through the book as I had totally lost interest.

Keyes Gone Off the Boil, 13 Oct 2008
Good God, what has happened to Marian Keyes? Most of her novels were wonderful. Characters like you and me, making their way through rainy Mondays in a crap job, visiting their crazy family on weekends and wondering why the man you like never, ever likes you back. They were such a good laugh. But now she's trying to be a 'serious' writer and it doesn't work because she's just going for the shock factor. Anybody could write something disgusting about a man beating up or raping a woman. It requires no talent to write graphically. Subtlety is another matter. I bought this at a jumble sale for a dollar, and I'm going to throw it away. I also threw away her novel before this one, which was all about a newlywed whose husband had died in a car accident and the main protagonist had her fingernails ripped off. I too could make up improbable and disgusting injuries. Again, nothing talented about that. If she continues to write this pretentious crap littered with depressing and stomach-churning gore, I will certainly never bother with her books again. And it's only got a star because the system won't let me submit with no stars. Keyes, people pick up your books to be entertained, not totally depressed and frightened. Learn that.

Really depressing, 09 Oct 2008
I am a huge Marian Keyes fan but I am finding this book so depressing (am about half-way through) that I haven't been able to pick it up for about 2 weeks.
It is fair enough to deal with "gritty" subjects, but if I want to read a book like that I'll go and buy one. With Marian, you can normally rely on the storyline and topics, and you know what you're getting. With this one, you don't.
I actually like the Lola parts - they are the only funny bits I've found so far - it's the other parts I don't enjoy. It is also very long drawn-out and although I'm half-way through I am still not sure what the "secret" and the point of it is - either it is terrifically obvious and I have already guessed it, or it is something very unexpected and I have to wait till the last chapter, which I just find annoying.
I've found myself skipping entire pages and leafing through to the end to see if it's worth reading on.
It's a shame because it is a big fat book, and if I was enjoying it, I'd be delighted to have so much MK in one go!

One of the worst books ever!, 30 Sep 2008
I have read many books and all of Marian Keyes and is one of the worst books i have ever read! It took me 4 and a half weeks to read and couldn't wait to finish it so I could a better book! It was far to long but u never get to know any of the characters properly, starts off funny and then gets a bit depressing. Very dissapointed!

Enjoyable, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this book was a wonderful read. I generally did not want to put it down.
This was the first Marian Keyes book that i have read and since doing so, I have bought 2 more of her books.
I believe the voice of 'lola' could at times be too much and her stories/observations were long winded, however overall i thouroughly enjoyed this story.

A few flaws, 18 Sep 2008
I can see how this might work for some people, but it definitely wont work for me. I have IBS which is triggered by dairy amongst other things, and a lot of these recipes have things that I cant eat suxh as butter and cream, although they do sound tasty.

However, my main concern with this book is the misleading information. Reference to good fats in butter and double cream, in my opinion, is complete nonsense. The fats found here are saturated fats, the bad kind. The 'good fats', or fatty acids, that are an essential part of our diet are found in foods such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and oily fish, NOT butter and cream. I think Neris and India should have put a bit more research into this before misleading their readers.

That said, there are some good points in the book, their overall mission i agree with, exercise more, eat better, lose weight.

Last 'diet' book I ever buy!, 14 Sep 2008
Like most women on the diet merry-go-round, I rush to embrace any new ideas for weight loss that appear easy and fad-free. Having ploughed through the introductory chapters where the authors describe in graphic detail their own battles with flab, I eventually got to the part where they divulge their weight-loss secrets. Unfortunately, there was nothing new here; it is basically yet another 'starve yourself for a while then start eating again' regime, extended into a book which could quite easily have encompassed a leaflet. Needless to say,I didn't follow it, but joined an exercise class, starting eating sensibly and have lost almost 2 stones in weight.

Jumping on the bandwagon, 28 Aug 2008
I am another one of those people whose life has changed completely due to this book. I look at food and health very differently than I did before. Granted, it could have been any low-carb diet because it's the low-carb lifestyle in general that has won me over. But if it wasn't for the witty true-to-life writing style of this book, I would probably still be yoyo-ing on low calorie diets! Thank you India and Neris, I lost tons of weight, I am happier and healthier and I have learned so much about food and on top of all that, I've become a cook! Always thought I hated cooking but now I enjoy it!

If you have already unsuccessfully tried every other diet, please give this a chance. It may seem drastic at first but you get used to it really fast. And it is absolutely one hundred percent healthy, do your research and you will find this out for yourself.

It worked for me !, 27 Aug 2008
I am not a diet-book person or one for "faddy diets". I saw this quite by chance at the top of the bestsellers list on Amazon at the end of Jan 08. I bought it on impulse as the time was right for me to do something about being overweight.
Once I committed myself to it (with the company of a friend - which was invaluable), it took me 6 months to lose 5 stone. I have remained stable at the weight I want to be now for a month. It's early days but I feel confident that I can keep to it, and all I can say is that it worked for me !
The basis of the initial diet is very low-carb - i.e. no potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, fruit whilst the majority of the weight is lost. You can eat any meat or fish, eggs, green veg and supplement it with "good fats" on the side - olive oil, butter, cheese, double cream etc. Once you have shifted all but about a stone you then gradually re-introduce low-carb foods to adjust back. It is a sociable diet and easy to adapt to eating out and around friends' houses - think roast dinner without potatoes but butter on veg / caesar salad with dressing but no croutons / cheese (and pate !) for dessert instead of puds !
A few of my friends have done the Lighter Life diet. It was never one for me because i knew that being off food completely for a quick weight loss would then make me panic when I was supposed to re-introduce them. I believe this is sustainable and has made a fantastic difference for me.
I would recommend buying the cookbook for some simple but effective recipes that both my husband and children ate quite happily.
Good luck !


This book needs to come with a health warning!, 18 Aug 2008
While I have to admire this book for attempting to address the issues that underlay a person's overeating, there's not much else to like about it. The "diet" has been put together by two amatuers with no experience in diets or nutrition other than having been on lots of diets in the past. Not a great place to start from...

It's interesting to read that the author claims this book presents a mediterranean diet when that clearly isn't the case. What they actually advocate is cutting out an entire foodgroup (carbohydrates). For the rest of your life. Which frankly, is just plain stupid.

Carbohydrates have received a bad rap in recent years but there's many different types and the authors show their naiveity by excluding the entire group. Put very simply, highly processed, simple carbohydrates are something we should exclude from our diet as much as possible. Complex carbs (whole grains) provide much-needed energy.

The diet advocated by these two woman is quite dangerous. Losing weight safely is easy - you need to burn more calories than you consume. Eat healthily (and most of us know what that means by now) and do regular exercise. It's the only sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off long-term.

Add this book to the enormous pile of faddy, dangerous diet books.

Interesting read, 19 May 2008
I don't know all the metaphorical significance of this book, but I feel on the surface that the book is an intersting read, that you want to know what is going to happen to the family and especially the protagonist. You also feel for these people, which is, considering how short the story is, uncommon.
You have to read it to appreciate it, but it definately deserves a place as a classic.

Here goes yet another interpretation, 03 Apr 2006
Metamorphosis is one of the most famous works in world literature, and possibly has the most memorable opening lines in the history of story telling, - 'As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning after disturbing dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous insect'. A standard interpretation of this allegorical tale is that Gregor's transformation from hard working travelling salesman, providing for his family, to a grotesque useless insect that provokes disgust and pity and ultimately rejection by his family, represents physical disability, and society's treatment of it. I can see this in the story, but I read Kafka as essentially portraying his nightmare of the barrier between the public and personal inner world being removed. The private mental life, with its sensitive and raw secrets, its ugly and embarrasing little features, the desires and instincts that we strive to keep hidden, and/or are forced to repress. The bug is the embodiment of the ugly and raw inside turned out, exposed for all the world to see. Particularly nightmarish for Gregor (kafka) is the fact that those who see are those he loves and whose rejecton he fears most of all - his family.
That a short story of less than one hundred pages allows so many interpretative possibilities stands as a testament to Kafka's unique power to draw the reader into a hypnotic world of dark archetypal imagery. Upon finishing this novella, you may feel as though awoken from disturbing dreams, dreams that will nevetheless have cast some strange new light on your waking day.

Creepy yet gripping, 17 Jul 2005
Although the creepiness of this short by Franz Kafka is apparent from the opening, disturbing paragraph, its true weirdness isn't made clear until halfway through the story. Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, awakes one morning to find that he has been transformed into a hideous "insect" - cleverly, in true Kafka style, we never find out what type of insect he has metamorphosized into, our only insights are Kafka's various detailed descriptions of Gregor's feelings and physical apperance to his family... and himself. The style of this extremely enjoyable novel is reminiscent of his unfinished work, The Trial in which a man is on trial for an unknown reason (and it works well).

Struggling to hold his family together, the weirdness and fierceness of this story is now made apparent. Gregor's father attacks him - causing a turning point within the story as we now see Gregor's family resent his condition.

We never find out why or how Gregor has transformed but again, like in The Trial it simply doesn't matter. Using little direct speech, Kafka has woven Gregor's horror and disgust with his family's despair and fright to make a totally impossible situation seem almost real. The fact the only setting is Samsa family's apartment makes the atmosphere disturbing and creepy(very isolated and tense).

Gregor's family depended on him for money and therefore, as I think Kafka is trying to say, a bearable life. Gregor has to witness his family's downfall silently (literally, as he has lost the ability to talk), his only communication being indirect (I mean, with no speech) with his sister and the cleaner who visits him room ocassionally to clean and bring food. We see the Samsa family fall rapidly and become unable to cope with Gregor any longer.

The ending is no surprise, but I don't want to give it away simple because it significantly affects the ending - however, I feel that Kafka struggles to make his point stand-out - even though his ending paragraphs are brilliantly profound. Obviously, the plot in a child's nutshell is about a man who has turned into an insect and, seemingly without being able to help it, causes his family's downfall because of their dependence on him financially and emotionally - however, I think the novel should have been longer and therefore fleshing-out Kafka's point further.

I enjoyed this book very much, a classic - read it for the amazing language if nothing else. A brilliant story and message, Franz, but... a bit more material and it'd be perfect!

Final impression is that Kafka is a truly fantastic author. His use of language and tone is perfect (I noticed this in both Metamorphosis and The Trial). Buy and see for yourself!

Strange yet brilliant in ways, 18 Sep 2003
It was not my choice to read this book - it is a set book for an English course. If it hadn't have been for the course, I may not have ever read it. However, having now read the majority of the book, I have enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
This was the first book by Kafka that I have read. I was struck by how different his writing style is compared to writers I usually read. There is little dialogue in most of his stories, instead there are long sections of prose, which is highly punctuated.
The collection of stories in this volume are very weird. "Metamorphosis" for example is about a young man who awakens to find that he has changed into a "monstrous insect". It is a really surreal story, because of the absurdity of the situation, yet it is thought-provoking and quite insightful.
My only criticism of this volume is that, at times, his stories are a little too surreal. There are some included in the section entitled "The Country Doctor", which I have no ides what is trying to be said.
If, like me, you have never read a book by Kafka before, try reading this first. There are moments of tragedy, comedy and horror - what more could you really want?

The Greatest Writer of the twentieth century?, 15 Aug 2003
This book has been taking up space in my cupboard for a few months, since I had to read metamorphosis for my English degree. Yesterday I picked it up again, having graduated, and have only put it down since to write this.
Kafka is perhaps the most brilliant writer of the last century in perception and the way he can imaginatively express his ideas. 'Metamorphosis' is the most famous tale here, using the central metaphor of a man who awakes to find himself transformed into an insect, but the other stories have just as much to offer.
I was particularly surprised by the early 'Meditations' that appear here. The Editor notes that Kafka told his publisher to stop printing them, embarassed by what he saw as his early failings. This view is not born out by the shorts that appear here, each one taking a situation, observing the human behaviour taking place with humour but sympathy. Kafka makes the reader aware of the absurdity of his characters actions, but at the same time we are led to inherently understand the reasons for them. He never sacrifices a basic humanity.
'The Judgement' and 'The Stoker', the latter of which is the first chapter of the uncompleted novel 'Amerika', are strikingly effective stories. Any fans of Ishiguros 'The Unconsoled' should read these to see where that writers style comes from.
Kafka seems to be able to render the uncertainties, and lurking terror in the commonplace situations that take place in the modern world, in a light which every reader can share in. He expresses the inexpressible, instinctive doubts that anyone can feel at certain times. The unlikely situation of the one page parable, 'The Sudden Walk', is perhaps my favourite, as he depicts the sudden euphoria of taking action, in however small a respect. Again, we see the slight absurdity of the feelings this arouses, but see the subjective truth in them.
This collection has reinvested my faith in the sublime quality of literature that appears too rarely these days. I will definitely be reading the novels. A necessity for all literature fans.

LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!, 09 Sep 2008
A brilliant book! Highly recommended! You'll laugh, you'll cry and you will absolutely identify with the main character, Emma, on her journey in this book. One of my all time favourites, couldn't put it down!

A wonderful feelgood story, 02 Sep 2008
I've read all Sophie's shopaholic books, and I'm happy to report this is just as good. As usual with her books, it has it's share of laugh out loud moments, and my only complaint about it, is that it's too short, I didn't want it to end. This is chick lit romantic comedy at it's best.

what can i say??, 31 Aug 2008
what can i say?? BEST. BOOK. EVER!!
i picked it up. i read it. i loved it!!!
im 15 years old and i read this when i was 14. personally, i am not a huge fan of romantic novels but one day when i was bored and need a book to read for english i picked this one up simply because it looked nice. it is a good book because it is great for the teenage gap: it has a good balance of romance and comedy without being to over the top ans is generally just an enjoyable read. sophie kinsella's style of writing is light and easy to understand so makes this book a great choice for anyone who is looking to be entertained without having to take in too much.

I can't believe the overall rating for this book!, 13 Jun 2008
I have always been a lover of chick lit, Marian Keyes, Jane Green, love 'em all for a bit of light reading. So I've been eyeing the Sophie Kinsella books for a while and finally picked up 'Can You Keep a Secret?'...oh dear. Unfortunately I cannot keep the secret of how much I hated this book! Sadly I am the sort of person who cannot leave a book once I've started it and so I stayed until the bitter end.

I have never written a negative review (I would simply stay silent) so I'm very sorry Ms Kinsella. However, I have had to suffer an entire book where the plotline is so painfully obvious and the heroine was such an utter moron that if I were to meet someone like that I would shake her by the shoulders and tell her to stop being such an idiotic wimp! As the reader, I am generally meant to feel some sort of sympathy or empathy with the main character in these types of book, not so in this case. Emma Corrigan is an imbecile and the type of 'friend' one would tend to avoid at all costs. Nothing the character does is remotely realistic and the only reason I give this book 1 star is because if Emma can end up with a rich successful boyfriend AND a promotion, then there is hope for us all! Although I really think this is stretching the meaning of 'fiction' to it's outer limits, maybe it should be reclassified under 'fantasy'.

Usually I share my books with my friends and family or give them to the charity shop when I've finished with them. This time I simply left it on the bus and walked away. Now I'm off to pick up some Aldous Huxley in attempt to get some of those brain cells back...

Just Brilliant, 08 Jun 2008
This book is fantastic, I read it in a day I just couldn't put it down, it's really touching and moving in parts. I think Sophie Kinsella is a fantasic author, one of my favorites, Im not one for reading but I ordered her whole collection and i'm getting though them pretty quick.....

Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic Abroad will prove a big treat for fans of The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic with the irrepressible Rebecca Bloomwood, the financial journalist with the stratospheric credit card bills, returning to the high streets. But things have changed for the impulsive shopper: "I'm a completely different person from the old Becky. I'm a reformed character. I haven't even got an overdraft!" Her high-flying boyfriend Luke has got a job in America and Becky's going with him to the land of "yellow taxi cabs and skyscrapers, and Woody Allen and Breakfast at Tiffanys"; she's also got the possibility of a television slot advising viewers on money matters. Of course New York also has department stores, lots of them:

There's always that buzz as you push open the door, that hope, that belief that this is going to be the shop of all shops, which will bring you everything you ever wanted, at magically low prices.

And Rebecca starts to indulge in the poetry of purchasing. Unfortunately she's brought down to earth with a bump, the light and glitter and the voices telling her she was the next big thing are an illusion, her debts are still scary and her boyfriend hates her. So it's back to England for Becky, for an inventive denouement and a delayed happy ending.

This is a hugely engaging novel. The breathless pace speeds you through the story, and Becky's character is so funny and feckless that you'll be laughing out loud, while turning a blind eye to your own credit card bill. This is a must-read for retail therapy addicts everywhere. --Eithne Farry

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

not up to standard, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this as soon as it came out in hardback as I had enjoyed all the author's previous novels. However I found this book slow and heavy, half the time I wasn't sure who was 'talking' and I don't feel the characters were as crafted as I had come to expect from this author. I actually gave up about half way through the book as I had totally lost interest.

Keyes Gone Off the Boil, 13 Oct 2008
Good God, what has happened to Marian Keyes? Most of her novels were wonderful. Characters like you and me, making their way through rainy Mondays in a crap job, visiting their crazy family on weekends and wondering why the man you like never, ever likes you back. They were such a good laugh. But now she's trying to be a 'serious' writer and it doesn't work because she's just going for the shock factor. Anybody could write something disgusting about a man beating up or raping a woman. It requires no talent to write graphically. Subtlety is another matter. I bought this at a jumble sale for a dollar, and I'm going to throw it away. I also threw away her novel before this one, which was all about a newlywed whose husband had died in a car accident and the main protagonist had her fingernails ripped off. I too could make up improbable and disgusting injuries. Again, nothing talented about that. If she continues to write this pretentious crap littered with depressing and stomach-churning gore, I will certainly never bother with her books again. And it's only got a star because the system won't let me submit with no stars. Keyes, people pick up your books to be entertained, not totally depressed and frightened. Learn that.

Really depressing, 09 Oct 2008
I am a huge Marian Keyes fan but I am finding this book so depressing (am about half-way through) that I haven't been able to pick it up for about 2 weeks.
It is fair enough to deal with "gritty" subjects, but if I want to read a book like that I'll go and buy one. With Marian, you can normally rely on the storyline and topics, and you know what you're getting. With this one, you don't.
I actually like the Lola parts - they are the only funny bits I've found so far - it's the other parts I don't enjoy. It is also very long drawn-out and although I'm half-way through I am still not sure what the "secret" and the point of it is - either it is terrifically obvious and I have already guessed it, or it is something very unexpected and I have to wait till the last chapter, which I just find annoying.
I've found myself skipping entire pages and leafing through to the end to see if it's worth reading on.
It's a shame because it is a big fat book, and if I was enjoying it, I'd be delighted to have so much MK in one go!

One of the worst books ever!, 30 Sep 2008
I have read many books and all of Marian Keyes and is one of the worst books i have ever read! It took me 4 and a half weeks to read and couldn't wait to finish it so I could a better book! It was far to long but u never get to know any of the characters properly, starts off funny and then gets a bit depressing. Very dissapointed!

Enjoyable, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this book was a wonderful read. I generally did not want to put it down.
This was the first Marian Keyes book that i have read and since doing so, I have bought 2 more of her books.
I believe the voice of 'lola' could at times be too much and her stories/observations were long winded, however overall i thouroughly enjoyed this story.

A few flaws, 18 Sep 2008
I can see how this might work for some people, but it definitely wont work for me. I have IBS which is triggered by dairy amongst other things, and a lot of these recipes have things that I cant eat suxh as butter and cream, although they do sound tasty.

However, my main concern with this book is the misleading information. Reference to good fats in butter and double cream, in my opinion, is complete nonsense. The fats found here are saturated fats, the bad kind. The 'good fats', or fatty acids, that are an essential part of our diet are found in foods such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and oily fish, NOT butter and cream. I think Neris and India should have put a bit more research into this before misleading their readers.

That said, there are some good points in the book, their overall mission i agree with, exercise more, eat better, lose weight.

Last 'diet' book I ever buy!, 14 Sep 2008
Like most women on the diet merry-go-round, I rush to embrace any new ideas for weight loss that appear easy and fad-free. Having ploughed through the introductory chapters where the authors describe in graphic detail their own battles with flab, I eventually got to the part where they divulge their weight-loss secrets. Unfortunately, there was nothing new here; it is basically yet another 'starve yourself for a while then start eating again' regime, extended into a book which could quite easily have encompassed a leaflet. Needless to say,I didn't follow it, but joined an exercise class, starting eating sensibly and have lost almost 2 stones in weight.

Jumping on the bandwagon, 28 Aug 2008
I am another one of those people whose life has changed completely due to this book. I look at food and health very differently than I did before. Granted, it could have been any low-carb diet because it's the low-carb lifestyle in general that has won me over. But if it wasn't for the witty true-to-life writing style of this book, I would probably still be yoyo-ing on low calorie diets! Thank you India and Neris, I lost tons of weight, I am happier and healthier and I have learned so much about food and on top of all that, I've become a cook! Always thought I hated cooking but now I enjoy it!

If you have already unsuccessfully tried every other diet, please give this a chance. It may seem drastic at first but you get used to it really fast. And it is absolutely one hundred percent healthy, do your research and you will find this out for yourself.

It worked for me !, 27 Aug 2008
I am not a diet-book person or one for "faddy diets". I saw this quite by chance at the top of the bestsellers list on Amazon at the end of Jan 08. I bought it on impulse as the time was right for me to do something about being overweight.
Once I committed myself to it (with the company of a friend - which was invaluable), it took me 6 months to lose 5 stone. I have remained stable at the weight I want to be now for a month. It's early days but I feel confident that I can keep to it, and all I can say is that it worked for me !
The basis of the initial diet is very low-carb - i.e. no potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, fruit whilst the majority of the weight is lost. You can eat any meat or fish, eggs, green veg and supplement it with "good fats" on the side - olive oil, butter, cheese, double cream etc. Once you have shifted all but about a stone you then gradually re-introduce low-carb foods to adjust back. It is a sociable diet and easy to adapt to eating out and around friends' houses - think roast dinner without potatoes but butter on veg / caesar salad with dressing but no croutons / cheese (and pate !) for dessert instead of puds !
A few of my friends have done the Lighter Life diet. It was never one for me because i knew that being off food completely for a quick weight loss would then make me panic when I was supposed to re-introduce them. I believe this is sustainable and has made a fantastic difference for me.
I would recommend buying the cookbook for some simple but effective recipes that both my husband and children ate quite happily.
Good luck !


This book needs to come with a health warning!, 18 Aug 2008
While I have to admire this book for attempting to address the issues that underlay a person's overeating, there's not much else to like about it. The "diet" has been put together by two amatuers with no experience in diets or nutrition other than having been on lots of diets in the past. Not a great place to start from...

It's interesting to read that the author claims this book presents a mediterranean diet when that clearly isn't the case. What they actually advocate is cutting out an entire foodgroup (carbohydrates). For the rest of your life. Which frankly, is just plain stupid.

Carbohydrates have received a bad rap in recent years but there's many different types and the authors show their naiveity by excluding the entire group. Put very simply, highly processed, simple carbohydrates are something we should exclude from our diet as much as possible. Complex carbs (whole grains) provide much-needed energy.

The diet advocated by these two woman is quite dangerous. Losing weight safely is easy - you need to burn more calories than you consume. Eat healthily (and most of us know what that means by now) and do regular exercise. It's the only sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off long-term.

Add this book to the enormous pile of faddy, dangerous diet books.

Interesting read, 19 May 2008
I don't know all the metaphorical significance of this book, but I feel on the surface that the book is an intersting read, that you want to know what is going to happen to the family and especially the protagonist. You also feel for these people, which is, considering how short the story is, uncommon.
You have to read it to appreciate it, but it definately deserves a place as a classic.

Here goes yet another interpretation, 03 Apr 2006
Metamorphosis is one of the most famous works in world literature, and possibly has the most memorable opening lines in the history of story telling, - 'As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning after disturbing dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous insect'. A standard interpretation of this allegorical tale is that Gregor's transformation from hard working travelling salesman, providing for his family, to a grotesque useless insect that provokes disgust and pity and ultimately rejection by his family, represents physical disability, and society's treatment of it. I can see this in the story, but I read Kafka as essentially portraying his nightmare of the barrier between the public and personal inner world being removed. The private mental life, with its sensitive and raw secrets, its ugly and embarrasing little features, the desires and instincts that we strive to keep hidden, and/or are forced to repress. The bug is the embodiment of the ugly and raw inside turned out, exposed for all the world to see. Particularly nightmarish for Gregor (kafka) is the fact that those who see are those he loves and whose rejecton he fears most of all - his family.
That a short story of less than one hundred pages allows so many interpretative possibilities stands as a testament to Kafka's unique power to draw the reader into a hypnotic world of dark archetypal imagery. Upon finishing this novella, you may feel as though awoken from disturbing dreams, dreams that will nevetheless have cast some strange new light on your waking day.

Creepy yet gripping, 17 Jul 2005
Although the creepiness of this short by Franz Kafka is apparent from the opening, disturbing paragraph, its true weirdness isn't made clear until halfway through the story. Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, awakes one morning to find that he has been transformed into a hideous "insect" - cleverly, in true Kafka style, we never find out what type of insect he has metamorphosized into, our only insights are Kafka's various detailed descriptions of Gregor's feelings and physical apperance to his family... and himself. The style of this extremely enjoyable novel is reminiscent of his unfinished work, The Trial in which a man is on trial for an unknown reason (and it works well).

Struggling to hold his family together, the weirdness and fierceness of this story is now made apparent. Gregor's father attacks him - causing a turning point within the story as we now see Gregor's family resent his condition.

We never find out why or how Gregor has transformed but again, like in The Trial it simply doesn't matter. Using little direct speech, Kafka has woven Gregor's horror and disgust with his family's despair and fright to make a totally impossible situation seem almost real. The fact the only setting is Samsa family's apartment makes the atmosphere disturbing and creepy(very isolated and tense).

Gregor's family depended on him for money and therefore, as I think Kafka is trying to say, a bearable life. Gregor has to witness his family's downfall silently (literally, as he has lost the ability to talk), his only communication being indirect (I mean, with no speech) with his sister and the cleaner who visits him room ocassionally to clean and bring food. We see the Samsa family fall rapidly and become unable to cope with Gregor any longer.

The ending is no surprise, but I don't want to give it away simple because it significantly affects the ending - however, I feel that Kafka struggles to make his point stand-out - even though his ending paragraphs are brilliantly profound. Obviously, the plot in a child's nutshell is about a man who has turned into an insect and, seemingly without being able to help it, causes his family's downfall because of their dependence on him financially and emotionally - however, I think the novel should have been longer and therefore fleshing-out Kafka's point further.

I enjoyed this book very much, a classic - read it for the amazing language if nothing else. A brilliant story and message, Franz, but... a bit more material and it'd be perfect!

Final impression is that Kafka is a truly fantastic author. His use of language and tone is perfect (I noticed this in both Metamorphosis and The Trial). Buy and see for yourself!

Strange yet brilliant in ways, 18 Sep 2003
It was not my choice to read this book - it is a set book for an English course. If it hadn't have been for the course, I may not have ever read it. However, having now read the majority of the book, I have enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
This was the first book by Kafka that I have read. I was struck by how different his writing style is compared to writers I usually read. There is little dialogue in most of his stories, instead there are long sections of prose, which is highly punctuated.
The collection of stories in this volume are very weird. "Metamorphosis" for example is about a young man who awakens to find that he has changed into a "monstrous insect". It is a really surreal story, because of the absurdity of the situation, yet it is thought-provoking and quite insightful.
My only criticism of this volume is that, at times, his stories are a little too surreal. There are some included in the section entitled "The Country Doctor", which I have no ides what is trying to be said.
If, like me, you have never read a book by Kafka before, try reading this first. There are moments of tragedy, comedy and horror - what more could you really want?

The Greatest Writer of the twentieth century?, 15 Aug 2003
This book has been taking up space in my cupboard for a few months, since I had to read metamorphosis for my English degree. Yesterday I picked it up again, having graduated, and have only put it down since to write this.
Kafka is perhaps the most brilliant writer of the last century in perception and the way he can imaginatively express his ideas. 'Metamorphosis' is the most famous tale here, using the central metaphor of a man who awakes to find himself transformed into an insect, but the other stories have just as much to offer.
I was particularly surprised by the early 'Meditations' that appear here. The Editor notes that Kafka told his publisher to stop printing them, embarassed by what he saw as his early failings. This view is not born out by the shorts that appear here, each one taking a situation, observing the human behaviour taking place with humour but sympathy. Kafka makes the reader aware of the absurdity of his characters actions, but at the same time we are led to inherently understand the reasons for them. He never sacrifices a basic humanity.
'The Judgement' and 'The Stoker', the latter of which is the first chapter of the uncompleted novel 'Amerika', are strikingly effective stories. Any fans of Ishiguros 'The Unconsoled' should read these to see where that writers style comes from.
Kafka seems to be able to render the uncertainties, and lurking terror in the commonplace situations that take place in the modern world, in a light which every reader can share in. He expresses the inexpressible, instinctive doubts that anyone can feel at certain times. The unlikely situation of the one page parable, 'The Sudden Walk', is perhaps my favourite, as he depicts the sudden euphoria of taking action, in however small a respect. Again, we see the slight absurdity of the feelings this arouses, but see the subjective truth in them.
This collection has reinvested my faith in the sublime quality of literature that appears too rarely these days. I will definitely be reading the novels. A necessity for all literature fans.

LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!, 09 Sep 2008
A brilliant book! Highly recommended! You'll laugh, you'll cry and you will absolutely identify with the main character, Emma, on her journey in this book. One of my all time favourites, couldn't put it down!

A wonderful feelgood story, 02 Sep 2008
I've read all Sophie's shopaholic books, and I'm happy to report this is just as good. As usual with her books, it has it's share of laugh out loud moments, and my only complaint about it, is that it's too short, I didn't want it to end. This is chick lit romantic comedy at it's best.

what can i say??, 31 Aug 2008
what can i say?? BEST. BOOK. EVER!!
i picked it up. i read it. i loved it!!!
im 15 years old and i read this when i was 14. personally, i am not a huge fan of romantic novels but one day when i was bored and need a book to read for english i picked this one up simply because it looked nice. it is a good book because it is great for the teenage gap: it has a good balance of romance and comedy without being to over the top ans is generally just an enjoyable read. sophie kinsella's style of writing is light and easy to understand so makes this book a great choice for anyone who is looking to be entertained without having to take in too much.

I can't believe the overall rating for this book!, 13 Jun 2008
I have always been a lover of chick lit, Marian Keyes, Jane Green, love 'em all for a bit of light reading. So I've been eyeing the Sophie Kinsella books for a while and finally picked up 'Can You Keep a Secret?'...oh dear. Unfortunately I cannot keep the secret of how much I hated this book! Sadly I am the sort of person who cannot leave a book once I've started it and so I stayed until the bitter end.

I have never written a negative review (I would simply stay silent) so I'm very sorry Ms Kinsella. However, I have had to suffer an entire book where the plotline is so painfully obvious and the heroine was such an utter moron that if I were to meet someone like that I would shake her by the shoulders and tell her to stop being such an idiotic wimp! As the reader, I am generally meant to feel some sort of sympathy or empathy with the main character in these types of book, not so in this case. Emma Corrigan is an imbecile and the type of 'friend' one would tend to avoid at all costs. Nothing the character does is remotely realistic and the only reason I give this book 1 star is because if Emma can end up with a rich successful boyfriend AND a promotion, then there is hope for us all! Although I really think this is stretching the meaning of 'fiction' to it's outer limits, maybe it should be reclassified under 'fantasy'.

Usually I share my books with my friends and family or give them to the charity shop when I've finished with them. This time I simply left it on the bus and walked away. Now I'm off to pick up some Aldous Huxley in attempt to get some of those brain cells back...

Just Brilliant, 08 Jun 2008
This book is fantastic, I read it in a day I just couldn't put it down, it's really touching and moving in parts. I think Sophie Kinsella is a fantasic author, one of my favorites, Im not one for reading but I ordered her whole collection and i'm getting though them pretty quick.....

Another great shopaholic book!!!, 17 Mar 2008
I loved this book from the first moment i started reading it. Again, as are all the others, this is funny and witty. I can relate to Becky as im sure can most women, and i think thats why they are all so funny. I would definatley recommend this book.

she is just great, 04 Feb 2008
i love any of sophie kinsella books!They are full of humour and after reading all the shopaholic books three times or more i feel becky bloomwood is a really amusing friend.
all her other books do not fail either .I have read them all more than once and still enjoy them - they are my comfort blanket!
my only moan is that sophie does not write books fast enough!

Overall this was a really good book, 04 Feb 2008
Becky and her boyfriend Luke are moving to New York so he can set up a new office there, and Becky's shopping gets out of hand again, creating disaster. It's not a complicated book at all. But that's not a bad thing -- this is a terrific book to curl up in bed with, or to take to the beach with you. I found myself laughing out loud a great deal more than the first. Becky's attempts to sneak in her purchases without anyone seeing are hilarious, and something I could relate to. Her experience at the wedding of an old family friend was also true to life (on a bigger scale, obviously -- you have to read it to understand). I thought Becky was much more well developed and I liked her a great deal more in this book. She still lies, but somehow her lies don't seem quite as awful. She has more confidence and she takes charge of her life more -- I really liked how she handled herself when everything fell apart. I like Luke, although he still could've used more depth. Overall this was a really good book that I think most women would enjoy.

Overall this was a really good book, 11 Oct 2007
Becky and her boyfriend Luke are moving to New York so he can set up a new office there, and Becky's shopping gets out of hand again, creating disaster. It's not a complicated book at all. But that's not a bad thing -- this is a terrific book to curl up in bed with, or to take to the beach with you. I found myself laughing out loud a great deal more than the first. Becky's attempts to sneak in her purchases without anyone seeing are hilarious, and something I could relate to. Her experience at the wedding of an old family friend was also true to life (on a bigger scale, obviously -- you have to read it to understand). I thought Becky was much more well developed and I liked her a great deal more in this book. She still lies, but somehow her lies don't seem quite as awful. She has more confidence and she takes charge of her life more -- I really liked how she handled herself when everything fell apart. I like Luke, although he still could've used more depth. Overall this was a really good book that I think most women would enjoy. If you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterful novel--The Fates, I'd highly recommend reading it. Truly an enjoyable read.

my first Sophie Kinsella Book and I loved it, 25 Sep 2007
I got this book free with some mag and read it in no time at all. I even finished it before I read the magazine it came with. Laugh out loud is all I have to say. Highly recommended.

As any reader of The Mosquito Coast knows, men who drag their families to far-off climes in pursuit of an Idea seldom come to any good, while those familiar with At Play in the Fields of the Lord or Kalimantaan understand that the minute a missionary sets foot on the fictional stage, all hell is about to break loose. So when Barbara Kingsolver sends missionary Nathan Price along with his wife and four daughters off to Africa in The Poisonwood Bible, you can be sure that salvation is the one thing they're not likely to find. The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement: "We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the jungle," says Leah, one of Nathan's four daughters. But of course it isn't long before they discover that the tremendous humidity has rendered the mixes unusable, their clothes are unsuitable and they've arrived in the middle of political upheaval as the Congolese seek to wrest independence from Belgium. In addition to poisonous snakes, dangerous animals, and the hostility of the villagers to Nathan's fiery take-no-prisoners brand of Christianity, there are also rebels in the jungle and the threat of war in the air. Could things get any worse?

In fact they can and they do. The first part of The Poisonwood Bible revolves around Nathan's intransigent, bullying personality and his effect on both his family and on the village they have come to. As political instability grows in the Congo, so does the local witch doctor's animus toward the Prices, and both seem to converge with tragic consequences about halfway through the novel. From that point on, the family is dispersed and the novel follows each member's fortunes across a span of more than 30 years.

The Poisonwood Bible is arguably Barbara Kingsolver's most ambitious work, and it reveals both her great strengths and her weaknesses. As Nathan Price's wife and four daughters tell their story in alternating chapters, Kingsolver does a good job of differentiating the voices. But at times they can grate--teenaged Rachel's tendency towards precious malapropisms is particularly annoying (students practice their "French congregations"; Nathan's refusal to take his family home is a "tapestry of justice"). More problematic is Kingsolver's tendency to wear her politics on her sleeve; this is particularly evident in the second half of the novel, in which she uses her characters as mouthpieces to explicate the complicated and tragic history of the Belgian Congo.

Despite these weaknesses, Kingsolver's fully realised, three-dimensional characters make The Poisonwood Bible compelling, especially in the first half when Nathan Price is still at the centre of the action. And in her treatment of Africa and the Africans she is at her best, exhibiting the acute perception, moral engagement and lyrical prose that has made her previous novels so successful. --Alix Wilber, Amazon.com

Listen and enjoy ( and remember Animal Magic!), 15 Apr 2008
I'd always enjoyed being read and later reading myself the Just So Stories. With children of my own I started them on these stories and having a cd of them means we can enjoy them on the move. The joy of hearing Jonnie Morris' super animal voice characterisations just adds to the enjoyment - takes me back to watching Animal Magic - deep joy!
Four year old daughter enjoys listening to the stories but my nine year old son has become a great fan - this now regularly is on his cd player in his room.
Buy this and you'll all be able to listen together and enjoy.

not up to standard, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this as soon as it came out in hardback as I had enjoyed all the author's previous novels. However I found this book slow and heavy, half the time I wasn't sure who was 'talking' and I don't feel the characters were as crafted as I had come to expect from this author. I actually gave up about half way through the book as I had totally lost interest.

Keyes Gone Off the Boil, 13 Oct 2008
Good God, what has happened to Marian Keyes? Most of her novels were wonderful. Characters like you and me, making their way through rainy Mondays in a crap job, visiting their crazy family on weekends and wondering why the man you like never, ever likes you back. They were such a good laugh. But now she's trying to be a 'serious' writer and it doesn't work because she's just going for the shock factor. Anybody could write something disgusting about a man beating up or raping a woman. It requires no talent to write graphically. Subtlety is another matter. I bought this at a jumble sale for a dollar, and I'm going to throw it away. I also threw away her novel before this one, which was all about a newlywed whose husband had died in a car accident and the main protagonist had her fingernails ripped off. I too could make up improbable and disgusting injuries. Again, nothing talented about that. If she continues to write this pretentious crap littered with depressing and stomach-churning gore, I will certainly never bother with her books again. And it's only got a star because the system won't let me submit with no stars. Keyes, people pick up your books to be entertained, not totally depressed and frightened. Learn that.

Really depressing, 09 Oct 2008
I am a huge Marian Keyes fan but I am finding this book so depressing (am about half-way through) that I haven't been able to pick it up for about 2 weeks.
It is fair enough to deal with "gritty" subjects, but if I want to read a book like that I'll go and buy one. With Marian, you can normally rely on the storyline and topics, and you know what you're getting. With this one, you don't.
I actually like the Lola parts - they are the only funny bits I've found so far - it's the other parts I don't enjoy. It is also very long drawn-out and although I'm half-way through I am still not sure what the "secret" and the point of it is - either it is terrifically obvious and I have already guessed it, or it is something very unexpected and I have to wait till the last chapter, which I just find annoying.
I've found myself skipping entire pages and leafing through to the end to see if it's worth reading on.
It's a shame because it is a big fat book, and if I was enjoying it, I'd be delighted to have so much MK in one go!

One of the worst books ever!, 30 Sep 2008
I have read many books and all of Marian Keyes and is one of the worst books i have ever read! It took me 4 and a half weeks to read and couldn't wait to finish it so I could a better book! It was far to long but u never get to know any of the characters properly, starts off funny and then gets a bit depressing. Very dissapointed!

Enjoyable, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this book was a wonderful read. I generally did not want to put it down.
This was the first Marian Keyes book that i have read and since doing so, I have bought 2 more of her books.
I believe the voice of 'lola' could at times be too much and her stories/observations were long winded, however overall i thouroughly enjoyed this story.

A few flaws, 18 Sep 2008
I can see how this might work for some people, but it definitely wont work for me. I have IBS which is triggered by dairy amongst other things, and a lot of these recipes have things that I cant eat suxh as butter and cream, although they do sound tasty.

However, my main concern with this book is the misleading information. Reference to good fats in butter and double cream, in my opinion, is complete nonsense. The fats found here are saturated fats, the bad kind. The 'good fats', or fatty acids, that are an essential part of our diet are found in foods such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and oily fish, NOT butter and cream. I think Neris and India should have put a bit more research into this before misleading their readers.

That said, there are some good points in the book, their overall mission i agree with, exercise more, eat better, lose weight.

Last 'diet' book I ever buy!, 14 Sep 2008
Like most women on the diet merry-go-round, I rush to embrace any new ideas for weight loss that appear easy and fad-free. Having ploughed through the introductory chapters where the authors describe in graphic detail their own battles with flab, I eventually got to the part where they divulge their weight-loss secrets. Unfortunately, there was nothing new here; it is basically yet another 'starve yourself for a while then start eating again' regime, extended into a book which could quite easily have encompassed a leaflet. Needless to say,I didn't follow it, but joined an exercise class, starting eating sensibly and have lost almost 2 stones in weight.

Jumping on the bandwagon, 28 Aug 2008
I am another one of those people whose life has changed completely due to this book. I look at food and health very differently than I did before. Granted, it could have been any low-carb diet because it's the low-carb lifestyle in general that has won me over. But if it wasn't for the witty true-to-life writing style of this book, I would probably still be yoyo-ing on low calorie diets! Thank you India and Neris, I lost tons of weight, I am happier and healthier and I have learned so much about food and on top of all that, I've become a cook! Always thought I hated cooking but now I enjoy it!

If you have already unsuccessfully tried every other diet, please give this a chance. It may seem drastic at first but you get used to it really fast. And it is absolutely one hundred percent healthy, do your research and you will find this out for yourself.

It worked for me !, 27 Aug 2008
I am not a diet-book person or one for "faddy diets". I saw this quite by chance at the top of the bestsellers list on Amazon at the end of Jan 08. I bought it on impulse as the time was right for me to do something about being overweight.
Once I committed myself to it (with the company of a friend - which was invaluable), it took me 6 months to lose 5 stone. I have remained stable at the weight I want to be now for a month. It's early days but I feel confident that I can keep to it, and all I can say is that it worked for me !
The basis of the initial diet is very low-carb - i.e. no potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, fruit whilst the majority of the weight is lost. You can eat any meat or fish, eggs, green veg and supplement it with "good fats" on the side - olive oil, butter, cheese, double cream etc. Once you have shifted all but about a stone you then gradually re-introduce low-carb foods to adjust back. It is a sociable diet and easy to adapt to eating out and around friends' houses - think roast dinner without potatoes but butter on veg / caesar salad with dressing but no croutons / cheese (and pate !) for dessert instead of puds !
A few of my friends have done the Lighter Life diet. It was never one for me because i knew that being off food completely for a quick weight loss would then make me panic when I was supposed to re-introduce them. I believe this is sustainable and has made a fantastic difference for me.
I would recommend buying the cookbook for some simp