Patronising and disappointing, 24 Nov 2008
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.

Beautifully written but..., 21 Nov 2008
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book

Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.

good but not great, 21 Nov 2008
I think this book is ok, its funny and some bits of it are interesting and helpful but most of it is obvious and stuff I'm already doing. It's nothing new. If you are interested in fashion on a budget, then Green is the new black is excellent.

Well worth your time!, 19 Nov 2008
This is a really good book for anyone who finds themself needing to face up to changing their spending habits. I found myself in this position a few years ago when I had to change careers because of deteriorating health and even with my experience there are new tips to be picked up here.

thrift deluxe for the comfortably-off, 16 Nov 2008
I love India Knight's writing, and this is a very beautiful book.

It isn't a manual for anyone who is actually genuinely strapped for cash, and won't help you drastically slash your household bills. It is however a gentle route in to spending less money whilst maintaining a covetable and stylish lifestyle. There wasn't a great deal that was new to me - and I would warn all non-reformed shoppers that discovering etsy is more likely to cost you a fortune than save you any cash. Such lovely things !

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and am sure I will dip back into it whenever I need reminding of the warm glow of satisfaction that a bit of deluxe frugality certainly can provide.

Patronising and disappointing, 24 Nov 2008
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.

Beautifully written but..., 21 Nov 2008
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book

Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.

good but not great, 21 Nov 2008
I think this book is ok, its funny and some bits of it are interesting and helpful but most of it is obvious and stuff I'm already doing. It's nothing new. If you are interested in fashion on a budget, then Green is the new black is excellent.

Well worth your time!, 19 Nov 2008
This is a really good book for anyone who finds themself needing to face up to changing their spending habits. I found myself in this position a few years ago when I had to change careers because of deteriorating health and even with my experience there are new tips to be picked up here.

thrift deluxe for the comfortably-off, 16 Nov 2008
I love India Knight's writing, and this is a very beautiful book.

It isn't a manual for anyone who is actually genuinely strapped for cash, and won't help you drastically slash your household bills. It is however a gentle route in to spending less money whilst maintaining a covetable and stylish lifestyle. There wasn't a great deal that was new to me - and I would warn all non-reformed shoppers that discovering etsy is more likely to cost you a fortune than save you any cash. Such lovely things !

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and am sure I will dip back into it whenever I need reminding of the warm glow of satisfaction that a bit of deluxe frugality certainly can provide.

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.

Patronising and disappointing, 24 Nov 2008
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.

Beautifully written but..., 21 Nov 2008
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book

Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.

good but not great, 21 Nov 2008
I think this book is ok, its funny and some bits of it are interesting and helpful but most of it is obvious and stuff I'm already doing. It's nothing new. If you are interested in fashion on a budget, then Green is the new black is excellent.

Well worth your time!, 19 Nov 2008
This is a really good book for anyone who finds themself needing to face up to changing their spending habits. I found myself in this position a few years ago when I had to change careers because of deteriorating health and even with my experience there are new tips to be picked up here.

thrift deluxe for the comfortably-off, 16 Nov 2008
I love India Knight's writing, and this is a very beautiful book.

It isn't a manual for anyone who is actually genuinely strapped for cash, and won't help you drastically slash your household bills. It is however a gentle route in to spending less money whilst maintaining a covetable and stylish lifestyle. There wasn't a great deal that was new to me - and I would warn all non-reformed shoppers that discovering etsy is more likely to cost you a fortune than save you any cash. Such lovely things !

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and am sure I will dip back into it whenever I need reminding of the warm glow of satisfaction that a bit of deluxe frugality certainly can provide.

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.

Disappointed, 18 May 2008
I bought this thinking it was a naughty summer read for my beach holiday. Got bored during the introduction. It was hard work getting into this book and never really gets going. Maybe someone will enjoy it but I found it disappointing and the title is promising but misleading.

Disappointing, 26 Apr 2007
I was a teenager (all girls grammar school) in the 70s and we too had 'dirty' books doing the rounds. However, I think that several of the extracts Knight has chosen wouldn't have been given a second glance by us, and are certainly not worthy of inclusion in this volume. The Georgette Heyer extract is not remotely titilating (even to a young teenager), and as for the over long extract from Forever Amber, I don't see the point of its inclusion at all (it just happens to be India Knight's favourite book...).

Better extracts could have been chosen. I haven't read Fear of Flying and was looking forward to the part I've heard about - but no, just another boring piece.

I give this 3 stars purely for Fanny Hill.

Another gem from India, 20 Feb 2007
I am biased because I just love India Knight's style of writing. In this book she captures that whole essence of giggling school girls swapping books for the sexy bits.

She mentioned most of my favourites - some of which I had completely forgotten, some have stayed favourites. After I'd read it, I found myself making a list of all the others I would include.

It was also interesting for the excepts she included of books I have never read, now on my reading list!

Loved this book!, 30 Jan 2007
I think this is one of the best books out on the market today! It's got loads of fabulous stuff inside that can make a girl blush and squirm! It is the ultimate in female reading and should NOT be passed up by anyone!! I also liked "Playtime" (by Kim Corum) and any Nancy Friday book for the same reasons!

Highly recommended! Get it today!!

Ten years too young, but the principle remains the same, 21 Jan 2007
I attended an all-girl grammar school some ten years before India Knight started her teenage quest for smut, and therefore a number of her chosen texts - all those 70's bonkbusters, for example - came ... er ... were written too late to enliven my schooldays, but the principle remains the same. Our school's 'dirty bits' reading consisted of much of the oeuvre of Sir Richard Burton, thanks to whom I have never been able to hear the innocent word 'member' with a straight face. India Knight evidently missed this experience. Other titles, however, we have very much in common: dear Constance Chatterley and her flower arranging, Fanny Hill and her parade of mighty engines and, of course, the frankly scary 'O', exposure to whom at a tender age put me off S&M for life. How joyous it is to know that dirty-minded little girls remain exactly the same down all the ages. I do hope that today's tender innocents aren't too busy watching YouTube and playing with their Bratz dolls at least to open a dictionary now and again and look up all the rude words. It would be terrible to think of this fine tradition dying out.

A note for the second edition - 'Fanny Hill'? Written in 1749. That would be how the Georgians did it, India dear, not the Victorians. Boarding school history not all it's cracked up to be?

Ha. 'Crack.' Does one ever get over being 13, I wonder?

Some would say Clara (Jabba the) Hutt has achieved "the goal": husband, house and 2.4 children. She is a "smug married." However, there's always a downside and Clara's not-so-perfect life consists of carting her boys to and from school, giving her a chance to see how the truly flawless mothers exist; trying to decipher, after eight years of marriage, whether her mysterious husband actually exercises his bodily functions or not; and, of course, her eccentric family, which consists of a thin, beautiful, insane mother and a string of ex-step-daddies, plus ex-step-siblings. Added to the Clara cocktail are her swinging single friends, the perfect mothers who turn out to be Jezebels in M & S clothing, and the strange Irish dancer who she must interview, renamed by her five year old as "bloody Dunphy."

Hailed as the Bridget Jones of the 21st century, India Knight's first novel My Life on a Plate is a good giggle. If anything, it is the inverse of Bridget Jones since Clara Hutt starts with everything and heads in completely the opposite direction. Funny, warm and full of "does my bum look big in this?" sentiment, Clara ponders the question: "everyone wants to be married--don't they?" --Neena Dutta

Patronising and disappointing, 24 Nov 2008
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.

Beautifully written but..., 21 Nov 2008
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book

Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.

good but not great, 21 Nov 2008
I think this book is ok, its funny and some bits of it are interesting and helpful but most of it is obvious and stuff I'm already doing. It's nothing new. If you are interested in fashion on a budget, then Green is the new black is excellent.

Well worth your time!, 19 Nov 2008
This is a really good book for anyone who finds themself needing to face up to changing their spending habits. I found myself in this position a few years ago when I had to change careers because of deteriorating health and even with my experience there are new tips to be picked up here.

thrift deluxe for the comfortably-off, 16 Nov 2008
I love India Knight's writing, and this is a very beautiful book.

It isn't a manual for anyone who is actually genuinely strapped for cash, and won't help you drastically slash your household bills. It is however a gentle route in to spending less money whilst maintaining a covetable and stylish lifestyle. There wasn't a great deal that was new to me - and I would warn all non-reformed shoppers that discovering etsy is more likely to cost you a fortune than save you any cash. Such lovely things !

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and am sure I will dip back into it whenever I need reminding of the warm glow of satisfaction that a bit of deluxe frugality certainly can provide.

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.

Disappointed, 18 May 2008
I bought this thinking it was a naughty summer read for my beach holiday. Got bored during the introduction. It was hard work getting into this book and never really gets going. Maybe someone will enjoy it but I found it disappointing and the title is promising but misleading.

Disappointing, 26 Apr 2007
I was a teenager (all girls grammar school) in the 70s and we too had 'dirty' books doing the rounds. However, I think that several of the extracts Knight has chosen wouldn't have been given a second glance by us, and are certainly not worthy of inclusion in this volume. The Georgette Heyer extract is not remotely titilating (even to a young teenager), and as for the over long extract from Forever Amber, I don't see the point of its inclusion at all (it just happens to be India Knight's favourite book...).

Better extracts could have been chosen. I haven't read Fear of Flying and was looking forward to the part I've heard about - but no, just another boring piece.

I give this 3 stars purely for Fanny Hill.

Another gem from India, 20 Feb 2007
I am biased because I just love India Knight's style of writing. In this book she captures that whole essence of giggling school girls swapping books for the sexy bits.

She mentioned most of my favourites - some of which I had completely forgotten, some have stayed favourites. After I'd read it, I found myself making a list of all the others I would include.

It was also interesting for the excepts she included of books I have never read, now on my reading list!

Loved this book!, 30 Jan 2007
I think this is one of the best books out on the market today! It's got loads of fabulous stuff inside that can make a girl blush and squirm! It is the ultimate in female reading and should NOT be passed up by anyone!! I also liked "Playtime" (by Kim Corum) and any Nancy Friday book for the same reasons!

Highly recommended! Get it today!!

Ten years too young, but the principle remains the same, 21 Jan 2007
I attended an all-girl grammar school some ten years before India Knight started her teenage quest for smut, and therefore a number of her chosen texts - all those 70's bonkbusters, for example - came ... er ... were written too late to enliven my schooldays, but the principle remains the same. Our school's 'dirty bits' reading consisted of much of the oeuvre of Sir Richard Burton, thanks to whom I have never been able to hear the innocent word 'member' with a straight face. India Knight evidently missed this experience. Other titles, however, we have very much in common: dear Constance Chatterley and her flower arranging, Fanny Hill and her parade of mighty engines and, of course, the frankly scary 'O', exposure to whom at a tender age put me off S&M for life. How joyous it is to know that dirty-minded little girls remain exactly the same down all the ages. I do hope that today's tender innocents aren't too busy watching YouTube and playing with their Bratz dolls at least to open a dictionary now and again and look up all the rude words. It would be terrible to think of this fine tradition dying out.

A note for the second edition - 'Fanny Hill'? Written in 1749. That would be how the Georgians did it, India dear, not the Victorians. Boarding school history not all it's cracked up to be?

Ha. 'Crack.' Does one ever get over being 13, I wonder?

It may work for you - or not?, 07 Apr 2008
It didn't for me, certainly, though it was funny at times, I admit. The lack of dialogues was something I missed from the beginning, and then, I found it irritating how the couple simply didn't do anything to save their marriage (not even sex for god knows how many months?).
This was my first India Knight and didn't make me feel like wanting to read any more :(

Lost count of how many times I have re-read this!, 30 Aug 2007
This book is hilarious! Its the kind of book that actually manages to get me out of a bad mood - I have read it so many times it is falling to pieces. I absolutely love it! Would recommend to anyone!

Oh dear, 20 Jul 2007
I had high hopes for this book. I love India Knight's column in the Sunday Times, even if I don't always agree with her. I was so surprised she created a character like Clara. Clara annoyed me from start to finish and the references to "spastics" and "lezzos" had me cringing. I really hate to give this two stars because I do love her column and her diet book. Maybe her other novel(s) are better.

I almost wet myself laughing..., 28 Dec 2006
I have long thought that India Knight's weekly column in the Sunday Times is one of the best things about my weekend papers, and I really enjoyed 'Don't you want me?' when i read it a couple of years ago. I bought My Life on a Plate with a sense of anticipation, and it definitely didn't disappoint. I finished reading it this morning, having been unable to put it down as it is the funniest book I have read in ages, and it had me in hysterics on just about every other page. India has a sharp wit and a great way with words, and her heroines are relatable and sympathetic. Any mother can identify with the emotions of the lead character Clara, and the dialogue of her two sons strikes a chord they both sound remarkably similiar to my son and his bottom humour. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcastic, quick and self deprecating humour, especially if you have kids and spend your whole time wondering how you can manage to do everything required of you on a daily basis. There are many writers out there writing chick lit by numbers but this book is head and shoulders above all of the predictable trash that swamps the supermarket shelves, as it is truly, pant-wettingly funny, as well as poignant.

My life on a Plate revisited, 26 Oct 2006
I've had this book for ages and reread it every so often - but it always struck me as a mystery as to why the perfect husband went off and every one accepted it without arguement - but having read of the spat between India Knight and Julie Burchill where Julie signs off with a comment about India turning another husband gay - suddenly it all makes sense!
I reread the book this week and yes, it all fits - husband beautifully dressed, very attuned to gossip and working on a fashion magazine finally comes out of the closet!

India Knight busted the happy-ever-after cliché in her divorce novel, My Life on a Plate. This time it's sex and the single mum that's on Ms Knight's knowing agenda. Forget gritty realism though, in Don't You Want Me the only element of kitchen sink drama in this frothy tale is whether there'll be enough roasted leg of lamb and rosemary to go round. And it's an important question to Estella de la Croix, she's a woman of appetites. Leading lady Stella has two ex-husbands, a very large house, gorgeous clothes and a sweetly blonde toddler called Honey. She even has an artist lodger, who is lovely, but too ginger to be fanciable.

Everything is superficially perfect, except for one thing, the lack of sex. "I have no-one to sin with" wails Stella, and decides to do something about it. There follows a gruesomely confessional account of over-age drinking and drugs. And one-night-stands with a perma-tanned plastic surgeon--(sleeping with him is like "contorting an Action Man into unlikely positions") or an equally unappealing DJ, a thirtysomething man who thinks he's 17. And although Stella can be very witty on the dating game and middle-class laissez-faire parenting, less amusing is her scatological humour, or bad taste jokes about the handicapped. By the end of the novel Stella has decided that casual sex is not for her, a relationship is what she really, really wants. And her lucky partner? Well let's just say that ginger Frank isn't a red herring.--Eithne Farry

Patronising and disappointing, 24 Nov 2008
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.

Beautifully written but..., 21 Nov 2008
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book

Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.

good but not great, 21 Nov 2008
I think this book is ok, its funny and some bits of it are interesting and helpful but most of it is obvious and stuff I'm already doing. It's nothing new. If you are interested in fashion on a budget, then Green is the new black is excellent.

Well worth your time!, 19 Nov 2008
This is a really good book for anyone who finds themself needing to face up to changing their spending habits. I found myself in this position a few years ago when I had to change careers because of deteriorating health and even with my experience there are new tips to be picked up here.

thrift deluxe for the comfortably-off, 16 Nov 2008
I love India Knight's writing, and this is a very beautiful book.

It isn't a manual for anyone who is actually genuinely strapped for cash, and won't help you drastically slash your household bills. It is however a gentle route in to spending less money whilst maintaining a covetable and stylish lifestyle. There wasn't a great deal that was new to me - and I would warn all non-reformed shoppers that discovering etsy is more likely to cost you a fortune than save you any cash. Such lovely things !

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and am sure I will dip back into it whenever I need reminding of the warm glow of satisfaction that a bit of deluxe frugality certainly can provide.

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.

Disappointed, 18 May 2008
I bought this thinking it was a naughty summer read for my beach holiday. Got bored during the introduction. It was hard work getting into this book and never really gets going. Maybe someone will enjoy it but I found it disappointing and the title is promising but misleading.

Disappointing, 26 Apr 2007
I was a teenager (all girls grammar school) in the 70s and we too had 'dirty' books doing the rounds. However, I think that several of the extracts Knight has chosen wouldn't have been given a second glance by us, and are certainly not worthy of inclusion in this volume. The Georgette Heyer extract is not remotely titilating (even to a young teenager), and as for the over long extract from Forever Amber, I don't see the point of its inclusion at all (it just happens to be India Knight's favourite book...).

Better extracts could have been chosen. I haven't read Fear of Flying and was looking forward to the part I've heard about - but no, just another boring piece.

I give this 3 stars purely for Fanny Hill.

Another gem from India, 20 Feb 2007
I am biased because I just love India Knight's style of writing. In this book she captures that whole essence of giggling school girls swapping books for the sexy bits.

She mentioned most of my favourites - some of which I had completely forgotten, some have stayed favourites. After I'd read it, I found myself making a list of all the others I would include.

It was also interesting for the excepts she included of books I have never read, now on my reading list!

Loved this book!, 30 Jan 2007
I think this is one of the best books out on the market today! It's got loads of fabulous stuff inside that can make a girl blush and squirm! It is the ultimate in female reading and should NOT be passed up by anyone!! I also liked "Playtime" (by Kim Corum) and any Nancy Friday book for the same reasons!

Highly recommended! Get it today!!

Ten years too young, but the principle remains the same, 21 Jan 2007
I attended an all-girl grammar school some ten years before India Knight started her teenage quest for smut, and therefore a number of her chosen texts - all those 70's bonkbusters, for example - came ... er ... were written too late to enliven my schooldays, but the principle remains the same. Our school's 'dirty bits' reading consisted of much of the oeuvre of Sir Richard Burton, thanks to whom I have never been able to hear the innocent word 'member' with a straight face. India Knight evidently missed this experience. Other titles, however, we have very much in common: dear Constance Chatterley and her flower arranging, Fanny Hill and her parade of mighty engines and, of course, the frankly scary 'O', exposure to whom at a tender age put me off S&M for life. How joyous it is to know that dirty-minded little girls remain exactly the same down all the ages. I do hope that today's tender innocents aren't too busy watching YouTube and playing with their Bratz dolls at least to open a dictionary now and again and look up all the rude words. It would be terrible to think of this fine tradition dying out.

A note for the second edition - 'Fanny Hill'? Written in 1749. That would be how the Georgians did it, India dear, not the Victorians. Boarding school history not all it's cracked up to be?

Ha. 'Crack.' Does one ever get over being 13, I wonder?

It may work for you - or not?, 07 Apr 2008
It didn't for me, certainly, though it was funny at times, I admit. The lack of dialogues was something I missed from the beginning, and then, I found it irritating how the couple simply didn't do anything to save their marriage (not even sex for god knows how many months?).
This was my first India Knight and didn't make me feel like wanting to read any more :(

Lost count of how many times I have re-read this!, 30 Aug 2007
This book is hilarious! Its the kind of book that actually manages to get me out of a bad mood - I have read it so many times it is falling to pieces. I absolutely love it! Would recommend to anyone!

Oh dear, 20 Jul 2007
I had high hopes for this book. I love India Knight's column in the Sunday Times, even if I don't always agree with her. I was so surprised she created a character like Clara. Clara annoyed me from start to finish and the references to "spastics" and "lezzos" had me cringing. I really hate to give this two stars because I do love her column and her diet book. Maybe her other novel(s) are better.

I almost wet myself laughing..., 28 Dec 2006
I have long thought that India Knight's weekly column in the Sunday Times is one of the best things about my weekend papers, and I really enjoyed 'Don't you want me?' when i read it a couple of years ago. I bought My Life on a Plate with a sense of anticipation, and it definitely didn't disappoint. I finished reading it this morning, having been unable to put it down as it is the funniest book I have read in ages, and it had me in hysterics on just about every other page. India has a sharp wit and a great way with words, and her heroines are relatable and sympathetic. Any mother can identify with the emotions of the lead character Clara, and the dialogue of her two sons strikes a chord they both sound remarkably similiar to my son and his bottom humour. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcastic, quick and self deprecating humour, especially if you have kids and spend your whole time wondering how you can manage to do everything required of you on a daily basis. There are many writers out there writing chick lit by numbers but this book is head and shoulders above all of the predictable trash that swamps the supermarket shelves, as it is truly, pant-wettingly funny, as well as poignant.

My life on a Plate revisited, 26 Oct 2006
I've had this book for ages and reread it every so often - but it always struck me as a mystery as to why the perfect husband went off and every one accepted it without arguement - but having read of the spat between India Knight and Julie Burchill where Julie signs off with a comment about India turning another husband gay - suddenly it all makes sense!
I reread the book this week and yes, it all fits - husband beautifully dressed, very attuned to gossip and working on a fashion magazine finally comes out of the closet!

Hilarious, 20 Aug 2008
As with 'My life on a plate' this was a great read. Very, very funny - India Knight's style of writing is just so compelling and easy to read - I had a smile on my face the whole time. Stella was a likeable (if a little unbelievable) and entertaining character and the delivery of her experiences was spot on. From playgroups to getting a man's perspective on pulling - an absolute hoot, I really did howl with laughter at some of the situations.

The only trouble with Knight's books however, is that they are not long enough! Just as I'm getting cosy and starting to really enjoy myself immensely, things get wound up and the end comes before I'm ready - I'm always left wanting more and really sorry to close her books for the last time: I really wish she had more fiction stuff on the go.

Brilliant - one of my favourite writers and always guaranteed to make you laugh. Witty and clever in the extreme.


Dont you want me , 07 Oct 2007
I loved this book it was sooo funny that i was laughing out loud .I really recommend it its a right funny, girlie book with a good ending :)

Laugh out loud funny, 04 May 2006
Funny laugh out loud book, well written easy to read and would highly recommend. I ached with laughing so hard before I had read the first chapter. This lady is seriously funny. If you want intellectual skip it if you funny must read and pass it on.

funny easy read!, 16 Jun 2005
If you read this book as light hearted chick lit and lots of humour then you won't be dissappointed!! I laughed out loud a few times and I am one of those grouchbags that gets annoyed when people laugh hysterically at stupid parts in the cinema!! Its not a book that I must have on my bookshelf but one of those that I quickly passed onto a friend to do the rounds!

Hilarious!!!, 28 Feb 2005
I found this book lying around the office and was bored so read it,and was suprised to find that I LOVED it, it was hilarious - laugh out loud funny, and I would recommend it to anyone as a light hearted quick read.

True its obvious whats going to happen, but arent all these books? Seriously funny though,this is not my genre at all so I was very suprised when I couldnt put it down.

Read it!!

Patronising and disappointing, 24 Nov 2008
As a big fan of India Knight and someone who is actively trying to cut back I was delighted when I saw she had written this book. Having read it though I have to say I am quite disappointed. It's written in her usual entertaining style but the content consists mainly of patronising rubbish backed up by endless lists of websites which anyone good at Googling could have put together. It's also clearly aimed at townies/Londoners which is highly annoying for the rest of us. The suggestions for saving money seem to be split into three categories - a) things lots of people already do because they don't have much choice like taking a packed lunch to work or holidaying in the UK, b) 'trendy' ideas that people have actually been doing for years like making jam or handing down clothes and c) 'investment buying' such as the suggestion that you buy one Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress instead of 10 Primark tops which is all very well is you have £200 up front but that's not the case for most of us. She claims to advocate thrifty living but every chapter is packed with references to 'good' food (why do writers/chefs insist on referring to everything in this annoying way? - 'some good olive oil', 'some good bread' etc) and how you should buy organic/natural whether it's food or beauty products. She also contradicts herself, in one chapter suggesting we shop at Lidl because it's cheap then in the next advocating M&S (definitely not cheap) because of their environmentally friendly fishing policies. Most of the tips are common sense such as planning your shopping list and the stuff about joining the WI and knitting scarves for friends are just bandwagon jumping. This could have been a really good and useful book if she'd looked more at why we like spending money so much (10 Primark tops = 10 shopping 'hits') instead of churning out patronising junk and other people's ideas in the hope of cashing in on the current economic climate.

Beautifully written but..., 21 Nov 2008
Written by the wonderful India Knight,so i was looking forward to this book.Yes, it does have her usual humour and lovely language but I cant help feeling that she was more at home in The Shops- her incomparable book on where to buy almost anything.Funnily enough that tome has saved me from numerous expensive mistakes by directing me to the best place each time for quality and style.Sadly the Thrift book doesnt have the same infectious enthusiasm.It seems a bit rushed and lightweight- most of us know how to bake cakes or make jam.I can balance my chequebook because i have always had to! Its not a novelty for most of us. My childen have always worn handmedowns alongside their new clothes and we have swapped toys etc. Holidays in UK are the norm.I felt close to being patronised in parts of this book

Bandwagon? maybe. Well written- yes.

good but not great, 21 Nov 2008
I think this book is ok, its funny and some bits of it are interesting and helpful but most of it is obvious and stuff I'm already doing. It's nothing new. If you are interested in fashion on a budget, then Green is the new black is excellent.

Well worth your time!, 19 Nov 2008
This is a really good book for anyone who finds themself needing to face up to changing their spending habits. I found myself in this position a few years ago when I had to change careers because of deteriorating health and even with my experience there are new tips to be picked up here.

thrift deluxe for the comfortably-off, 16 Nov 2008
I love India Knight's writing, and this is a very beautiful book.

It isn't a manual for anyone who is actually genuinely strapped for cash, and won't help you drastically slash your household bills. It is however a gentle route in to spending less money whilst maintaining a covetable and stylish lifestyle. There wasn't a great deal that was new to me - and I would warn all non-reformed shoppers that discovering etsy is more likely to cost you a fortune than save you any cash. Such lovely things !

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and am sure I will dip back into it whenever I need reminding of the warm glow of satisfaction that a bit of deluxe frugality certainly can provide.

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.

Disappointed, 18 May 2008
I bought this thinking it was a naughty summer read for my beach holiday. Got bored during the introduction. It was hard work getting into this book and never really gets going. Maybe someone will enjoy it but I found it disappointing and the title is promising but misleading.

Disappointing, 26 Apr 2007
I was a teenager (all girls grammar school) in the 70s and we too had 'dirty' books doing the rounds. However, I think that several of the extracts Knight has chosen wouldn't have been given a second glance by us, and are certainly not worthy of inclusion in this volume. The Georgette Heyer extract is not remotely titilating (even to a young teenager), and as for the over long extract from Forever Amber, I don't see the point of its inclusion at all (it just happens to be India Knight's favourite book...).

Better extracts could have been chosen. I haven't read Fear of Flying and was looking forward to the part I've heard about - but no, just another boring piece.

I give this 3 stars purely for Fanny Hill.

Another gem from India, 20 Feb 2007
I am biased because I just love India Knight's style of writing. In this book she captures that whole essence of giggling school girls swapping books for the sexy bits.

She mentioned most of my favourites - some of which I had completely forgotten, some have stayed favourites. After I'd read it, I found myself making a list of all the others I would include.

It was also interesting for the excepts she included of books I have never read, now on my reading list!

Loved this book!, 30 Jan 2007
I think this is one of the best books out on the market today! It's got loads of fabulous stuff inside that can make a girl blush and squirm! It is the ultimate in female reading and should NOT be passed up by anyone!! I also liked "Playtime" (by Kim Corum) and any Nancy Friday book for the same reasons!

Highly recommended! Get it today!!

Ten years too young, but the principle remains the same, 21 Jan 2007
I attended an all-girl grammar school some ten years before India Knight started her teenage quest for smut, and therefore a number of her chosen texts - all those 70's bonkbusters, for example - came ... er ... were written too late to enliven my schooldays, but the principle remains the same. Our school's 'dirty bits' reading consisted of much of the oeuvre of Sir Richard Burton, thanks to whom I have never been able to hear the innocent word 'member' with a straight face. India Knight evidently missed this experience. Other titles, however, we have very much in common: dear Constance Chatterley and her flower arranging, Fanny Hill and her parade of mighty engines and, of course, the frankly scary 'O', exposure to whom at a tender age put me off S&M for life. How joyous it is to know that dirty-minded little girls remain exactly the same down all the ages. I do hope that today's tender innocents aren't too busy watching YouTube and playing with their Bratz dolls at least to open a dictionary now and again and look up all the rude words. It would be terrible to think of this fine tradition dying out.

A note for the second edition - 'Fanny Hill'? Written in 1749. That would be how the Georgians did it, India dear, not the Victorians. Boarding school history not all it's cracked up to be?

Ha. 'Crack.' Does one ever get over being 13, I wonder?

It may work for you - or not?, 07 Apr 2008
It didn't for me, certainly, though it was funny at times, I admit. The lack of dialogues was something I missed from the beginning, and then, I found it irritating how the couple simply didn't do anything to save their marriage (not even sex for god knows how many months?).
This was my first India Knight and didn't make me feel like wanting to read any more :(

Lost count of how many times I have re-read this!, 30 Aug 2007
This book is hilarious! Its the kind of book that actually manages to get me out of a bad mood - I have read it so many times it is falling to pieces. I absolutely love it! Would recommend to anyone!

Oh dear, 20 Jul 2007
I had high hopes for this book. I love India Knight's column in the Sunday Times, even if I don't always agree with her. I was so surprised she created a character like Clara. Clara annoyed me from start to finish and the references to "spastics" and "lezzos" had me cringing. I really hate to give this two stars because I do love her column and her diet book. Maybe her other novel(s) are better.

I almost wet myself laughing..., 28 Dec 2006
I have long thought that India Knight's weekly column in the Sunday Times is one of the best things about my weekend papers, and I really enjoyed 'Don't you want me?' when i read it a couple of years ago. I bought My Life on a Plate with a sense of anticipation, and it definitely didn't disappoint. I finished reading it this morning, having been unable to put it down as it is the funniest book I have read in ages, and it had me in hysterics on just about every other page. India has a sharp wit and a great way with words, and her heroines are relatable and sympathetic. Any mother can identify with the emotions of the lead character Clara, and the dialogue of her two sons strikes a chord they both sound remarkably similiar to my son and his bottom humour. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcastic, quick and self deprecating humour, especially if you have kids and spend your whole time wondering how you can manage to do everything required of you on a daily basis. There are many writers out there writing chick lit by numbers but this book is head and shoulders above all of the predictable trash that swamps the supermarket shelves, as it is truly, pant-wettingly funny, as well as poignant.

My life on a Plate revisited, 26 Oct 2006
I've had this book for ages and reread it every so often - but it always struck me as a mystery as to why the perfect husband went off and every one accepted it without arguement - but having read of the spat between India Knight and Julie Burchill where Julie signs off with a comment about India turning another husband gay - suddenly it all makes sense!
I reread the book this week and yes, it all fits - husband beautifully dressed, very attuned to gossip and working on a fashion magazine finally comes out of the closet!

Hilarious, 20 Aug 2008
As with 'My life on a plate' this was a great read. Very, very funny - India Knight's style of writing is just so compelling and easy to read - I had a smile on my face the whole time. Stella was a likeable (if a little unbelievable) and entertaining character and the delivery of her experiences was spot on. From playgroups to getting a man's perspective on pulling - an absolute hoot, I really did howl with laughter at some of the situations.

The only trouble with Knight's books however, is that they are not long enough! Just as I'm getting cosy and starting to really enjoy myself immensely, things get wound up and the end comes before I'm ready - I'm always left wanting more and really sorry to close her books for the last time: I really wish she had more fiction stuff on the go.

Brilliant - one of my favourite writers and always guaranteed to make you laugh. Witty and clever in the extreme.


Dont you want me , 07 Oct 2007
I loved this book it was sooo funny that i was laughing out loud .I really recommend it its a right funny, girlie book with a good ending :)

Laugh out loud funny, 04 May 2006
Funny laugh out loud book, well written easy to read and would highly recommend. I ached with laughing so hard before I had read the first chapter. This lady is seriously funny. If you want intellectual skip it if you funny must read and pass it on.

funny easy read!, 16 Jun 2005
If you read this book as light hearted chick lit and lots of humour then you won't be dissappointed!! I laughed out loud a few times and I am one of those grouchbags that gets annoyed when people laugh hysterically at stupid parts in the cinema!! Its not a book that I must have on my bookshelf but one of those that I quickly passed onto a friend to do the rounds!

Hilarious!!!, 28 Feb 2005
I found this book lying around the office and was bored so read it,and was suprised to find that I LOVED it, it was hilarious - laugh out loud funny, and I would recommend it to anyone as a light hearted quick read.

True its obvious whats going to happen, but arent all these books? Seriously funny though,this is not my genre at all so I was very suprised when I couldnt put it down.

Read it!!

Disappointed, 18 May 2008
I bought this thinking it was a naughty summer read for my beach holiday. Got bored during the introduction. It was hard work getting into this book and never really gets going. Maybe someone will enjoy it but I found it disappointing and the title is promising but misleading.

Disappointing, 26 Apr 2007
I was a teenager (all girls grammar school) in the 70s and we too had 'dirty' books doing the rounds. However, I think that several of the extracts Knight has chosen wouldn't have been given a second glance by us, and are certainly not worthy of inclusion in this volume. The Georgette Heyer extract is not remotely titilating (even to a young teenager), and as for the over long extract from Forever Amber, I don't see the point of its inclusion at all (it just happens to be India Knight's favourite book...).

Better extracts could have been chosen. I haven't read Fear of Flying and was looking forward to the part I've heard about - but no, just another boring piece.

I give this 3 stars purely for Fanny Hill.

Another gem from India, 20 Feb 2007
I am biased because I just love India Knight's style of writing. In this book she captures that whole essence of giggling school girls swapping books for the sexy bits.

She mentioned most of my favourites - some of which I had completely forgotten, some have stayed favourites. After I'd read it, I found myself making a list of all the others I would include.

It was also interesting for the excepts she included of books I have never read, now on my reading list!

Loved this book!, 30 Jan 2007
I think this is one of the best books out on the market today! It's got loads of fabulous stuff inside that can make a girl blush and squirm! It is the ultimate in female reading and should NOT be passed up by anyone!! I also liked "Playtime" (by Kim Corum) and any Nancy Friday book for the same reasons!

Highly recommended! Get it today!!

Ten years too young, but the principle remains the same, 21 Jan 2007
I attended an all-girl grammar school some ten years before India Knight started her teenage quest for smut, and therefore a number of her chosen texts - all those 70's bonkbusters, for example - came ... er ... were written too late to enliven my schooldays, but the principle remains the same. Our school's 'dirty bits' reading consisted of much of the oeuvre of Sir Richard Burton, thanks to whom I have never been able to hear the innocent word 'member' with a straight face. India Knight evidently missed this experience. Other titles, however, we have very much in common: dear Constance Chatterley and her flower arranging, Fanny Hill and her parade of mighty engines and, of course, the frankly scary 'O', exposure to whom at a tender age put me off S&M for life. How joyous it is to know that dirty-minded little girls remain exactly the same down all the ages. I do hope that today's tender innocents aren't too busy watching YouTube and playing with their Bratz dolls at least to open a dictionary now and again and look up all the rude words. It would be terrible to think of this fine tradition dying out.

A note for the second edition - 'Fanny Hill'? Written in 1749. That would be how the Georgians did it, India dear, not the Victorians. Boarding school history not all it's cracked up to be?

Ha. 'Crack.' Does one ever get over being 13, I wonder?