Otherwise Engaged : A novel

Rating:
Summary: lovely
Review: a friend suggested I read this book , as I have been through one engagement and I barely survived! if ONLY I had this book when I was engaged, it would have made me feel much less alone. Good literature makes you feel as though you are not singular in your experience; Otherwise Engaged definitely validated my experience!! The voice is stunningly original and the humor is dry as a bone -- and often comes out of left field. I like the unexpected. I also enjoyed the adroit way in which the author wove in subplots and characters in a seamless, coherent fashion -- I truly wanted to see what these characters would say or do next! The other test I have for a book is if I don't want it to end. I have to say, I did NOT want this book to end and I am on the edge of my seat regarding a sequel, or anything else by this writer. I have since shared this book with several friends, both male and female, whio uniformly agreed it was one of the best they'd read of its kind. A great job, especially considering this is her very first novel.....

Rating:
Summary: highly amusing!!!
Review: I just about split a gut laughing over this one. Great story well told -- and plenty of real spot-on humor. I read this novel in one long night and don't regret the lost sleep. I wish she had another book out immediately!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: one of the best of this genre
Review: I would rate this book parallel to the Girls Guide To Hunting and Fishing; although I had more laughs with this one. The humor, albeit often dark, is astute and the characters are endearing for their foibles and POVs. Loved the conversations betweem Eve and her best friend and her therapist, Reuben -- many insights here for fiancees and just plain people. Lots of rave reviews have come this author's way; there is a good reason for that. She has skill and a fresh new voice that I look forward to reading again soon. If you like this, try Melissa Bank.

Rating:
Summary: A little darker than the reviews would suggest
Review: I enjoyed the author's writing style and think she's clever, but the story is much darker than the reviews and book jacket led me to believe. I found it depressing that Eve repeatedly removed her engagement ring and handed it back to her fiance, declaring she wasn't going to marry him. I think these tactics are manipulative and cowardly, and because of this, I wasn't as happy with the book as I thought I would be. I hope this isn't how women really are with their fiances. However, I do think Ms. Finnamore does have a strong writing style that I would like to see again.

Rating:
Summary: Pass on it
Review: I never met a book I really disliked until now. If only I listened to the reviews with 1 star tucked away amongst the many good reviews. I'm usually generous in my opinions and would never think to write anything unless I had something positive to say. In this case, however, I felt compelled to write. Have you ever met someone and wished you could get away from that person as fast as possible? That's how I felt about the main character. I, too, found her impossibly annoying and did not relate to her one bit. Please, most people are thrilled to be engaged. To hear her go on and on ad nauseum about her unfounded fears made me wish her finance would just dump her. There are some funny sentences but that's about it. I kept reading and thinking it was going to get better. Thank God the book was short. I guess I expected something with a little more meat to it. For those who like light hearted reading, I recommend, Confessons of a Shopaholic or for romantics, Cupid and Diana.

Rating:
Summary: Get this book!!!
Review: I was rolling on the floor with this author's wit. No, I'm not engaged or married but I still related to so much of the male/female situations and the career portions of the book. Most of my favorite books are from Knopf ("sick pupoy" "licks of love")but this one really hit the mirth spot. Great that women aren't taking themselves too seriously any more and can laugh at the insitution of marriage and enjoy it at the same time. There were touchying moments as well and I appreciated the way the author intyerspersed moods and characters so that you don't know exactly what's coming next. Also loved the quotes at the beginnings of each chapter. I agree with the USA TODAY reviewer. It's just great.

Rating:
Summary: stunning
Review: I was given this book by my best friend - a dog-eared copy I inhaled in two sittings and then ordered three on Amazon -- two for girlfriends who are getting married! In my opnion, you cannot trap someone into gettinbg married unless you're poregnant (and sometimes not even then) -- if so, a LOT of live-in girlfriends would be married! I loved the interplay between this couple and the characters were fresh and very humorous. Recommended for anyone with a sense of humor who HAS been engaged and knows about the tension !

Rating:
Summary: Charming, laugh-out-loud funny, honest
Review: It was almost frightening how honest this character is about her dreams and fears - I felt like she had been camping out inside my head for the past five months (I'm getting married on Feb 14th...pray for me!) Intelligent and sharply done. It provided me with moments of clear eyed wisdom and hilarity...a true lifesaver! Recommended for any woman you know who has been married or is even considering it - although I would have enjoyed it even if I weren't engaged. It's just good, period. Kudos to the author!!

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: I loved the writing style; it drew me in and kept me turning pages until I was finished. One of those books you hate to see end -- marvelous insights on the engagement process, love, and life in general. Especially adored the parts about the strange world of advertising, and the best friend Lana has great dialoguye, as does Jill (LOVE THE GRAND KLONG AND THE PETIT KLONG) Very anxious to see what this unique and highly talented author does for an encore. Also, I cried at the end -- so it had depth as well as wit - a highly unusual convergence of events!! Buy it for every engaged woman you know....I have.....

Rating:
Summary: Double treat
Review: I received the tape cassette by Linda Hamilton, plus the hardcover of Otherwise Engaged as a Christmas gift. Terrific!