Rating:  Summary: Witty and Thought Provoking Review: Suzanne Finnamore has done an incredible thing here--she has given us a novel that is both funny, yet at the same time, very thought provoking. Eve, our heroine, has finally gotten engaged at age 36. She tells us the story of her engagement in an interesting way. We get little snippets of her life during that period. Her bickering with her fiance, her therapy sessions, her doubts, her misgivings. Ingiving us these bits and pieces of Eve's life, Finnamore somehow manages to also give us the whole picture. I felt I really knew Eve--she is a complicated, multi-dimensional character. She's got an amusingly snide, ironic sense of humor that is great fun to experience. Her story, while making me laugh, also made me think--about the nature of love and marriage, and wjy woman feel such pressure to get married. Suzanne Finnamore has a great talent. Her work is unique, engaging, entertaining and thought provoking. I highly recommend it.
Rating:  Summary: Can't believe it took me so long! Review: I've seen this book on the shelf for some time now and finally picked it up to read. Well, it's just hysterical. Razor-like insight and relentless wit are the reasons this book is my pick of the year. It's fresh, it's original and it's utterly wonderful. And you'll cry at the end.
Rating:  Summary: cute Review: this is a fun book about a yuppie who is getting married to a yuppie and the anxieties that anyone should have about getting married - not only about how your dress looks, but also the serious stuff - do I want to be stuck with this guy for the rest of my life. This would be a good book to read for anyone who is in the throes of a wedding, like the main characters. The only thing that I don't like about these kinds of books is that everyone has a lot of money, is very attractive, and aside from the doubt about matrimony, leads a pretty ideal life. I guess that is why this might be considered an escape novel.
Rating:  Summary: Borrow it from the Library... but don't waste your money Review: I generally read reviews of a book before picking it up... and this one rated pretty high among readers. However, when I actually sat down to read it, I have to say I was disappointed. Although some of the book may ring true for people who are engaged, for the rest of us just looking for a good read will walk away very unfulfilled. Half of the book you want to reach through and slap the main character into reality, the other half you are bored and are counting how many more pages until the end. Not terrible... just don't expect too much.
Rating:  Summary: Loved It Review: Being in a similar real life situation with Eve (I too am over 35 and unmarried living with my beau), I found this book hilarious and Eve someone you could really like. Characters were well developed and the book just flowed nicely. Good work Ms. Finnamore.
Rating:  Summary: Getting married is never easy! Review: Otherwise Engaged is one of the funniest novels I have recently read. Planning a wedding is not easy, and Eve lets us know just how hard it is. After all, cold feet rears its ugly head. Well, at least she's getting married, lucky her.
Rating:  Summary: otherwise a flop Review: There cannot be a more self-absorbed, immmature main character in a novel than Eve. This is not funny. There is no comparsion to humor of BJones Diary so everyone reviewing should cease the comparison .I bought "Otherwise" because of all the Amazon rave reviews. I couldn't bear another chapter after 1/3 of the way through and I ALWAYS finish a book. Don't bother. You'll thank me.
Rating:  Summary: Funny Witty and a Great Read Review: This has to be one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. I kept laughing out loud on the subway reading it. The story of Eve as she goes through a period of elation then confusion and anxiety before her wedding is written in a birlliant, honest and extremely funny way. The writing style is brief with short sentences that add to the comical rhthym. Each chapter is a month that goes up until the big day of the wedding as Eve tells the reader exactly how she feels as she goes through work, wedding planning and life. The book also has some touching moments and draws you deeply into the story. My cousin who just got married said it was hauntingly accurate and painfully honest. Anyway I really recommend it, even if you can't relate to the exact situation, it is well-written, funny, and a great story.
Rating:  Summary: Otherwise Engaged Review: A great book to read while planning your own wedding. You don't neccessarily fall in love with this couple, but you will like them. I imagine their relationship may be realistic to some, although the fairy-tale lover in me would want more than they have. I do have to say the book brought out emotion in me at the end, so it must not have been that bad.
Rating:  Summary: Wonderful! Review: This book is a realistic view of engaged life! I just got married a month ago and can totally relate to this book! This is a must-read for the engaged or newly-married! I am so excited to have discovered a great new author! I am totally looking forward to her next book!
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