The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing

Rating:
Summary: Unusually perceptive and multi-layered
Review: I hardly ever read contemporary fiction was extremely turned off by the likening of _The Girl's Guide.._ to _Bridget Jones' Diary_.. but I picked this one up anyway and kept reading. I really admire the tone of this book- the main character (narrator) is perceptive, THOUGHTFUL, intelligent, but human. So are the other characters. The stories are very realistic and the concept of honesty rides through many of them. I enjoyed it quite a bit and am thankful to Bank for an intelligent book. The last story made me happy. Good books should do that for you.

Rating:
Summary: Right On Target
Review: I think that this was an excellent depiction of all the difficulties of dating in the 1990's and 2000+ that women experience. The complexities of love, life, and career and intricately woven into a tale of a young woman seeking that ideal life partner. It is a book that all women, especially young ones, can relate to. It is a relatively fast read for those short on time, and difficult to put down once you start.

Rating:
Summary: One Girl's Guide to Messing Up Relationships
Review: This is a great book for any woman who has ever blown a relationship or any man who has been part of the relationship she blew. Melissa Bank takes readers on a tour through one woman's journey to figure out where she fits into the world and how. The main character's losses and gains along the way are so random, there's bound to be something in the book any reader will relate to. Full of twists and turns that leave you laughing or saying "oh no!" outloud, The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing is one book that you shouldn't skip.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Bother
Review: At the risk of sounding rude, this was one of the most boring, disorganized books I have ever read. I was reading under the midconception that this book was similar to the Bridget Jones series (which I LOVED), but it's not at all like it. If you are looking for something funny, I would skip this one all together.

Rating:
Summary: charming
Review: A funny and easy to read book. I shared it with a lot of my single female friends.

Rating:
Summary: Makes me glad I'm out of the dating stage!
Review: What torture young people must go through! Bank is very talented at relaying the heartache, insecurities and bad dates the unmarried must endure while trying to find the perfect mate. The middle chapter referred to in other reviews was also a bit jarring for me, but had value on its own. Overall, it was a fun book to read on a long flight.

Rating:
Summary: Touching
Review: Great book, very touching, a book you can relate to on some level. A nice, quick read that will stay with you long after you put the book down.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Even Bother
Review: This book was so dumb and a complete waste of my time. There are way too many phenominal books out there to bore your mind with this nonsense.

Rating:
Summary: lovely book
Review: I can't say the coherence of the book was great, there's two stories written with almost the same plot (Archie the alcoholic) and there's that confusing middle-chapter about some family not related to any of the other stories in any way. But all the stories are great for a beach read or bedtime story, funny and touching and inspiring and true (well it seemed so, anyway)...I found the main character Jane easy to relate to. The story I liked the best was the last one, so I recommend reading it all before you make your judgement...

Rating:
Summary: Go ahead -- read it already!
Review: I'm sorry to have read some reviews that found Bank's book lacking humor and character development. I found quite the contrary. This story tackles the "coming of age" of Jane Rosenal in a fashion that is, in my experience, quite unique compared with other novels of its genre. I think the entrances and exits of characters throughout the story to be a reflection on real-life relationships. Bank also makes a comment on romantic and platonic relationships through the use of a "self-help" book that really questions the courting rituals that exist in our society. The use of irony and sarcasm makes the sometimes heavy and serious themes relating to life and death easier to handle. Don't compare this novel to Bridget Jones. It is an excellent story on its own with tons of effective literary devices that will leave you feeling great about spending your time reading it.