Down with Love

Rating:
Summary: Kitschy, "Catch"y & Romantic
Review: Alright, I'm gonna be straight with you lovely people; I bought this book for the pictures.

That's right, I'll admit it, I'm a (Ewan) McGregor-holic. I am anxiously counting down the days until the release of this film, and when I saw that the book version was already out, I Amazon-ed it right to me. I've only read the first couple chapters, cuz really, I don't want to ruin the film for me, but from what I've read, it's as cheesy, charming and classic as the film looks to be.

And the photos? Well, I've yet to find a bad one of Mr. McGregor (aka 'Catcher Block'), and even Renee (aka 'Barbara Novak') looks divine in her fantastically retro wear. I wanted more photos, but what can a girl do? I'm anxiously awaiting the big screen version of this catchy little book...

Rating:
Summary: Just your basic romantic comedy
Review: Barbara Novak, is a new author in New York City and at first her book isn't taken very seriously by the men in her publishing company. Her book sales soon soar after some cleaver marketing and women every where are taking her book career instead of love message to heart. Barbara's success is a thorn in the side to hot-shot, ladies' man reporter Catcher Block. Catcher soon cooks up a scheme to discredit Barbara as a feminist icon, by making her fall in love.

Down With Love is just your basic romantic comedy, you'll have fun reading it but won't really think about it too much afterwards. The plot was fun and full of interesting characters, witty dialogue, and lots of mistaken identities. The characters were especially interesting because I wasn't sure till the end weather I liked or hated them. Down With Love is worth a read if you are a fan of romantic comedies.

Rating:
Summary: Down with this book!!
Review: I am hands down loving this book. At first I got alittle worried with the begining, but it turned out to be a sweet read. I read this book of course in a 2 & 1/2hr span. I just drifted right along with it. Very funny how the author jumped from the two main characters, I liked it. Great read for by the pool, or on a trip. Not too much to read but light enough to get fullfilled from it. I loved the characters Barbara and Catcher, their crazy twists on the truth & their devious plans for eachother. Now I want to see the movie. Hope its as good as the book.

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Have for all Chick Lit Fans!
Review: I am so glad that i bought this book! Down with Love are one of the most unique books i have ever read. At first, the book did not really make sense to you, but you understand more of it as you read more. The twist at the end of the book in completely Unpredictable and Suprising! Though, i think that the twist was not explained thoroughly, as it felt unconvincing at first read. Nonetheless, the characters are charming and flirtatious. Barbara Novak and Catcher Block are made for each other. The games that they play with each other were simply adorable and leave you with wanting more! Right after i read this wonderful book, i bought myself a copy of Down with Love DVD. I have to say, this is the first time, that i thought that the book and the movie are both on the same level. The movie was just as fantastic as the book. I cannot choose which one is better than the other. I feel that one should read the book before reading it, as you would have a better understanding of the movie, and have a better appreciation for the characters. After reading and watching Down with Love, i have completely fallen in love with the 60's era. The outfits were so feminine and well put together. Most people still had manners and spoke in perfect English. Barbara Novak did a wonderful job with Down with Love. A fun and great read for all Chick Lit fans! I'm sure after reading this book, you'll be asking yourself 'Who is this Barbara Novak?' and suddenly have a craving for CHOCOLATES!

Rating:
Summary: Down With Down With Love
Review: I am the type of person who likes to read the book before the movie, because the book is usually better. Not in this case. Though there is still hope for the movie, the novel Down With Love is a hack publicity stunt. I thought that the movie would be based on the book, but failed to read the fine print at the bottom of the front cover "based on the screenplay". I have to admit that I did not read the entire thing, because I could actually feel it bring down my intelligence level. The vocabulary used in what I did read was more "hooked on phonix" than anything else. The constant references to the actual novel also irritated me with sentences like "We interrupt the book to tell you my side of the story". My advice: Up with the movie, down with the book".

Rating:
Summary: hilarious
Review: I can't wait for the movie to come out. The book is so hilarious, there is also a surprising twist towards the end. I wasn't expecting it. I didn't even see it coming, but I was glad that this romantic comedy is different & fresh. You'll just have to read the book to find out. It'll be so cool to see this romantic comedy. I can't wait!

The basic plot is this: Barbara Novak has sworn off love, written a book "Down with love" that encourages women that love is a distraction. Down with love but not sex, she encourages women to have sex "a la carte," it sounds very "Sex & the City" and its reminiscent of those Rock Hudson & Doris Day comedies.

The book becomes a best seller & women everywhere are following Barbara's advice. That's not cool with Catcher Block. This journalist, & ladies man has had enough. He decides to bring Barbara down, by of course, pretending to be a shy astronaut. He hopes to write an expose about how he made Miss Barbara Novak, fall in love with him.

Instead of ending like those Hudson/Day comedies, which most people have seen & know the ending of...this book certainly twists things up. I was so surprised at the ending! Very surprised. The book felt original, different & fresh without feeling cliched, even though the premise seems to be recycled. I suggest that you read it...

Rating:
Summary: awful, mindless, and shallow
Review: I purchased this novelization ... after hearing positive buzz about the film. BIG MISTAKE. I read it in one hour, but it wasn't because it was enthralling or the slightest bit interesting - in fact, it was quite [bad]. Now I know why the retail price was [money].
Of course, with a title like "Down with Love" and cutesy '60s cover art, I didn't exactly expect this to be Faulkner, but the repeated blows to my intelligence were just disgraceful.
The plot of the novel seemed promising, and the premise was indeed original and slightly tongue-in-cheek (anyone who has read this novelization and/or seen the movie can tell you it's a throwback to the old Rock Hudson/Doris Day sex comedies of the '50s and '60s). Of course, it's laden with a ton of sexual innuendos and wacky situtations. But it also has the worst characterization known to man. The characters, ESPECIALLY the two leads, are carelessly developed, shallow, and unconvincing. Their "love story" is silly, and I think I killed a million neurons just reading about it.
For starters, skip the novelization and just watch the movie. At least there it's presented in a superbly visual format, and can come across as weird as it wants to without looking utterly stupid.

Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I read this book this past weekend in one afternoon and absolutely loved it! From what I have seen in the trailers for the movie, the book appears to pretty much follow the movie. I would most definetely highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Books I've Read!!
Review: If you are a fan of love stories you should read this book. If you are a fan of determination read this book. If you are a fan of chocolate buy this book! I have never read a book as good as this one. It makes me feel happy just thinking about it. If you believe that love should conquer all, then you will love Down With Love!

Rating:
Summary: Light and fluffy "Down"
Review: It's brief, cuter-than-thou, and pleasant accompaniment to the charming "Down With Love" movie. With a few bonuses (book excerpts and photographs), this is sort of a cliffs' notes to the film. Cute, fluffy, and might be a nice diversion even if you've seen the movie.

In the early sixties, when women could vote and have jobs but not win respect, Barbara Novak wrote the controversial feminist manifesto "Down With Love." The book urged women to have "sex a la carte," relationships without love, and wean themselves onto chocolate instead of men. It turns the dating world upside down and turns Barbara into a feminist icon.

Things go wrong when she is supposed to have a business dinner with Catcher Block, an incorrigible man-about-town with a keen interest in stewardesses. After he cancels their business talk three times, Barbara disses him on a talk show. Catcher's revenge: Make Barbara abandon her own principles and fall in love with him.

This novelization is a cute enough retelling, although the warring viewpoints grated on me after awhile. The writing is very plain-vanilla, with very few details included; it's best suited to those who have seen the movies and have a clear idea of what the characters look like. Sometimes the cuteness of the first-person narrative works (the final chapter), and sometimes it doesn't (the phone marriage proposal, which is simply silly).

It wouldn't be worth buying if it weren't for the bonuses: an array of behind-the-scenes photos in the middle of the book, featuring more commentary on the clothes than the actual actors (admittedly, the clothes are gorgeous). Then there's a humorous few chapters from "Down With Love" ("You've got to do what men do, and put yourself first.") And finally, Catcher's expose on Barbara, very funny and more than a bit self-serving.

If you liked the movie then this might be a nice companion piece. At the very least, it's cute and has some photographs worth looking at. (Nice shot with the space helmets)