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Women's Fiction

My Life on a Plate

My Life on a Plate

List Price: $21.00
Your Price: $21.00
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: how did this ever make it to paperback?
Review: I've only reached page 45, and it's clear that I won't be able to finish this book. I am no prude, but I am already sick of Clara's references to number two, and farting. She is extremely petty, judgemental and shallow. So far, I haven't been able to identify any redeeming qualities in Clara that will make the book worth finishing. Frankly, I can see why her husband has tuned her out.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Definitely a book for the girls
Review: India Knight has written an amusing novel about a woman, Clara, who lives in what she believes to be a stable environment (husband and two kids) but can't decide whether or not she's happy. Clara is worried that there is more to life yet she doesn't know what it is. At times, 'My Life on a Plate' is wickedly funny, at times painfully honest but it is a superficial, candyfloss type of book (a bit Bridget Jones) that is easily forget the next day.

There are a few classic lines from the main character and a few amusing moments as she deals with her tearaway mother, who's about to get married again for the unpteenth time. Generally, though 'My Life on a Plate' is just an easy read if you've nothing better to do.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A snickering good time
Review: India Knight introduces us to Clara Hutt, thirty three year old married, mother of two, with an interesting-ish job as a writer. Clara is bothered by the vague feeling that there is more to life than she has. Her mother is about to embark on husband number four, she bungles an important interview, and she is confronted by the body that has aged and borne two children. She tries to engage her husband in serious conversation about their marriage and love life. She tries to keep her two boys from killing each other, or just saying something too wildly inappropiate. She has a real life. Never whining, or morose, our Clara forges on, and discovers she still has plenty to offer. India Knight makes Clara and her life come alive with very believable dialog,( the book is worth a read just to experience Sammy, the two year old or the bikini wax appointment)and laugh out loud moments. I really enjoyed this book, found it a jolly good read.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Annoying aftertaste
Review: India Knight's My Life on a Plate is a light, tasty read, and I'd give it four stars if that's all I wanted from a book. Clara Hutt is a married mother of two with the still sharp perspective of an individual, and Knight does a good job writing some funny inner dialogue for Clara. She also explores the complexity of what makes for unhappiness in married life, although not as well as Nick Hornby does in How to Be Good.

I read this book in a single day, but as I turned the last page I realized that a number of things about Clara really bugged me. For one thing, she's too self-deprecating. Most mothers I know are too busy to obsess so constantly about whether their thighs are too large. Another bothersome character trait is Clara's tendency to get drunk and say really stupid things in high-risk situations. This is a professional woman? This is a grown up? The more I thought about it, the more it annoyed me. Check it out from the library for a light read. But don't make a permanent place for it on your bookshelf.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: MY LIFE ON A PLATE: Delicious to the last bite!!!
Review: Meet Clara: Thirty-three, married eight years, two children, slightly overweight, and quite possibly one of the funniest and most true-to-life characters ever written. Based in London, this very comical novel is about an average housewife juggling a part-time job, the fact that her clothes are more than slightly out of date, and coming to terms with the fact that her husband is frequently not fullfilling his duities as a father, which sends her on her own journey of self-discovery to answer one question:Is she really happy? For the answer you must read it and find out. From start to finish this book is outragously hysterical! I couldn't reccomend better!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: ate all on my plate and wanted more...
Review: My first Knight read and while I did enjoy it, I felt it should have had more to it. The writing is VERY funny and I laughed outloud several times. Clara comes across as an average housewife getting the kids on the schoolbus but her marriage is lacking, or so she finds out.

If you are looking for a light, funny read this one will satisfy you but don't be alarmed when the ending turns.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Funny in spots
Review: My Life on a Plate by India Knight

My Life on a Plate is about Clara Hutt, a 33-year-old housewife, married to her perfect husband of 8 years. She has two young boys who keep her busy at home, and during the day she works part time for a magazine. Throughout this novel, Clara makes observations about her life, her marriage, and what she could expect out of her somewhat boring future.

I found myself laughing at some of her observations and antics, but overall, I didn't see where this book was taking me. It is light reading, part of the "brit chick lit" genre that was made popular by Bridget Jones' Diary. However, this novel is nowhere near the wit and style of Bridget Jones. I found that this novel was going nowhere, and realized there was a point to the story only after I reached the last chapter. I recommend this book only for the interesting characters that weave in and out of the book, but over all, I can only give it 3 stars.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BRILLIANT!
Review: My Life on a Plate is just hilarious - like Milly68 I too fell prey to near hysteria when reading it in public and had to save it until I was safely inside! Definitely not one to miss.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally, a Hilarious Comedy About a Married Woman
Review: My Life on a Plate is just terrific. It's completely hilarious, in the Bridget Jones, Getting Over It, laugh out loud vein and (here's the best part) it's not about a single woman. Clara, our heroine, is married, with two boys and wondering, am I happy?, is this all there is?, etc. Clara is extremely funny and makes us laugh at all the things we moms of young children chuckle about anyway (you know, those other moms who have it all together, how do they do it?, the unsupportive husband vis-a-vis parenting, etc.). Clara is an extremely likable narrator, trying to be a good wife and mother and keeping us amused all the way. But what does it mean, My Life On a Plate? One day, Clara looks down at a meal she is about to eat. It's a little congealed, not really that appetizing, when it really should be exciting her. She realizes, that's it, it's her life on a plate, shouldn't she be a little more excited about her life, shouldn't it be more appetizing? Those are the questions that bother her throughout the novel as she goes about being wife, mother, friend, daughter. I really enjoyed this one. I have been in search of something completely hilarious for months and have finally found it. The characters and dialogue are very funny and it is a truly enjoyable read. Have fun with this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Bright and Funny Novel
Review: My Life on a Plate was a very quick but still rewarding read. It the very funny look at the 8 year old marriage of Clara, a woman in her 30s, and the mother of two small boys. She has started to doubt whether in fact she is as happy as she has always assumed she is. She is surrounded by a very colourful cast of characters, both friends and family. Clara has always had some self-image problems but until now hasn't realised that her life in general is not quite so picture perfect. My only criticism of this book is that it wasn't long enough. India Knight writes both with wit and compassion and draws together a wonderful array of people who I think could have been expanded upon greatly into a much longer novel - more like a Marian Keyes novel, in fact. But if you like reading about British singletons, you'll enjoy this story about what can happen after they have met their Mr Rights and settled into marriage and parenthood.


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