Getting Rid of Matthew is an August 2007 Book Sense pick!
Learn more!
For once this isn’t a novel about the heroine getting the guy. It’s about getting rid of the guy, and in the process, finding herself.
Helen is nearly forty, and has, for far too long, had an affair with Matthew, a high-powered, much older, attractive, married man who was once, of course, her boss. After years of being disappointed by missed dates, out-of-the-way restaurants where there’s no chance of them being caught, broken promises, and hushed phone calls, at last Helen realizes enough is enough—it’s time to dump Matthew and get on with her life.
This, of course, is the exact moment when Matthew decides to leave his wife for her. He appears on her doorstep, announcing, “I’ve done it! I’ve left her! I’m yours!” and proceeds to move in. Helen then discovers how much she can’t bear him. But she can’t just throw him out—after all, she’s been begging him to do exactly this for years. The only thing to do, she decides, is to convince his wife, Sophie, to take him back.
So after a “chance” meeting in the park, Helen befriends Sophie and hears all about her lying, cheating husband. But then, the unexpected happens—Helen really starts to like Sophie, and thinks she’s way too good for a selfish bore like Matthew. And then there’s the other small problem of Matthew’s handsome, charming son…
Jane Fallon turns the conventional love story on its head in this irresistibly delicious, ironic debut for every woman who has ever realized, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Jane Fallon is an award-winning television producer in England. Several of her shows, including This Life and Teachers, air in this country on BBC America. She lives in London with her longtime partner, comedian and author Ricky Gervais.
Learn more!
For once this isn’t a novel about the heroine getting the guy. It’s about getting rid of the guy, and in the process, finding herself.
Helen is nearly forty, and has, for far too long, had an affair with Matthew, a high-powered, much older, attractive, married man who was once, of course, her boss. After years of being disappointed by missed dates, out-of-the-way restaurants where there’s no chance of them being caught, broken promises, and hushed phone calls, at last Helen realizes enough is enough—it’s time to dump Matthew and get on with her life.
This, of course, is the exact moment when Matthew decides to leave his wife for her. He appears on her doorstep, announcing, “I’ve done it! I’ve left her! I’m yours!” and proceeds to move in. Helen then discovers how much she can’t bear him. But she can’t just throw him out—after all, she’s been begging him to do exactly this for years. The only thing to do, she decides, is to convince his wife, Sophie, to take him back.
So after a “chance” meeting in the park, Helen befriends Sophie and hears all about her lying, cheating husband. But then, the unexpected happens—Helen really starts to like Sophie, and thinks she’s way too good for a selfish bore like Matthew. And then there’s the other small problem of Matthew’s handsome, charming son…
Jane Fallon turns the conventional love story on its head in this irresistibly delicious, ironic debut for every woman who has ever realized, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Jane Fallon is an award-winning television producer in England. Several of her shows, including This Life and Teachers, air in this country on BBC America. She lives in London with her longtime partner, comedian and author Ricky Gervais.
“Fallon delivers the goods in a believable and scathingly funny voice. She gives
Helen and Sophie the human bumps and curves that make them so alive, you’ll
find yourself wishing you could ring them for lunch.” —Cleveland Plain
Dealer
“Fallon’s conversational and deeply descriptive writing style—and
witty dialogue—make the novel thoroughly readable…For those longing for
another lighthearted beach read as summer draws to a close, Getting Rid of
Matthew is a solid option.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“Fallon makes Helen’s twisted mind pathetic, hilarious, and relatable all at once. Her story is a gritty look at the madness of never knowing exactly what you want.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Sparkling and unpredictable, a brilliant first novel.” —Elle (U.K.)
“A clever, sophisticated debut novel, Getting Rid of Matthew…is a
juicy caper…painfully funny…[and] satisfying. Along the way, Fallon’s heroine
climbs out of her rut and launches a life of her own.” —LadiesHomeJournal.com
“Brit TV producer Fallon takes ‘careful what you wish for’ to hilarious heights in her debut novel…The surprising and rewarding treat is a bright, grown-up story of two women who discover friendship and trust in one another.”
—Publishers Weekly
Helen and Sophie the human bumps and curves that make them so alive, you’ll
find yourself wishing you could ring them for lunch.” —Cleveland Plain
Dealer
“Fallon’s conversational and deeply descriptive writing style—and
witty dialogue—make the novel thoroughly readable…For those longing for
another lighthearted beach read as summer draws to a close, Getting Rid of
Matthew is a solid option.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“Fallon makes Helen’s twisted mind pathetic, hilarious, and relatable all at once. Her story is a gritty look at the madness of never knowing exactly what you want.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Sparkling and unpredictable, a brilliant first novel.” —Elle (U.K.)
“A clever, sophisticated debut novel, Getting Rid of Matthew…is a
juicy caper…painfully funny…[and] satisfying. Along the way, Fallon’s heroine
climbs out of her rut and launches a life of her own.” —LadiesHomeJournal.com
“Brit TV producer Fallon takes ‘careful what you wish for’ to hilarious heights in her debut novel…The surprising and rewarding treat is a bright, grown-up story of two women who discover friendship and trust in one another.”
—Publishers Weekly
5 comments:
Obviuosly the Brits have quite a differnt idea of what is and is not "hilarious"!
Sorry, I just have to re-write the review on this month's selection:
'Jane Fallon is an award-winning television producer (read soap opera) in England (where funny shows used to come from in the past).
“Fallon delivers the goods in a believable (read uncomplicated, inane)and scathingly funny (?)voice. She gives
Helen and Sophie the human bumps and curves (psychoses)that make them so alive, you’ll
find yourself wishing you could ring them for lunch(only if you want to hang out with a psychopath and an idiot) .” —Cleveland Plain
Dealer
“
“Brit TV producer takes ‘careful what you wish for’ to hilarious (SCARY) heights in her debut novel…The surprising (surprised she could keep uo this silly dialogue for so long)and rewarding treat(? if this is a treat I'm sticking to chocolate) is a bright, grown-up (you've got to be kidding)story of two (lonely fools, without any real friends)women who discover (really look hard for)friendship and trust in one another.(only an idiot could trust someone like"Helen/Eleanor)”
—Publishers Weekly
Sorry - just my 2.5 cents!
Funny!
Gee Honey - don't hold back, say what you think! "Different strokes for different folks" - I found the book to be hilarious in spots, sad in spots and reflecting genuine situations that women get themselves into routinely. It was uneven - and I wouldn't say it was the greatest writing ever. But it was enjoyable and entertaining which was kind of a break between dark and heavy novels before and after this one. The Brits obviously have a different take on things - which is kind of fun.
Well, for some reason I really enjoyed the book. I'm not completely done but just a few more chapters to go. I find the book really interesting and funny, not sure why. In the beginning I hated Helen but now coming to the end,I hate to admit it but I like her. This would be one of the few books I would buy. I would read it again. Even though some didn't enjoy the British style or humor, I did. It's refreshing. I may not agree with the situation the characters put them selfs in but sadly and weird enough thats life. Some people's life really is like a soap opera. My last thought for the moment, I would like to count how many times they use the F*** in the book. It might be around the thousands.
-Natasha
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