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Bookends: A Novel
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780767907811
ISBN: 0767907817
Label: Broadway
Manufacturer: Broadway
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 368
Publication Date: May 27, 2003
Publisher: Broadway
Release Date: May 27, 2003
Studio: Broadway
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Editorial Review:
Bookends, Jane Green's third comic novel of contemporary love and lust, proves beyond a doubt that when it comes to light reading, plot is everything. Bookends makes a great case study because it has little going for it besides plot. Dialogue? Stilted. Characters? Clichéd. Writing style? Sloppy. And yet the book is well-nigh impossible to put down. A few friends meet at university: Simon, the chirpy gay character; Portia, the glamour girl; Josh, the adorable, unpretentious catch; and Cath, the overweight, insecure narrator. Portia strays from their crowd, but the other three remain friends into their 30s. Now successful Londoners, each faces a personal crisis: singleton Cath leaves a secure job to start a bookstore; Simon looks for love; Josh's marriage goes through growing pains. And then Portia, as intimidating and elegant as ever, wanders back into their lives--with surprising results. Green is a past master of the ugly-duckling-turned-swan story. Cath's transformation--neatly echoed by the changes in the lives of her friends--is completely addictive. Plot does indeed rule. --Claire Dederer
On the heels of her national bestsellers Jemima J and Mr. Maybe, British sensation Jane Green delivers a sparkling tale of old friends reunited and old jealousies rekindled.
Catherine Warner and Simon Nelson are best friends: total opposites, always together, and both unlucky in love. Cath is scatterbrained, messy, and–since she had her heart broken a few years back–emotionally closed off. Si is impossibly tidy, bitchy, and desperate for a man of his own. They live in London’s West Hampstead along with their lifelong friends, Josh and Lucy, who are happily married with a devil-spawn child and a terrifying Swedish nanny, Ingrid.All’s well (sort of) until the sudden arrival of a college friend–the stunningly beautiful Portia, who’s known for breaking hearts. Though they’ve grown up and grown apart from Portia, the four friends welcome her back into the fold. But does Portia have a hidden agenda or is she merely looking to reconnect with old friends? Her reappearance soon unleashes a rollicking series of events that tests the foursome’s friendships to the limit and leaves them wondering if a happy ending is in store.Fortunately, Cath has plenty to take her mind off Portia’s schemes–like her gutsy decision to leave her job in advertising to fulfill her dream of opening a bookstore. And then there’s James, the sexy real-estate agent who keeps dropping by even after the bookstore deal is done. With his irresistible smile and boyish charm could he be the one to melt Cath’s heart? Told with Jane Green’s captivating wit and flare, Bookends is above all a story about friendship–its twists, turns and complications–and how it weathers the challenges of love, ambition, marriage, and, most of all, growing up. Warmhearted, sophisticated, and full of delicious surprises, Bookends is Green’s most dazzling novel yet.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Horrible!
I don't usually do reviews, but I always read them before I order books. I know the other reviews were basically good, but I really disliked this book. So much so that I didn't finish it. I forced myself to read at least half-way, and just couldn't go on. What a boring, lifeless piece of junk. Don't waste your money.
Rating:  - an easy, good read
this is the first book I've read by Green. I hear others are better. this one was good. a couple of good twists and entertaining, good guy and bad guy characters, fun!
Rating:  - (2.5 Stars) Not Her Best Work...
Bookends follows the life of frumpy, 30-something "Cath" and her cliched circle of college friends as she decides to quit her high-paying job and fulfill her dream of opening a local bookshop. The characters for the most part lack substance or chemistry, and do nothing to distract from the predictable plot. Jane Green is a good author, but this is far from her best work. Instead I'd check out "Jemima J" or "Mr. Maybe", two of her previous books which succeeded in ways that this one failed.
Rating: - Kind of a Modern 'Big Chill'
I read this book like I was watching a movie with a great ensemble cast, and I really enjoyed it. There were a few parts that were a little shaky and underdeveloped, but I liked these characters, and it was easy to get involved in their lives. As with most books by Jane Green, this one makes a good summer read.
Rating:  - Can't Get Enough
I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF JANE GREEN!!! Loved it loved it loved it!!! I could not put this book down. I can relate a little bit to each character. I would recommend this book to any female from late teens to early 30's. I would give it 10 stars if the option was available!!!
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