Claire Calman
Auteur de Love is a Four Letter Word
A propos de l'auteur
Œuvres de Claire Calman
Oeuvres associées
Bosom Buddies: Women's Stories about Friendship, Love, and Life (2003) — Contributeur — 6 exemplaires
Of Love and Life: Touching the Sky / I Like it Like That / A Catch of Consequence (2002) 2 exemplaires
Étiqueté
Partage des connaissances
- Nom canonique
- Calman, Claire
- Date de naissance
- 1969
- Sexe
- female
- Nationalité
- UK
- Relations
- Calman, Mel (father)
McNeill, Pat (mother)
Calman, Stephanie (sister) - Courte biographie
- Claire Calman was the daughter of Mel Calman, a cartoonist, and Pat McNeill, a magazine designer. Before writing fiction, Claire spent several years working in women’s magazines, then in book publishing, editing gardening books. She is also a poet and broadcaster and has performed her pithy verse at live readings and on radio many times, including for BBC Radio Four’s Woman’s Hour, Loose Ends, the comedy series Five Squeezy Pieces and for LBC. Her short stories have appeared in numerous magazines as well as in various anthologies, including Cheatin’ Heart, the best-selling Girls’ Night In, Summer Magic and A Day in the Life.
Claire lives in London with her husband, baby son, and an unbelievable amount of unfiled paperwork.
Membres
Critiques
I was in the mood for a light-hearted read when I chose to read A Second-hand Husband, and it certainly delivered, making me smile and shake my head in equal measures.
The story is told in the first person by the newly-married Natalie. She married divorcee and father of two Carl after a short romance. The couple live in London, while his children live with his ex-wife a couple of hours drive away in a tiny village in Kent. Natalie understands how important it is for Carl to be closer to his children and has suggested they move to be closer to his children. She wasn't expecting what came next. He bought a house without telling her where it is, and exactly how close it is to his ex-wife's home.
There are family dramas to resolve, a couple of large spider events, an idyllic setting and of course a rather unpleasant ex-wife who seems determined to put Natalie down at every opportunity. Carl's son, Max, appears to have accepted the divorce and welcomes Natalie into his life, while Carl's daughter, Saskia, in typical teenager fashion, is wary and abrasive. Natalie realises she cannot simply insert herself into Saskia's life, and slowly builds a relationship with her.
I found this story very entertaining and it lifted my mood. It is well-written, humorous, and engaging. I loved Natalie as a character but did not take to Carl at all; nor his ex-wife Antonia at first, although without Antonia, there would be no story.… (plus d'informations)
The story is told in the first person by the newly-married Natalie. She married divorcee and father of two Carl after a short romance. The couple live in London, while his children live with his ex-wife a couple of hours drive away in a tiny village in Kent. Natalie understands how important it is for Carl to be closer to his children and has suggested they move to be closer to his children. She wasn't expecting what came next. He bought a house without telling her where it is, and exactly how close it is to his ex-wife's home.
There are family dramas to resolve, a couple of large spider events, an idyllic setting and of course a rather unpleasant ex-wife who seems determined to put Natalie down at every opportunity. Carl's son, Max, appears to have accepted the divorce and welcomes Natalie into his life, while Carl's daughter, Saskia, in typical teenager fashion, is wary and abrasive. Natalie realises she cannot simply insert herself into Saskia's life, and slowly builds a relationship with her.
I found this story very entertaining and it lifted my mood. It is well-written, humorous, and engaging. I loved Natalie as a character but did not take to Carl at all; nor his ex-wife Antonia at first, although without Antonia, there would be no story.… (plus d'informations)
Whether reviews give the stamp of approval or not, you can't beat this frustrating but light summer read for the price of:
On Kindle
$1.37
This title will be released on June 16, 2021.
This was a character growth novel that took forever for the characters to grow. Most of the characters were detestable until the very last few chapters, but of course, everything was just a big misunderstanding right? Nope-hubby keeps things from wife, like buying a house without her ever seeing it. The wife won't grow a spine - doesn't speak up about how he went behind her back but she learns to love the house, naturally. A bitchy ex-wife just down the road, a bitchy stepdaughter, brother not speaking to brother. The list of annoying people and situations goes on.
I did finish this book so that says something. but like I said, for a $1.37 you can't beat that with a stick!
*ARC supplied by the publisher.… (plus d'informations)
On Kindle
$1.37
This title will be released on June 16, 2021.
This was a character growth novel that took forever for the characters to grow. Most of the characters were detestable until the very last few chapters, but of course, everything was just a big misunderstanding right? Nope-hubby keeps things from wife, like buying a house without her ever seeing it. The wife won't grow a spine - doesn't speak up about how he went behind her back but she learns to love the house, naturally. A bitchy ex-wife just down the road, a bitchy stepdaughter, brother not speaking to brother. The list of annoying people and situations goes on.
I did finish this book so that says something. but like I said, for a $1.37 you can't beat that with a stick!
*ARC supplied by the publisher.… (plus d'informations)
This is a review I wrote in 2007:
Read this as it's intended - light-hearted chick lit for the 20something to 40something's - and it's good fun. I wouldn't exactly call it anti-romance but there is a good dose of realism & I'm sure most women can relate to at least some of the problems Miranda & Kath face, and maybe even reading the novel, have the odd laugh about them too!!
Miranda is at the centre of the story. She's the lynch-pin. A successful business-woman and shoe designer, with her own boutique in London, Miranda is so looking forward to a week away by the beach with her best friend, Kath... but when another couple drop out of the holiday & Kath invites her brother, Rob, & her father, Giles, Miranda isn't quite so sure that this is going to be the relaxing break she was so desperate for! However, when her partner Simon insists he's going anyway and taking their daughter, Anna, Miranda reluctantly agrees to join him.
It's a holiday fraught with tensions as no-one seems to be having the best time. Giles, a seemingly cold & distant widower, is there by default of having broken his arm & being dragged along. Rob has brought his girlfriend who's clearly into him way more than he is with her. Kath & Joe just want to be able to have some time on their own without being interrupted by their kids & then there's Miranda and Simon who barely have a civil word to say to each other. As the week unravels so to does the plot - can Miranda hold it all together?
The book starts off a bit stilted but gets better as you go along. Touchingly human, and with moments of perfect insight, it's a good read.… (plus d'informations)
Read this as it's intended - light-hearted chick lit for the 20something to 40something's - and it's good fun. I wouldn't exactly call it anti-romance but there is a good dose of realism & I'm sure most women can relate to at least some of the problems Miranda & Kath face, and maybe even reading the novel, have the odd laugh about them too!!
Miranda is at the centre of the story. She's the lynch-pin. A successful business-woman and shoe designer, with her own boutique in London, Miranda is so looking forward to a week away by the beach with her best friend, Kath... but when another couple drop out of the holiday & Kath invites her brother, Rob, & her father, Giles, Miranda isn't quite so sure that this is going to be the relaxing break she was so desperate for! However, when her partner Simon insists he's going anyway and taking their daughter, Anna, Miranda reluctantly agrees to join him.
It's a holiday fraught with tensions as no-one seems to be having the best time. Giles, a seemingly cold & distant widower, is there by default of having broken his arm & being dragged along. Rob has brought his girlfriend who's clearly into him way more than he is with her. Kath & Joe just want to be able to have some time on their own without being interrupted by their kids & then there's Miranda and Simon who barely have a civil word to say to each other. As the week unravels so to does the plot - can Miranda hold it all together?
The book starts off a bit stilted but gets better as you go along. Touchingly human, and with moments of perfect insight, it's a good read.… (plus d'informations)
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Statistiques
- Œuvres
- 11
- Aussi par
- 4
- Membres
- 282
- Popularité
- #82,539
- Évaluation
- 3.2
- Critiques
- 12
- ISBN
- 57
- Langues
- 7
They divorced, shared time with the kids, and found their new someone’s…
...only their connection was more like a competition to out do their replacement, causing much strain for some parties, and exasperation for others. Is the love they’ve found enough to see them through? Or is it better to call it quits while still ahead?
Honestly, I don’t know how she did it. There are SO MANY reasons I would have said kiss my patooty and drove off into the sunset, I simply stopped counting. I guess it’s as the saying goes, love is blind...although, in this case, only just. Natalie does eventually stand her ground, albeit long after the blind house buy, work shenanigans, and manly shows of how manly he is between himself and his ex’s new “him”, but the point is...enough is enough for even her at some point! It wasn't even so much the first wife, although I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of her for most the story...read it, and you'll see why...and even the daughter's cold shoulder to Natalie was expected, or at least bearable; it was simply Carl. Yes, Natalie...you had a much kinder heart than I would have, but it made us feel for you all the more...and I loved how she kept trying with those around her, both to understand where they were coming from as well as to make them feel welcome even if the same wasn't returned.
So, if you’re looking for a story filled with swoon worthy courting, and marital bliss that leads to a happy ever after...wrong book! BUT...if you’re looking for a story with real people from every day life, seizing the day while still learning from their yesterday’s...this might just me the tale for you.
**ecopy received for review, opinions are my own… (plus d'informations)