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About Jane Jane Green was born in London and has lived in Connecticut for seven years. One of the founding writers behind the genre known as ‘chick lit’, Green now writes novels that reflect the lives of real women today, with all the trials and tribulations that come with real life: from in-laws, motherhood, mid-life crises and loss, all of which are told with Green’s trademark warmth, wit and wisdom. She began her writing career in entertainment journalism and P.R., the sort of glamorous-sounding but low-wage salt mines in which readers might expect to find a Bridget Jones, or, to take an example from Green’s own fiction, a Jemima Jones. She moved up to become a feature writer at The Daily Express in London, where she became known for her wry take on dating and relationships. Then, like all good heroines, Green decided to take a chance and follow a dream. She left the Express to freelance, and started work on a novel. In August of 1996 there was a bidding war for her first novel, Straight Talking, an overnight success. Jemima J, her second novel, was an international bestseller. It features a narrator who’s a tad overweight — okay, a lot overweight — who daydreams about how her life would change if only she could lose a hundred pounds. What happens when she does, forms the plot of this ugly duckling-turned-swan story, which Cosmopolitan called “the kind of novel you’ll gobble up in a single sitting.” Since then, Green has continued to charm and entertain readers with novels like Mr. Maybe, Bookends and To Have and To Hold (first released in the U.K. as Spellbound). According to People magazine, “Green’s writing is deliciously witty and her heroines authentic. A charming book that demands ‘Read me in one sitting!’”. Her sixth novel, Babyville, was something of a departure; it explores the lives of three different women who discover they’re all wrong about how having a baby will change their lives. The Daily Mail wrote, “In this, possibly the first baby bonkbuster, Green has delved amusingly into the rich comic seam of Osh Kosh-obsessed thirtysomething parenthood.” (For the edification of non-Brits, a “bonkbuster” is a popular novel with a lot of sex scenes.) With The Other Woman, Green has continued to broaden her focus without losing her readership. The story of a married woman who finds herself battling an overbearing mother-in-law, The Other Woman went straight to number one on the London Times bestseller list. Swapping Lives told the story of two women, one married with children, one single and yearning, who believe the grass is greener, and her latest, Second Chance, is the tale of a group of friends who haven’t seen one another since school, who reunite for a memorial service as they approach their fortieth birthdays, each of whom is dealing with a different form of a mid-life crisis. Second Chance went straight into the New York Times best-seller list. Her new novel, The Beach House, the tale of a woman in her sixties who is at risk of losing her beloved beach house in Nantucket, is released in June 2008. The Washington Post describes her writing as “smart and complex”, Entertainment Weekly says “unexpectedly honest”, and USA Today has said: “Happy, melancholic and beautifully written”. The winner of a Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Fiction Award and a single mother of four children, Green lives with her partner and children in Connecticut, where her passions are food and gardening. When not attempting to juggle running the lives of small people, a household and a career, she can usually be found covered in dirt, planting vegetable seeds. Jane's Books: The Beach House   buy nowNan , an eccentric, youthful sixty five year old, doesn’t care that she’s labelled as a crazy old lady. She loves her old beach house and the small seaside town of Sconset where she lives. Despite her age, Nan is spontaneous, beautiful and carefree. Carefree until one day when she finds that unless she does something drastic to raise some money, her beloved house will be repossessed. She finds the solution in a group of strangers, who each rent a room from Nan and are each trying to find a fresh start in life. They are joined by Nan’s son Michael and together, once again fill the house with warmth and laughter. That is until one day, when an unexpected visitor arrives to cause tension for them all. This is a story of new beginnings and new friendships that can help change lives forever. Second chance  buy nowThe tragic death of a close friend brings old friends back together and forces them to reassess their lives. Holly’s marriage has lost its sparkle, Saffron’s acting career has never taken off, Paul and Anna are successful but struggling to have a child whilst shy Olivia mourns a failed relationship. Only when the group are reunited can they each realise their problems and help to mend each others hearts. Straight Talking  buy nowThis book is a genuine and funny account of what it means to be single. We join Tasha, a straight talking and forward thinking career girl and her eclectic, likeable group of friends as they each search for fulfilment in love and in life. As we watch Tasha grapple with that age-old decision between Mr Nice and Mr Sexy we feel included in girly gossiping and amused by Tasha’s frank and often brutal comments on the world of relationships, as she knows it. Bookends  buy nowA novel that will strike a cord with anyone who has maintained old friendships, Bookends is the story of University friends Cath and Si, muddling through their adult lives. Trials and tribulations and the reappearance of Portia, a best friend from their University days will teach them things about one another that they never knew, pushing their friendship to it’s limits. This is a story of love and friendship that is both charming and heart-warming. Mr Maybe  buy nowA comical insight into what a woman wants and wishes for in a man. We are catapulted into Libby’s world of PR and parties and Nick; a broke and beer swilling leftie who she had labelled as a fling and hoped she’d never find herself falling for. To complicate matters, Green introduces Nick’s complete opposite into the equation. Ed is rich and successful and smitten for Libby, though whether or not she actually fancies him is another matter altogether… The Other Woman  buy nowEllie is thrilled to be getting married. Everything about Dan is perfect for her, everything that is, but his mother. As Ellie is pushed deeper and deeper into the extravagant wedding she never wanted she finds herself tested to the limit, that is until, Ellie becomes pregnant. With a baby and a pushy mother in law on the scene, the real test of her relationship and of herself, begins. Life Swap  buy nowVicky Townsley has the life that most women dream of. She is single, wealthy and attractive and one of the most successful female journalists in London! But this is not enough for Vicki as she longs for a loving husband and children. Amber Winslow also has the sort of life that most women dream of. She is the wife to a wealthy investment banker, has a beautiful house in Connecticut and two beautiful children. But like Vicki, Amber too feels unfulfilled so when she wins a competition to trade lives with the highflying English Journalist, both women find out if the grass truly is greener on the other side. Jemima J Jemima has a weight problem. She also has a confidence problem and a flatmate problem. And the man in her life is just a mate, with no prospects of anything more. But when she loses some weight the dynamics begin to change. people who didn't notice her before suddenly want to become friends and she is catapulted into a love affair with a gorgeous Californian. But is all this too good to be true?  Reader's comments: Brilliant. Along with Freya North, Jane Green is one of the original Chicklit writers and one of the best. She doesn't just slap dashedly concoct yet another tale of PR girl angst in London. Her novels are grown up and sensitive. 8/10  click here to buy Jemima J Babyville Having read several Jane Green novels I was pretty sure I knew what to expect from Babyville; characters that felt almost like friends, laugh-out-loud moments and a general feel-good vibe that provokes an unconscious smile from the first page to the last. I was surprised (but not disappointed) to find that I was wrong.  Julia, Maeve and Sam are not having an easy time with motherhood. Julia thinks the answer to her relationship crisis is to get pregnant but her desperate attempts are proving fruitless, Maeve has high ambitions for her new career move, but when a one night stand leaves her pregnant she has to seriously evaluate her priorities, and Sam is struggling to come to terms with being a mother, developing a potentially destructive obsession. They are equally headstrong characters and in many ways hard to warm to, but Jane Green manages to draw you easily into their stories, blending their very separate worlds skillfully together. Those readers who haven't had a baby may be daunted by the struggles the women face, but, by avoiding painting a rosy glow on motherhood she is giving us a much more genuine story. Anyone who has at some point experienced feelings of fear, inadequacy or a loss of sense of self will take comfort from recognising these feelings in the three women's stories. And, of course, you can't help but laugh at those inspired moments of observational humour. Perhaps some Jane Green fans will be disappointed by her change in style, as her warmth and sense of fun are not so evident in Babyville, but, in their place, is a spookily accurate comment on motherhood, from someone who has clearly written from the heart. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next… Sarah Ball. click here to buy Babyville  SpellboundAlice has a dynamic and handsome husband, a beautiful house and a designer lifestyle. What more could she want? It takes a move out to an old but - in Alice's eyes - beautiful house in rural Connecticut for Alice to find out what it is she really wants from life. Reader's comments: Another page turning book from Jane Green. Jo is a lovely sympathetic heroine and you really get to feel for her. 8/10 click here to buy SpellboundOther books by Jane Reviews Recently we have been reviewing and changing our review process. 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| Posted: 31/03/2005 22:13:36 Last Updated: 13/08/2008 06:35:46 |
Chick Lit > Chick Lit Authors :: Jane Green