Customer Reviews

The ABCs of Love

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the ABC's of Love, Verity Bell takes us through the alphabet and into her psyche, in a series of understated, humorous and spot-on observations about her life.

With an eye for character-defining detail, Verity watches herself from the outside, not quite letting on if she is completely aware of the story-line beneath the words. "It is posher as well as more interesting to be haunted by internal ghosts who make you miserable," she has learned. "The good thing about being in love is that I can recognise John's faults in an adult fashion," she concludes, after another series of let-downs by her married lover.

Like Candide, each page delivers a nugget of self-delusion the reader can identify with, and the word associations prompt you to see the quirky connectedness of all things. V is for Vacuuming, but it is really about John missing the dog at home who attacks his Hoover. "Doors" starts off with the intriguing fact that British TV ads never show closed doors, and leads to a memory of Verity's mother telling her to stay in her room. "It wasn't cruel, she just wanted a break from me."

The cumulative effect of Verity's vignettes, each a story in itself, is to create a world very much like the one that goes on in our heads: a series of seemingly disassociated thoughts that add up to a life rich with meaning.

In a sense, the cover of this book can be deceiving. The ABC's of Love, `A Novel of Romance from A to Z' is darker, funnier and more perceptive than you might be expecting. Sarah Salway has a unique voice and a disarming way of communicating her view of the world. I want to see what she does next.

I loved this book. It's short and a quick read, but it's very well written. Verity is Every Girl and yet also her own person. I recommend this for all the fans of "chick lit" and authors like Rita Ciresi or Jane Green.

This book is an alphabetized list of vingnettes that take whimsical look at Verity Bell's love life. It is light and fun in some stories, yet deeply serious and somber in others. I wasn't expecting to get so drawn in because the book is quite a short read, but by the end I was definitely rooting for Verity.

The only unique thing about this book is that the subjects are alphabetically ordered. It makes for easier monitoring of when the book is going to finish. A thin volume therefore it is not a heavy read. In fact, it is utterly light in story and in verse. All the short reminiscence is laced with some kind of humor. Some think an affair with a married person is morally wrong and others opine that certain experiences cannot be avoided in life especially when it deals with falling in love. This is a story from the mistress' point of view - her happiness, fears, clumsiness, heartbreak, dreams, imaginations, and defense. No surprises lurk around the corner.

This is one of the finest books I have read in a while; I loved it. It is miles ahead of all other chick lit out there, because apart from being entertaining, funny and utterly engaging, this novel is also insightful, touching, and beautifully written. Written in alphabetical glossary entires, each short section tells its own story, and the vignettes add up to a lovely book that is as smart as it is sweet. I would highly recommend this one to anyone, not just "chicks". There is really nothing out there quite like it.

Amusing
Brilliant
Clever
Delightful
Endearing
Fun
Great
Humorous
Insightful
Joke-filled
Keen
Lovable
Marvelous
Nimble-witted
Open
Perceptive
Quirky
Respectable
Smart
Terrific
Unbeatable
Well-written,
Xcellent
Youthful
Zesty