Alex is thirty-four, and, after a string of unsuccessful relationships, single and not really sure why. His last ex-girlfriend Amy told him he had 'commitment issues', and in an attempt to establish exactly what these are, Alex is reluctantly persuaded by his friend Rosie to buy a self-help guide to relationships. At the same time, Tony, recently divorced and low on confidence, is struggling to summon up the courage to even talk to a woman, let alone commit to one. Undaunted by their previous failures, Alex and Rosie decide to follow the self-help guide's advice; Rosie ends up on a series of disastrous dates, while Alex refuses to take any of it seriously ...until, on a business trip to New York with Tony, he meets Elisabeth. She's funny, charming, sexy. In fact, she's everything Alex wants in a woman - right up until she too mentions the dreaded C Word ...
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'Reminiscent of Nick Hornby in its confessional style, this is a book about men aimed firmly at women.' MARIE CLAIRE 'Funny and entertaining.' CLOSER
About the Author
Mark Mason lives in London. This is his third novel.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Weekly women's magazine fodder,
By Steve Coe (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: C Words (Paperback)
C Words focuses on the central character, Alex, and his inability to settle down with women. Alex works as a voice over 'artist' and has recently split from his girlfriend Amy. He meets a woman, Elisabeth, when he and Tony, (an accountant in the same firm) are asked to go over to New York by their boss, Miles. Alex thinks that a guide to relationships that he picks up in a book shop - on the suggestion of his friend Rosie - may provide clues to his past mistakes and provide guidance to future choice of women. He embarks on a short affair with Elisabeth unbeknown to Tony who becomes smitten with Elisabeth having gone for a drink with her in New York.
Although this is written by a man it is undoubtedly aimed at the readership of the bottom end of the women's magazine market. The theme concerns 'relationships' and the perceived inability of present day men to settle down. The narrator's tone must have been chosen to appeal to women and does not portray a realistic man's view. Nick Hornby's 'Hi Fidelity' provides a far more realistic account of a man's perception of relationships (and is far better written). Tony's character is frankly quite pathetic. His view of events breaks up that of the narrator's and is marked by the choice of a different font style. In essence, the separate viewpoints are a good idea, but Tony is so inept and his comments so childlike (I've have not heard the term 'ace' used in praise of something for 20 years and certainly not by a 33 year old man) that the style grates right from the beginning. The book's attempt at humour, most notable in an incident at Tony's house and at a recording studio (when Elisabeth watches Alex voice over a children's educational cartoon) are equally pitiful. The dialogue is also unconvincing. Alex visits his mother at her house and gleefully remarks that her bangers and mash are "gorgeous" and "real comfort food". No man would ever say this. As a reader, it just doesn't ring true. Likewise some of the similes and metaphors used are forced and ill chosen. I would not recommend this book. It is poorly written and an unrealistic portrayal of a man's viewpoint. For an amusing yet realistic insight into an average bloke's mind (as this purports to be) you're far better off reading anything by Nick Hornby. This just does not compare in my view.
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