Customer Reviews

English as a Second Language

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Alex Brennan moves to the UK to read for a Masters degree in English, because firstly, she's bored in New York and secondly, she decides to defy an ex-boyfriend who said she couldn't do it. She can't get into Oxford, so she takes a loan from her father and sets off for another university, where she proceeds to drink and smoke herself into oblivion.

This novel is about that year of excess, and while it is entertaining in parts, and so very British in humor, you never get deep inside any of the unlikable characters, so you don't get a sense of why they're doing the things they do. Alex herself seems extremely immature for a 26 year old woman with prior work experience, and how she survived the year is anybody's guess.

This novel is about alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, casual relationships, stalkers, nutcases and immature behavior, and while it's easy to read, alcoholism in the UK seems to be the central theme.

Funny in places, but mostly shallow and bitter.


Amanda Richards, December 27, 2005

I loved this book precisely because it wasn't about finding love. It was the story of Alex Brennan finding out who she was and what she wanted to do with her life. I loved Alex because her personality resonated with me...and because at 26 she's turned her life upside down and hauled her ass across the pond! Her humor and wit is amazing and I found myself unable to put this book down...laughing out loud so many times. I love the development of the friendship with Alex and two other dormmates...so many times I have sat around with my girls and bs'ed like that. I LOVED this book because it wasn't about finding love like other chick lit stories...it was about finding herself. And that is what made this book so incredibly satisfying. Oh, and the funny drunken happenings are pretty hilarious too!! :)

English as a Second Language is the perfect example of how a young person's life can change if they take a chance. The story focuses on Alex Brennan, a 26-year-old New York girl, who is sick of her dead-end job. This all changes when she decides to apply for a Master's degree program in England, mainly to prove to an ex-boyfriend that she can do it. When she is accepted, she realizes that this is her chance to get out of the rut she is stuck in and find her place in life.
The novel is a light read filled with witty and hilarious dialogue. Since the author, Megan Crane, spent five years in Britain studying at a university, her experiences portray British life and the challenges and stresses of being a student in a foreign country. "The day outside was rainy and cold. Welcome to England I thought. I was still exhausted and stranded in a foreign country, away from everyone I had ever known."(Pg3) The novel's British phrases and diverse characters keep the reader laughing out loud as well as intrigued.
Life can be confusing in your twenties and many people can relate to this. I loved this book because I could identify with Alex. We are both struggling to find our place in life and I have always wanted to study in England. Alex's journey is difficult. "But I didn't know where I wanted to go, or what I wanted to do when I got there. I had dreams, but they were vague things with no real substance. My whole life was fill-in-the-blank."(Pg8) Never the less she learned that when she took a chance, her life did change and she found a place where she belonged. "I shoved my hands into my pockets and watched them-the fools and the drunks that God was supposed to watch over with special interest, the ones I knew so well in so many surprising ways. I was one of them, I thought, and grinned."(Pg277)
English as a Second Language is perfect for anyone in their twenties confused about where they belong in life. It is also a good book for those who are thinking about studying abroad. When looking for something new and exciting in life, or a change of routine, I recommend reading this book. With the realistic characters and the great sense of humor this book provides, you'll never want to put it down.

I laughed at loud while reading this book, and I never do that. I mean never. Megan Crane's witty dialogue, sharp characters and smart story are fabulously entertaining from the first word to the last. And this book isn't just about a girl in some desperate search for a boyfriend as the answer to all of life's problems. It's about trying to find yourself and when you finally do (after much trial, tribulation and even embarassment) choosing the right people to share it with. I highly, highly recommend this book!

I really loved this book! Crane masterfully evokes the nuances of human behavior with enormous wit throughout this hilarious and charming book. Crane does a fantastic job of keeping the reader laughing AND thinking. The book is filled with saucy characters and interesting conversations. I found myself caring deeply for Alex, who, like most of us struggling to find our place in life, finds more strength each time she falls. Crane has a brilliant comic voice and exceptional powers of social observation. I can't wait for her next book!

I enjoyed this book so much, I devoured it on the beach in two short days. Alex's quest to prove her boyfriend wrong by heading abroad to attend grad school had me turning the pages to get to the next funny sentence. Alex is smart but she's not infallible, which is why you like her so much. She's a woman in a foreign country trying to figure out where she belongs - and hoisting a few pints with strange new friends in the process. In my opinion, she belongs on every woman's summer reading list.

Ever wonder what it's like to go to grad school in the UK? Are you endlessly fascinated with the British and/or the UK in general? Whether you answered yes or no to either question, you will still enjoy this book.

Alexandra Brennan is the main heroine in the novel. She is living in New York City and generally bored in life. When her ex-boyfriend tells her she wouldn't be able to get into Grad School in the UK, she takes that as a challenge - and gets in. With a full-on caffeine addiction and a penchance for alcohol, Alexandra wastes no time in throwing herself into the British Grad-school life.

Things are interesting at the school, to say the least. A fellow student named Suzanne seems determined to make Alexandra miserable, as well as show her up in everything. Alexandra also develops a crush on her gorgeous, intelligent teacher and develops a hobby of peeking in his windows at night. Meanwhile there are her good friends Toby - a handsome playboy type that Alexandra tries to stay friends-only with, and the hilarious Jason. Not to mention a bevy of other interesting characters.

Megan Crane blends together a perfect mix of intriguing, intelligent characters, the ups and downs of grad school life, drunken nights out and a wickedly humorous plot. There are also some interesting cultural differences between the UK and America that she points out. The book is basically impossible to put down once you get into the third chapter or so.

Overall I found this book to be an awesome read, and recommend it highly to people who like an intelligent, hilarious, delightfully fun book.

I thought this book was excellent. I'm a fifth year doctoral student and I felt this book depicted graduate school life very well. The characters are well developed and the plot is good. I'd like to read a sequel to the book!

I devoured "English As A Second Language" in one night, and then re-read it two days later. This book was impossible to put down both times that I read it.

My favorite elements of the novel were the impeccably drawn characters and the witty, realistic dialogue between them, especially between Alex (the protagonist) and Toby. The supporting characters were equally entertaining and provided an interesting perspective of Alex's life both in NY and in England. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion.

The most valuable portion of the story is that it does not focus entirely on Alex's romantic struggles, as some works in this genre tend to do. Instead, the reader is drawn into Alex's journey to find herself (as cheesy as that sounds) and define herself as an adult. Anyone who has gone through a turbulent late 20's can relate to this.

I highly recommend this book and am really looking forward to Megan Crane's next offering!

I loved this book and following Alex's trials and tribulations throughout her time in grad school. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was sharp, smart and had me laughing out loud. What more could you want in the sun on the beach? Highly recommended.