Getting Over Jack Wagner (Paperback)

~ (Author) "As Karl the Bass Guitarist cruises along the Garden State Parkway at 90 mph in a black Saab Turbo 9000 with Rage Against the Machine's..." (more)
Key Phrases: Jordan Prince, The Piano Man, The Blue Room (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Juska's first novel is as light and winning as a 1980s love song--and in its own way, as earnest. Eliza Simon is a 26-year-old copywriter who feels that life and love are passing her by. When she's not avoiding family dinners with her perfect sister, Camilla, or dissecting TV reruns with her friend Andrew, Eliza is writing a semiautobiographical book about dating "rock stars"--which for Eliza means everyone from Jack Wagner to the moody drummer who won her heart at the high-school talent show. In a series of hilarious (and sometimes painful) flashbacks, Eliza reminisces about the rock stars she has known and loved, including, of course, Jack Wagner, whose image she lovingly steamed onto a T-shirt when she was in the fifth grade. Juska's references to 1980s girlhood are perfect, as when Eliza remembers herself on a date with a high-school boyfriend "dressed in some senseless combination of long underwear and men's boxer shorts." A funny and endearing addition to the "single girl in the city" genre. Meredith Parets
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

" A funny and endearing addition to the 'single girl in the city' genre." -- Booklist, March 25, 2003

"...smart, funny newcomer brings a bit Bridget Jones, a touch High Fidelity, a high pop-cultural IQ...to her debut." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review, February 14, 2003

"Juska's voice--fresh, clever, and sometimes hilarious--pulls you through swiftly to a refreshingly atypical ending." -- Philadelphia Magazine, April 2003

"[An] engaging, funny first novel...Juska’s wryly imagined story...is a highly entertaining trip back to the good old days." -- The Miami Herald, April 29, 2003 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Downtown Press (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743496981
• ISBN-13: 978-0743496988
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,982,297 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the next one ..., April 14, 2003

By	James A. Mortko (Roslyn Harbor, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Getting Over Jack Wagner (Paperback)

Where to begin? On first glance, this may appear like something written by a woman meant to be read by other women. Look deeper and what you'll find is an entertaining story written by an author with an uncanny knack for drawing you into the scene and acquainting you with the characters. Yes, it is a novel about a woman in her mid twenties, who is running through a turnstile of relationships with C-grade musicians, but it is also clearly a work of personal introspection for the main character that I found to be somewhat reminiscent of Neil Simon, Tobias Wolff, or even T.C. Boyle (especially when you factor in all of the humorous elements).

This book has more than a few good qualities. For starters, I always found myself having a hard time putting it down. The story was set well and was so realistic, I felt as if I was listening to a friend recount some past goings on, rather than simply reading fiction. The characters very much represent real people with real issues - a quality sorely lacking in so much of what mass media offers us today. It is both honest and witty, without ever being pretentious.

The narration moves seamlessly from present time to the appropriate flashback points, where the current storyline is aptly injected with some poignant recollections from the past that may (or may not) serve to explain the main character Eliza's current behavior.

Each of the scenes in story were rendered so dutifully by way of meticulously sculpted imagery, that I was consistently able to picture myself being right there with the characters. The multitude of references to 80's pop-culture brought forth feelings of both nostalgia and embarrassment, having been a teenager in that time period myself ;-)

The key value of this novel is that it somehow manages to be dramatically engrossing, comically entertaining, and still carry forth (and deliver) some meaningful messages - particularly about one's self image, outlook on life, and happiness in general. As the ending deftly avoided going down the many paths that would lead to a sellout Hollywood ending, I was left with a true sense of satisfaction upon completing the story.

Note: Make sure to read the interview with the author at the end.

Ms. Juska - you rock. I look forward to your next one ...

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved, loved, loved this book, April 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Getting Over Jack Wagner (Paperback)

I can't say enough how much I LOVED this book. I identified with Eliza so much it was scary (including her pre-pubescent cruch on Jack Wagner and doomed romances with rock "stars".) It was very well written and absolutely hilarious at times. I felt like I couldn't read it fast enough, but was sad when I finished because Eliza was one of the most real and sympathetic characters I've found in a while. This book is everything that all those other "chick books" aspire to be!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sharp, witty, compassionate, revealing, April 4, 2003

By	Clark Knowles (Portsmouth, NH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Getting Over Jack Wagner (Paperback)

A wonderful book--both my wife and I enjoyed this crisply written, well-paced first novel. Although the narrator is single, young, and female, the book is really a broadly appealing, universal study of relationships. By mixing elements of pop-culture, dating etiquette, and one vintage 80's era popstar/soap-opera-god, Elise Juska presents an entirely engaging character struggling with the larger questions we ask ourselves when searching for the elusive "right" relationship. And although the story is immensly readable (meaning: fun), it is never trivial--nor does it provide any easy answers to the dating/relationship game. Because of this, the book really stands apart from so many other books about young single women. I'm a 36 year old male reader, and I found much to identify with in the struggle, the search, the realizations, and the hopes of the main character, Eliza. The novel is built around her sharply drawn (and fall down funny) narrator's voice--both the voice of a distinct generation--and also a voice that beyond the trappings of age. Plus, the inclusion of intelligent song "suggestions" at the beginning of each chapter allows for a constant mental soundtrack--further deepening the overall feel of the novel. All in all, really enjoyable and thoughtfully written. I highly recommend this book.