Customer Reviews

Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(7)
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Escaping to Jamaica has always been considered romantic, but readers of this hilarious book will find that vacationing in paradise can also be stressful, embarrassing, passionate and downright laugh out loud funny.

Marie Santora comes from an Italian family, or rather, is saddled with the standard Italian family that has been the target of comedians everywhere. Family feuds, ritual harassment of siblings and steaming hot meatballs are all a part of daily life, but when her grandmother passes to the next world, the contents of her last will and testament tip the family balance way over the edge.

Now financially independent for the first time in her life, Marie decides to make every moment count, dumping her unfaithful lover Jessica, buying a house in LA, and deciding to become a successful writer of screenplays. Not one to suffer mediocrity, Marie spends ages agonizing over the perfect actress for her perfect screenplay, finally deciding on actress Lorn Elaine. Somewhere along the way however, the writer turns stalker, and Marie is almost relieved to be setting off on an all expenses paid vacation to Jamaica with the family.

I said "almost"

The best part of the book follows, with the Italian contingent set loose in the land of the Reggae Boyz, complete with sun, sand, surf, trays of brightly colored alcoholic beverages, and of course hot meatballs.

While on the island, love is found in unexpected places, love is made in expected places, love is lost and found, lost lovers lurk, lurkers love lovers, and the reader will love every minute of it. One of the funniest reads in a long time. Irie mon!!



Amanda Richards, October 22, 2007

Mari SanGiovanni captures the essence of the American-born-yet-deeply-rooted-in-Italy-and-won't-let-go characters with pizzaz. And that's just what they are, characters. Silly, playful, deeply emotional, crazy Italians. The storyline brings forth an insight into the world of a dare-I-say lesbian relationship. Ms. SanGiovanni shows tenderness and compassion in between layers of comic genius. There are few writers who can accomplish the task of supplying their reading audience with intense humor, and at the same moment of time throw sweet emotion in to the mix. This book allowed me to see another side of a world that I am not familiar with (although now I think with Mari's step-by-step instructions I am very knowledgeable and could handle a conversation about lesbian-lovemaking with the best of them) and she made it easy to enjoy the laugh-out-loud comedy of the Italian family ways, which I do know oh so well. If you don't have this book packed in your carry-on bag for your next trip to the Carribean, or stowed away in your beach bag for some summer reading, then you are missing out on a hell of a good ride. Rating: Two thumbs up and a meatball on the side.

I rarely get to read fun stuff but I'm so grateful this book was recommended to me and I had the good sense to read it.

I not only laughed right out loud FREQUENTLY, I was also reduced to tears which in general, isn't much fun. This time though, I didn't mind.

If you don't THOROUGHLY enjoy this book, let me personally refund your money so you can get some well-need therapy.

This is big, big fun so do yourself a favor and lighten up! And the best part? My straight friends are enjoying it too!

Thanks Mari for this great time. Wish you were here.

Greetings from Jamaica is a fun romp through the lesbian romance genre without the usual pitty-party angst. I especially liked the way the action and personalities wove together to create not-so-perfect and delightful characters. For a change, the only truly beautiful lesbian is the one no one wants or likes and is not redeemable. Marie's family, like most loving and sometimes disfunctional families, manage to mess up Marie's life just about as much as they help. I highly recommend this romance as a great way to brighten a rainly day. Or any day.

Just finished this one yesterday, and I have to agree with my wife who commented, "Wow! That's the fastest that I've ever seen you read a book!" The reason was that it was an easy, hilarious read and one that I'm beginning to encourage my friends and family to read. Yes, it's a lesbian novel, but I don't think that you have to be a lesbian to read and most importantly, understand this book. Unlike the novel I previously read, this one is not focused on a single genre and I think anyone (gay, straight, bi, etc) will be able to read this book and not only laugh out loud, but see a bit of their own dysfunctional family. I know I did and I'm not even Italian! LOL

Mari Santora is the protagonist of this hilarious jaunt through dysfunction and rather than slip and give away spoilers, all I can say is that the back cover was right you will be laughing out loud as you're reading this tale. But it is not all laughter. There are some very serious issues throughout the story, such as coming out, falling in love with someone who hasn't, dealing with family who would rather bury their heads in the sand, etc. Despite the serious issues, there is an exuberance that heartens the soul, so for those of you who only want happy, feel-good books, this is one to put on your list.

MSG has written a funny, touching first novel. Kind of a big fat Italian/American/Lesbian/vacation/wedding. There's also some pretty hot sex scenes making it a complete entertainment. Can't wait for the release of her next book or the movie version of this one.

The protagonist of Mari SanGiovanni's beach and booze themed comedy is a failed screenplay writer turned stalker who isn't above faking car accidents and staking out the studio back door with binoculars while she hunts down her "subject". Marie Santora wants the star of TV's Razor Falls Lorn Elaine to take the lead role in her script Unguarded Love... "Kind of a Brokeback Mountain thing only with girls in a prison setting, without the western theme, and no horses, of course." Marie also wants to do all manner of creatively naughty things with Lorn, but with script lines like "Let's pretend we are in a playground together and not in a prison...these are just monkey bars between us..." and with a hugely insane Italian family gate crashing each gay encounter with announcements like "Attention, attention, Marie Santora is a lesbian! Marie Santora is a lesbian! This has been a public service announcement!" our protagonist has a steep sand dune to climb.
Greetings from Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer follows a chaotic family vacation with more vices than virtues as Marie learns how to thwart ever present paparazzi while pursuing her closeted affair with Lorn, but the well-shaped conflicts lose some edge as the reader is taken in and out of hotel bedrooms with Marie leading a lusty Lorn down a path that has no apparent destination. The rule of the Homesick-Italian-Lesbian-Stalker or H.I.L.S. is finger first and ask questions of love later.
The narrative is somewhat heavy in the front. SanGiovanni chooses to open with more back story than the narrative truly merits. For instance the reader is given a number of hints at sub themes which are never fully explored. These range from the marijuana growing father to the lesbian-girl-next-door-to-our-summerhouse-in-Maine montage. Perhaps, these could be explained if other pieces fell into the narrative more naturally, but when Lorn Elaine appears without reason at the same resort in Jamaica as our protagonist, the reader and Marie are left a little dizzy.
The action picks up sometime around cocktail hour at an undisclosed all inclusive resort, and the story does offer plenty of humorous dialogues on everything from what a lesbian should pack while stalking her favorite TV actress to why Italians love meatballs and funerals so much. The cast of characters transcend their stereotypes as they hit the beach, and SanGiovanni gives the reader some very believable and heartfelt comedy between the story's digressions.

She does warn that you will laugh out loud in pubic and seriously, you will... this book is hilarious! I think anyone would get a kick out of it. I am not the easiest person to make laugh out loud while reading, but this book was amazingly funny. As much as I tried to keep it together I just couldn't. The way Marie describes her family and friends is amazing. You feel as though you can envision each and every one of them. This book is also as endearing as it is funny... I loved it!

WOW!!! "Greetings from Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer..." is a FANTASTIC read. It is one of the BEST books I've read in quite a while. I look forward to Mari SanGiovanni's next book; "Liddy~Jean, Marketing Queen" with great anticipation. I'm currently working the three to midnight shift and had to take a book light to work with me so that I could read this book during my lunch break as I didn't want to put this book down. Maybe someday we'll see this book on the big screen! Thank you Ms. SanGiovanni for creating such an enjoyable and entertaining piece of literary work.
Kipanne

my uncle picked this up for me in provincetown on a whim, and i'm so glad he did! i loved the story and could really relate to it, from the aspiring screenwriter to the big crazy family to the crushing on someone you know you shouldn't. it's funny, and keeps you interested until the very end. although the main character is a lesbian, you don't have to be gay to enjoy the book. it's a fairly quick read, but well worth it!