A Life Lived Ridiculously [Paperback]

Annabelle R. Charbit (Author), Susan Malone (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

When a girl with obsessive compulsive disorder falls in love with a sociopath, she must fight for her sanity and her life.
 
Maxine's brain is stuck. Everything around her feels wrong and the only way to fix it is to check, double-check, rearrange and count everything. What Maxine can't fix though is her parents' constant nagging over the absence of a husband. A humiliation that is further compounded when her younger brother runs off with Miss Perfect. Then she meets Sam, a smooth-talking charmer with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and enough terminal diseases to wipe out a small village. Maxine decides that Sam is her salvation, never mind that his life is more depressing than a Greek tragedy, and others are urging her to get away from him. The problem is that Sam has Maxine under his spell. Will Maxine escape from Sam before it is too late? 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A good book; well-written and the story / characters drew me in from the get go.
A Life Lived Ridiculously was a great read and definitely worth four stars. Probably a "must read" for most single women too..." - RebeccasReads

"We have all dated liars who will say anything in order to get what they want. Charbit captures everything that makes the dating scene simultaneously so exciting and so frustrating, from the exhilaration of a first kiss to the despair when you realize that he is ignoring your messages." - Baltimore Jewish Times

"I very much enjoyed A Life Lived Ridiculously." - The book Bag

"From the very beginning of this novel readers will smile; they will then reach 'all out laughter' by the second page. The amazing thing about this story, however, is that laughter turns frightening when the author offers up a twist that readers will not see coming." - Feathered Quill

Dr. Charbit does indeed use her vast experience with the subjects of the book to pull the reader in with remarkably developed characters.  Especially for a first novel, A Life Lived Ridiculously succeeds in its stated purpose: it makes us aware of and think closely about our stereotypes and generalizations in the mental health world - PsychCentral

From the Author

A Life Lived Ridiculously ebook will be released and available for sale from April 12th 2012.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Publishing & Entertainment (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984642862
• ISBN-13: 978-0984642861
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,553,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr Annabelle R Charbit grew up in London, UK, and has been writing since 2006, when her comedy play, Sound Advice, was performed by CP Theatre Productions in London. In 2007, she was published in The London Paper and in the British Neuroscience Association's Summer Bulletin. In 2010 she wrote for TheFrisky.com, an online magazine who commissioned her after noticing her humorous blog, Crazy in a Crazy World.
Dr Charbit holds a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London and has been researching migraine headache at UCSF in San Francisco, about which she has published in scientific journals. The inspiration behind A Life Lived Ridiculously stemmed from Dr Charbit's research work as a neuroscientist, which motivated her to write a story from the point of view of people suffering from distorted thinking. A Life Lived Ridiculously is Dr. Charbit's first novel.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly Addictive Read December 23, 2011

By PhysicsGirl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This story kept me up reading all night and in the carpool. Smart, funny, exacerbating, and suspenseful, I couldn't wait to see what Maxine would do next. To say "this is the story of a woman with OCD who falls for a sociopath" explains the science but doesn't do justice to a brilliantly crafted story by a neuroscientist. This is a must read for people who are looking for something unpredictable and smart. Two thumbs up from me, Dr. Charbit!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perversely Enjoyable! December 21, 2011

By Wilfried Voss

Format:Paperback

Just lately, after enduring disappointments by the writings of some vastly successful authors in the mass-market genre, I found myself in need of refreshment, a change, something quirky and original, a treat for the serious reader. That truly much-appreciated treat came in the form of the perversely enjoyable A Life Lived Ridiculously by Dr. Annabelle R. Charbit.

In short, A Life Lived Ridiculously is about Maxine, a girl with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who falls in love with a sociopath, Sam, a smooth-talking charmer with sufficient incurable diseases to eliminate a small village and living a life so grave that it makes a Greek tragedy feel as depthless as a prime-time soap opera.

Nevertheless, Maxine, against the well meant, but futile advice of friends and family, follows her twisted instincts and welcomes Sam as her salvation, and while that scenario is already a warrant for a delectable read, Charbit blends unexpected insights, twists, and thoughts that could only spawn from the obsessive compulsive mind of the main character, Maxine.

Charbit has a strikingly skillful hand with words, and her razor sharp and charmingly offbeat insights and descriptions are intriguing. A Life Lived Ridiculously is one of those books that one may open at any page to get a feel of writing style and story line, and Charbit's intelligently satirical style draws the reader immediately into Maxine's life with the urge to learn more.

And yes, A Life Lived Ridiculously is not for the narrow-minded, conservative, or easily shocked reader, but it represents a refreshing change of pace from the mass-market genre, a novel that is unquestionably worth a read and a re-read.

- Wilfried F. Voss, Editor FrogenYozurt[dot]Com

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A contemporary read with a deliciously sinister yet humorous twist January 13, 2012

By TPope

Format:Paperback

I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read the first few paragraphs of "A Life Lived Ridiculously." Annabelle Charbit's main character, Maxine, made me want to laugh, cry, scream and cringe all at the same time...a psychological roller coaster ride that keeps you perched on the edge of your seat. Dr. Charbit takes two very serious topics (OCD and the madness of a sociopath) and blends a deliciously sinister (yet humorous) twist throughout her story. Maxine represents the every day woman struggling with her OCD, dysfunctional family and her melodramatic love life with Sam. Sam is "that" guy who represents the pathological liar ex from your past, or the "oozing from his pores" charmer you met at the bar that you want to run far away from!! Every woman needs to read this book. Dr. Charbit sends a strong and powerful "dating" message to young women through the eyes of Maxine, and reminds women you can never be too careful...and sometimes your parents and friends DO know what's best for you. Buy this book for the women you love in your life! A must-read!