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Wednesday, November 02, 2005

"English As A Second Language"



Megan Crane was in the right frame of mind when she wrote this book. It was hilarious!

Alex Brennan was a character I was able to relate to. Bright but not wise, she was a clueless college grad who didn't know what to do with her English degree other than push papers at a lawfirm. On a dare set by her ex-boyfriend, she found herself getting her Masters in Fairfax Court, England where she befriends Toby, Cristina and Jason who eventually become the people she'd depend upon as the year progresses on.

Although the story felt like 'Reality Bites' (excessive smoking and drinking), there was a sense of belonging a reader can pick up once you've met the characters. Alex, in herself, is trippy. She is unaware of her propensity to ward off people in her life; which was bitterly pointed out to her after a confrontation with fellow American, Suzanne, and a talk with her dad.

There were a lot of snippets that I nodded an "amen" to her own brash outlook in life and the moments of friendship she weaved with her international set of friends. I know that I felt a longing to just call my friends around the world just to tell them I love them.

Take it for what it's worth: a chick lit. There's a ton of foul ups (and not hijinx, thank god!) and teeth gnashing moments reminiscent of college days, deadlines and club outings. There's nothing profound about it except for the little bits of insight one gains after constant failure or acceptance of failure to get closure.

If at any point in your life, you've woken up in a clutch situation of not knowing what you want, where you're headed or if you would ever belong, read this book.

I know it made me giggle a lot since I, in more ways than one, was once Brennan.

3 comments:

Amy Beth Johnson said...

aww. i stocked that book today, and I thought of you. . .

and J? I LOVE that idea. ;)

hugs to all,

ames

Donut Shop said...

I think we should do it! There is one girl at work I promised to lend ESL to but I think she'll be stuck reading "Can You Keep A Secret" for a while.

So, who wants first dibs?

Love you all for the hugs and support.

M

PS. I sign up for Spring term here in a few. Math and Psych... God, when is it going to end? Nilly had to talk me out of taking 3 classes. He said my 3 brain cells will be strained due to the math course. How mean can he get? :D

Amy Beth Johnson said...

i hope Chris does come back for season 7. i love lor/chris.

i'm reading can you keep a secret right now. i'm so sick of hearing about million little pieces. we cna't keep it in at work, ppl are crazy about getting a copy. none of them know it's a biography, they just know it's been on oprah. evidently they paid no attention as to what it was about. it makes me angry, so i'll digress.

but i heard it is amazing. as a biorgraphy. a very raw biography. one of these days, long after oprah has moved on, i might give it a shot. :D

K? what gives? not up for a book club?


ames