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balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was quite funny although I did start to feel really (really) bad for Young since he was so completely unable to read the people around him. He puts his foot in it all the time. The book's like a wierd combination of Sex in the City, Love, Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary, and American Psycho.
I did get a little annoyed with the preachy-preachy "All Americans are like this because of meritocracy" - dude, you only saw Manhattan and Hollywood, come to a "fly-over state" and see what you're missing.
We're all a little more like Caroline out here.
I did get a little annoyed with the preachy-preachy "All Americans are like this because of meritocracy" - dude, you only saw Manhattan and Hollywood, come to a "fly-over state" and see what you're missing.
We're all a little more like Caroline out here.
fat_girl_fiction's review against another edition
2.0
This book does not do Toby Young any favours. I'd seen the trailer of the film, but other than having a vague idea of what it was about I pretty much went in blind.
First of all, I don't think I am the target audience for this book. I'm that kind of person that Toby Young describes that is interested (not obsessed) with celebrity culture. The bits I found most interesting were the times he was trying to get into parties and the various encounters with celebrities or people of authority. The bits where he droned on about his school days and psychology were lost to me. My brain just seemed to glaze over.
Half of the time, Toby comes across as likeable, you could even sympathise with him, but for a lot of the time he does come across as a twat who gets himself in these ridiculous situations.
One part I did find interesting was the law suit with the famous couple. I would have liked to know more about that. I would have also liked to know what the people mentioned in the book think about what Toby has written.
Two stars for the silly, funny bits, but minus three for his idiocy.
First of all, I don't think I am the target audience for this book. I'm that kind of person that Toby Young describes that is interested (not obsessed) with celebrity culture. The bits I found most interesting were the times he was trying to get into parties and the various encounters with celebrities or people of authority. The bits where he droned on about his school days and psychology were lost to me. My brain just seemed to glaze over.
Half of the time, Toby comes across as likeable, you could even sympathise with him, but for a lot of the time he does come across as a twat who gets himself in these ridiculous situations.
One part I did find interesting was the law suit with the famous couple. I would have liked to know more about that. I would have also liked to know what the people mentioned in the book think about what Toby has written.
Two stars for the silly, funny bits, but minus three for his idiocy.
clarisa's review against another edition
2.0
(2.5). I quite enjoyed the first part, but towards the end, I could not wait to finish it and pick up something different.
rworrall78's review
1.0
I was bought this as a present many years ago before social media and before the author was known for his vile views. Even then he was clearly a dispicable and unlikeable person. I just remember being left with the feeling that this was an unpleasant, arrogant, unkind, humourless and charmless man. So he has proved in real life.
rachelsayshello's review
4.0
Hard to read with Simon Pegg on the brain.
Very funny and surprisingly insightful (only because I wasn't expecting it). You can't help but sympathize with the guy--even after learning that he once hired a stripper for an officemate on Bring Your Daughters to Work Day. He's a likable underdog with a romantic idea of the writing life in NYC--and idea that's quickly dashed on the rocks.
Very funny and surprisingly insightful (only because I wasn't expecting it). You can't help but sympathize with the guy--even after learning that he once hired a stripper for an officemate on Bring Your Daughters to Work Day. He's a likable underdog with a romantic idea of the writing life in NYC--and idea that's quickly dashed on the rocks.
sam_griffin's review
2.0
The narrator is so narcissistic and obnoxious that it's nearly impossible to root for his success. However, the book does a great job of ruining the special aura that the words "New York" bring to mind
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