For the last fifteen years, Rose “Manny” Mankowski has been a very good girl. She turned her back on her youthful fancies and focused on her career. But now, at the age of 45, she's questioning her choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life. When she's passed over for promotion and her much younger new boss implies Manny's life will never change, something snaps. In the blink of an eye, she's quit her job, sold her house and cashed in her pension, and she's leaving town on a six month road trip.
After placing a personal ad for a travelling companion, she's joined in her mid-life crisis by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most-read – and most controversial – blogger for the e-magazine, What Women Want. Zeke's true goal is to expose Manny's journey as a pitiful and desperate attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same time. Leaving it all behind for six months is just an added bonus.
Now, armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny's on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking Zeke along for the ride.
Buy the book:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-life-less-ordinary-victoria-bernadine/1114941600?ean=9780991810215
Chapters/Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a-life-less-ordinary/9780991810222-item.html?ikwid=victoria+bernadine&ikwsec=Home&gcs_requestid=0CPD4utrH3LcCFY355wodCn4AAA
Review:
4 1/2 PERFECTLY DIFFERENT STARS! I was intrigued by the premise of this book and was glad I got a chance to read it. I was nervous that being almost 20 years younger than the heroine I might have trouble relating to her and really getting into the book. I definitely didn't need to worry about that. The pace and writing was brilliant and made you feel for Manny even if you couldn't relate. I loved getting to know all of the characters, even the supporting ones, and loved how real they were. This book was a fun quick read but also had some seriousness and the perfect amount of drama. Definitely one to add to your TBR.
~Leslie~
About the Author:
Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a “woman of a certain age”. After twenty-something years of writer’s block, she began writing again in 2008.
Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in common is anybody's guess.
She lives in Edmonton with her two cats (The Grunt and The Runt). A Life Less Ordinary is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the wild.
Dream Cast:
Rose “Manny” Mankowski (Megan Follows) – After fifteen years of middle management and following the rules, Manny suddenly throws off the shackles of her life and embraces her mid-life crisis.
Zeke Powell (Karl Urban) – Zeke intends to use Manny's personal journey to get more fodder for his blog – but he may not be prepared for what he discovers about himself.
Perfect Fantasy Man aka Harvey (Esai Morales) – Every woman needs a healthy fantasy life to help her get through the day (and sometimes the night). The only problem is that Harvey sometimes seems more real to Manny than the people she meets.
Rebecca Hayworth (Gillian Anderson) – Manny's best friend, she's worried Manny may have simply lost her mind.
Giveaway:
Hi! Thanks for hosting me today! I'm glad you enjoyed the book, and that you gave it a try even though you were unsure - LOL. I think there are some things which are universal, regardless of your age. :)
ReplyDeleteYou found such great pictures for the cast list, too! Way better than the ones I had managed to find. The one of Esai Morales is especially great (those are pretty impressive arms... O.O ). (I unfortunately can't see two of the pictures (Karl Urban and Michaela Conlin), but that may be because I'm not on my home computer.)
Thanks again for hosting me today! :)