Beginner's Greek : A Novel

by James Collins

published

January 9th 2008 by Little Brown and Company

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binding

Hardcover, 416 pages

characters

Peter Russell, Holly, Charlotte, Jonathan

setting

New York, NY

isbn

0316021555 (isbn13: 9780316021555)

description

When Peter Russell finally meets the woman of his dreams he falls as madly in love as you can on a flight from New York to LA. Her name is Holly. She'...more

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Anne rated it:

02/05/08

Read in February, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Somewhat improbable that I would enjoy this -- built as it is on coincidences and unlikely events. But it was charming. And I think I was intrigued that it was written by a man. So much detail and nuance.
Peter meets Holly on a flight. They have a great talk. She tears the title page out of the book that she is reading: Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann and writes her phone number on it. A couple of hours later, Peter discovers that he has lost the number and has only her first name -- no way to r...more Somewhat improbable that I would enjoy this -- built as it is on coincidences and unlikely events. But it was charming. And I think I was intrigued that it was written by a man. So much detail and nuance.
Peter meets Holly on a flight. They have a great talk. She tears the title page out of the book that she is reading: Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann and writes her phone number on it. A couple of hours later, Peter discovers that he has lost the number and has only her first name -- no way to reach her. Years later, they meet again when Holly is dating Peter's best friend. Holly and Jonathan marry, and eventually, Peter marries an acceptable woman who he doesn't really love, Charlotte. At Peter and Charlotte's wedding reception, Jonathan has a tryst with Charlotte's stepmother on the golf course. Jonathan is then struck by lightning and dies. Holly is now free, but Peter is married. Charlotte's stepmother Julia is deeply affected by the outcome of her tryst, and turns out to be pregnant. She leaves her husband and goes off to stay in their country home in Paris, while figuring out how she will survive as an older single mother -- a woman who likes her luxuries, doesn't particularly like children, and has no career. When Charlotte, who was always tiresome to her, comes to visit her, some surprising things happen. Charlotte reveals that she knows that Holly and Peter are in love, although they have never acted on it. In response, Charlotte has looked up her old French boyfriend, a difficult but passionate man, and has decided that she should really be with him, but there's a problem of money. Julia then reveals how Charlotte's father has hidden their grandparents' inheritance from Charlotte and her brother and sister. Everything now seems clear for Holly and Peter. But Peter brings her to an important corporate dinner as an escort, planning to tell her that night about Charlotte's departure and his love for Holly. Instead, the head of the company is taken with Holly and begins to woo her. Peter feels hopeless. Then Holly's father comes to see him after receiving a letter from Julia, telling him that she has heard that Holly is getting involved with Arthur, Peter's boss but she really loves Peter. It still takes one more thing to push Peter into action: a letter from Isabella, the sexy bridesmaid at his wedding to 'Artie.' This turns out to be a misunderstanding, but goads Peter into action and he finally declares his love to Holly, and she accepts his marriage proposal. There's even an opening at the end for the very rich but nice boss to get involved with Julia and her son. So all's well that ends well -- except for Jonathan, who died, but seemed to get plenty of satisfaction while he was alive.

So why did I enjoy it? Well, it was a bit outrageous, and yet somehow almost plausible. And Holly and Peter were very likable. It helped that I had the stomach flu and was able to dedicate uninterrupted hours to reading it, because it was long and dense. But it was a good plot and character driven story and almost whimsical, like the author was winking at you all the while. ...less

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Jeanne rated it:

01/19/08

Read in January, 2008

Before I say anything else, I have to say that I love this novel. I love the plot, I love the characters, I love the pace, and I love the ending.

Now, here’s the story (briefly): Peter meets Holly on a flight from New York to LA. They talk, they bond, and by the time the plane has landed, Peter is sure that he is in love. Holly gives him her phone number, but by the time he gets to the hotel, he realizes that he has lost it. He has lost the most important number in his life. And he do...more

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Stephanie rated it:

05/02/08

bookshelves: fiction

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Stephanie by: New York Times Book Review

Beginner’s Greek is a modern urban fairytale with fable-like archetypes and improbable twists of fate. It is unabashedly and quite unsubtly about love with the Austenesque quandries of true love vs. our society’s practicality.

The story centers on Peter Russell a young Wall Street financial guy who is wildly and somewhat unbelievably romantic. He believes that fate will one day sit him next to the woman of his dreams – his soul mate – on an airplane flight. This indeed comes true w...more Beginner’s Greek is a modern urban fairytale with fable-like archetypes and improbable twists of fate. It is unabashedly and quite unsubtly about love with the Austenesque quandries of true love vs. our society’s practicality.

The story centers on Peter Russell a young Wall Street financial guy who is wildly and somewhat unbelievably romantic. He believes that fate will one day sit him next to the woman of his dreams – his soul mate – on an airplane flight. This indeed comes true when Holly comes in – last person on the plane - to sit next to Peter on a flight from New York to Los Angeles. Over the next five hours they talk and shyly fall in love and Holly gives Peter her phone number. Of course because fate is a wicked mistress, by the time Peter gets to his hotel he has mysteriously lost the piece of paper with her number. When Peter and Holly next meet it is in New York and Holly is preparing to marry Peter's asshole best friend and after much anguishing Peter is now marrying a girl he cares for but with whom he isn’t in love. There marriage is proper one and a good match from society’s perspective. He thinks “we’ll be happy enough.” and the novel goes on from there with several more characters entering the mix and the many aspects and challenges of love are explored as the plot wends its way.

The writing in this book is highly enjoyable. It’s like champagne and popcorn – bubbly, airy, and crisp. Full of pop. What could have been an EXTREMELY cheesy, sappy novel isn’t really though it has its moments.

Its biggest weakness for me were the characters who were all intellectual New York Bourgeosie – they really started to grate by the end. I also got a little irritated with the author’s vision of Holly. While he paints Peter with a fairly realistic brush making him cowardly, and a little boring and handsome but in a generic sort of way, he makes Holyy perfect. She’s beautiful and so completely charming that everyone she meets instantly likes her; she’s funny and kind, generous and altruistic while being so refreshingly down to earth. Frankly, it’s sickening and he overdid it in my book because I started to wonder what the amazing Holly saw in boring, schlubby Peter.

My overall opinion was that it was a fun read. Simple and entertaining while not rotting my brain. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could.
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margueya rated it:

01/24/08

Be warned - I have found the secular world's answer to BD Dayehu - James Collins. Midway - no, actually, a few pages in - I thought, is this his first novel? Yep. Which would stand as good argument against the 'most authors best books are their first.' Not so much with Jimmy here.
So I was excited for this one because it sounded cute - like the movie Serendipity which I totally enjoyed - guy meets girl on an airplane, a life long fantasy of finding true love in a random twist of fate and al...more Be warned - I have found the secular world's answer to BD Dayehu - James Collins. Midway - no, actually, a few pages in - I thought, is this his first novel? Yep. Which would stand as good argument against the 'most authors best books are their first.' Not so much with Jimmy here.
So I was excited for this one because it sounded cute - like the movie Serendipity which I totally enjoyed - guy meets girl on an airplane, a life long fantasy of finding true love in a random twist of fate and alas, he loses the number. So I thought this would move into interesting territory of maybe this wasnt meant to be/twists and turns of such nature. But no.
So I am going to do some plot spoiling because, for Gds sake, do not bother. First of all, Holly, the woman of his dreams, is another Christine of With all my Vomit - she is beautiful, but a certain type of beauty, blah blah blah, and she is funny, and perfect, and nice, and blah blah - she totally falls for Peter who strikes me as incredibly boring, personally, over this five hour flight, and is devastated when he does not call.
Well Fate brings Holly back into Peter;s life three years later - but, alas - oh those funny tricksters, she is dating his best friend. The best friend, by the way, is a bleeping bleep bleep, but somehow Peter the Great is still best friends with him and Saintly Holly goes on to marry him. I guess this is supposed to further the ... um ... irony? Anyway Peter is heart broken and watches best friend cheat on Holly left and right. Peter marries the incredibly annoying Charlotte, sealing the fate that he and Holly will never blend their one dimensional souls together. But wait. The night of the wedding, Holly's husband Jonathan, after having a fling with Charlotte's step mother, is struck by lightning and dies. I'm not kidding. So now Holly is a widow and Peter is stuck for life. But don't worry, as they harbor their secret crushes, and continue to be the noble and perfect people they are, Charlotte realizes they have feelings for each other and is thrilled for them (??), especially once she reconnects with a beau from her past and runs away with him, thus leaving the star crossed lovers to no longer be star crossed. Yay.
In the meantime, we meet the Evil Boss who is there for, um, humor? Certainly not to lend any credibility to the story. Dialogue would go something like:
Evil Boss: Peter, I hate your guts and I am looking to destroy you. Wah ha ha.
Peter: Ok.
Uch dont ask - Holly ends up with some boyfriend and this happens to be the head of Peter's company and when Peter decides he must have Holly the boss is all, well who can resist Holly, sure go ahead.
The BDE part was especially apparent at moments like this - describing Holly as having a horrible cold - eyes red, nose sniffly, lips chapped - and I am thinking, let me guess, she had never looked more beautiful. Yup. Vomit....less

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3 comments

Kristen rated it:

05/09/08

bookshelves: fiction, popularbooksthatididntlike

Read in May, 2008

It wasn't that I didn't like this book....its just that it wasn't what I was expecting. This book has been getting a TON of press. It is the author's debut novel and is being touted as "romantic." One person on the back cover compared him to Jane Austen. I can do "romantic." But I can't do cheese. This book bordered on cheese. It was just too neat and tidy. Perhaps life really is like this book--people pursuing the correct paths at every turn. Maybe I'm just too cyni...more

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Michelle rated it:

03/26/08

Am I the only one who did not like this book? Or am I so black of heart that I could not bear the treacle? Perhaps I can suspend my disbelief for wizards and evil giraffes but not for open-hearted New Yorkers. Whatever the case - I waited so long to finally get a hold of this book only to find it wanting, hence the disappointment. And all the press was so good about it too.

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Helen added it

03/04/08

Read in April, 2008

I officially decided to give up on this book. I rarely abandon a book, but I could tell after reading first few chapters (and then skipping ahead to the middle of the book) that it simply isn't worth my time to wade through the author's self-indulgent ramblings that are intended to be character development (of characters who, as far as I could tell, were not particularly important to the story).

Far too much time is spent drifting through various characters' thoughts, flitting from the past...more

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Emily rated it:

09/27/08

Read in September, 2008

this was a good story--full of twists and turns, but i have to admit that, having not read this type of popular novel in a long time, i was a little shocked by all of the promiscuity in the book. i guess i'm a little out of touch with the way people are living their marriages today...or at least in books! however, this was definitely a page-turner and it was fun to have a book i "couldn't put down".

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Chris rated it:

05/30/08

Read in May, 2008

Don't waste your time unless you like exhaustive descriptions of setting, clothing, etc. Entire chapters are devoted to describing the entire of life of a secondary character just to explain his or her motivation for doing one thing that affects the plot.

The author does achieve an appealing tone of a British comedy of manners but the plot is just dull and the characters are too.

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Sari rated it:

08/14/08

the nytimes book review gave this novel a pretty decent write-up, so i gave it a chance and somehow managed to finish it even though it was predictable and full of conceited, upper-class characters that i could not stand. the author writes like he's the jane austen of greenwich connecticut , and as much as i love austen, she is better left in 19th century england.

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Stephanie rated it:

03/26/08

I wouldn't be so hard on this book, except that it got rave reviews and didn't deserve them. It's fluff. A silly, self-consciously-written soap opera of a book. The author was formerly an editor at Time. I'd hate to think that accounts for the rave reviews. Or maybe I'm missing something. If you loved it, tell me why.

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Krysia rated it:

03/03/08

bookshelves: fiction

Read in February, 2008

This book started off great, but lost speed for me. I skimmed most of it, mainly to see what happened. Okay, but too many great books out there to spend too much time with this one!

The best part, after the first chapter, was the protagonist's dreadful boss. Worth reading those bits.

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Cathy rated it:

06/06/08

Read in June, 2008

I want it to work out for the characters but I feel like I'm wasting my time with this book. I finished by skiming the end of the book. Endearing main characters but implausible circumstances and convulted story line. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this type of book.

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Arianna rated it:

04/14/08

Read in April, 2008

Cliched, poorly written, predictable. (Case in point: no book should EVER use the phrase, "He thought back to that fateful night three years ago...".) I curse myself for being unable to put down an unfinished novel; I'm never gonna get these three hours of my life back.

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Allie rated it:

04/29/08

I think I might've actually hated this book. I can't really be sure because I was so incredibly bored through the whole thing. I kept thinking that maybe I was missing out on the joke or just not getting it. Maybe I did, I don't know. Shallow and pretentious.

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Timothy rated it:

08/01/08

Read in January, 2008

Intended romantic comedy. Not worth reading, but might make a decent movie with lots of rewriting. (Perhaps enough happens in the 400-page novel to fill 90-page screenplay.) Most importantly, I didn't think the hero deserved the heroine.

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Sue rated it:

07/16/08

Read in July, 2008

Disappointing book. I don't mean a far-fetched plot per se, but additionally, I found the writing somewhat boring in places & the characters not that interesting. I did finish the book, but I can't honestly recommend it.

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Kathleen rated it:

07/04/08

Read in July, 2008

Billed as a Jane Austen type novel I really enjoyed the beginning chapters. Good writing, witty dialog, etc. It then became tedious. Maybe it's my age, but I just wanted them to figure it out and get on with it.

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Jason rated it:

07/09/08

recommended to Jason by: Entertainment Weekly

I made it over 1/3 of the way through this and just couldn't finish it. It wasn't a terrible slog or anything; it just wasn't nearly as entertaining as I had heard when it comes to reviews.

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Molly rated it:

03/10/08

Read in March, 2008

Interesting premise but there was a lot of boring filler. It should have been half as long, or less. Generally a waste of time.

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