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133rd out of 292 books
—
18 voters
One for My Baby
by
Tony Parsons
From the bestselling author of Man and Boy and Man and Wife comes the charming story of a widower who doesn't believe you get a second chance at love. Full of biting social commentary and overwhelming emotion, One for My Baby is a warm and witty novel of love, family, sex, and Tai Chi. Returning to London from Hong Kong after a brief, idyllic marriage ends in tragedy, Alfi...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
March 1st 2005
by Touchstone
(first published 2001)
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Tony Parsons is great, but One form my baby isn't as good as Man and Boy, which was so great/wonderful/lovely. But I definitely likes One for my baby too. It's a different story about the same things. The only thing that really is missing is adorable little Pat!
This time the main character is called Alfie (what a stupid name by the way). He is also looking for true love. The only thing that makes him different from the main character in Man and Boy (help, what was he called?) is that his wife h...more
This time the main character is called Alfie (what a stupid name by the way). He is also looking for true love. The only thing that makes him different from the main character in Man and Boy (help, what was he called?) is that his wife h...more
Precis: The plot - a guy has it all, living in Hong Kong, married to a wonderful woman, his world falls apart when she dies, and he returns to the UK. Flails about a bit in depression, sleeps around, and then life takes a turn for the better.
I realy enjoyed this book, despite it not being my kind of thing, and not really liking the end. I did not like the protagonist overmuch, but that was okay, as I was kept reading because of the characters that I did like - his students, his Mum, his Nan, Geo...more
I realy enjoyed this book, despite it not being my kind of thing, and not really liking the end. I did not like the protagonist overmuch, but that was okay, as I was kept reading because of the characters that I did like - his students, his Mum, his Nan, Geo...more
Kembali dengan tokoh utama seorang pria menuju dewasa, around 30, Tony Parsons bercerita tentang cinta. Hare.. gene.. ngomongin cinta ? Terserah!
Alfi, dalam kondisi gamang karena istrinya belum lama ini meninggal dunia dalam satu kecelakaan waktu mereka diving, membuat hari-hari ke depan yang dilaluinya terasa hampa. Hidup tetap berjalan tanpamu. Tapi apakah semudah itu ?
Inilah yang dikisahkan dengan manis oleh Tony Parsons. Dengan gaya bercerita yang ringan, melantur, kadang ada kejutan, Tony b...more
Alfi, dalam kondisi gamang karena istrinya belum lama ini meninggal dunia dalam satu kecelakaan waktu mereka diving, membuat hari-hari ke depan yang dilaluinya terasa hampa. Hidup tetap berjalan tanpamu. Tapi apakah semudah itu ?
Inilah yang dikisahkan dengan manis oleh Tony Parsons. Dengan gaya bercerita yang ringan, melantur, kadang ada kejutan, Tony b...more
I'd already read both 'Man and Boy' and 'Man and Wife' and found them fairly enjoyable before returning to Parsons first book. I expected more of the same light humour and another male character taking the entire length of the book to figure out what most people can see from the start; mainly that he needs to get a grip and sort his life out. Well, Alfie Budd certainly needs to sort his life out after returning from Hong Kong with a broken heart but he has no idea how to do so. About half way th...more
Tony Parson's One for my Baby was an interesting read.Alfie really went through a lot losing Rose through a diving accident.Seeing how long it took him to just get over her,so heartbreaking.He truly loved her.And even the way he believed that he didn't deserve a second chance at love was so pitiful.Moving from one meaningless relationship to another,surely wasn't getting him anywhere but I loved how this book delved deeper into the emotions of how he felt.You never imagine a man feeling that way...more
I keep going back and forth about how I feel about this book. I despise the main character at times, and love him at other times. I think the bad feelings outweigh the good, though. The way he chooses to grieve and recover from his wife's death is just wrong, wrong, wrong, and I can't make myself like him a whole lot after that. I felt a little dirty being inside the head of this man, like I was kind of responsible for his messed up actions. Ugh. He sort of redeems himself through taking care of...more
His "Man & Boy" was one of my favorite books. I think he's great because he creates real, honest, and flawed protagonists. They don't have all the answers and more often than not will probably do something that produces hideous results, but their reality makes me root for them all the more.
In this newest book, it's Alfie Budd, a teacher at a language school who is slowly moving through the unbearable grief caused by the tragic death of his wife. Like "Man & Boy" Parsons revisits themes...more
In this newest book, it's Alfie Budd, a teacher at a language school who is slowly moving through the unbearable grief caused by the tragic death of his wife. Like "Man & Boy" Parsons revisits themes...more
Story: Alfie's wife Rose died in Hong Kong and now he's back home unaware of what to do with his life and if he does have any other chance to experience what he had with her.
I liked: Mr Chang- he's the one who gave him insights on life through the Tai Chi lessons he shared with him.
I wish: That Alfie's grandma would have lived because she was very jovial, I liked her view on everything-it was so full of humor.
Award: 4 stars
Reason: Alfie goes through all the stages of grief and even at his down t...more
I liked: Mr Chang- he's the one who gave him insights on life through the Tai Chi lessons he shared with him.
I wish: That Alfie's grandma would have lived because she was very jovial, I liked her view on everything-it was so full of humor.
Award: 4 stars
Reason: Alfie goes through all the stages of grief and even at his down t...more
May 07, 2009
Harun Harahap
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
punya,
terjemahan
setelah baca buku ni..gw berpendapat klo dibandingkan dengan karya Tony parson yg Man and Boy dan Man And Wife..ternyata kurang lebih temanya sama..mirip2 gitu..
buku ni berkisah tentang Alfie yang kehilangan istrinya Rose dalam penyelaman di Filipina..sebelumnya mereka bertemu dan menjalin hubungan di Hongkong..dan setelah kematian itu...Alfie kembali ke London..namun jiwanya tak "kembali"..Alfie selalu murung..
Alfie akhirna bekerja sebagai guru bahasa inggris di sebuah kursus yang muridnya adal...more
buku ni berkisah tentang Alfie yang kehilangan istrinya Rose dalam penyelaman di Filipina..sebelumnya mereka bertemu dan menjalin hubungan di Hongkong..dan setelah kematian itu...Alfie kembali ke London..namun jiwanya tak "kembali"..Alfie selalu murung..
Alfie akhirna bekerja sebagai guru bahasa inggris di sebuah kursus yang muridnya adal...more
Lumayan percaya diri ketika berhadapan dengan mr. Muscle yang yah, tokoh utama ini dijuluki si keju dengan kondisi fisik pas pasan. Saya suka pepatah timurnya, makan bubur dingin, ketika orang santai menonton tv kita bekerja keras demi sesuatu yang baik di hari yang lain. Agak nyambung sama lagu all be my self yg lirik,
Livin' alone
I think of all the friends I've known When I dial the telephone
Nobody's home.
Setiap kali ia hampir saya menelpon nomor yang pemiliknya sudah meninggal.
Livin' alone
I think of all the friends I've known When I dial the telephone
Nobody's home.
Setiap kali ia hampir saya menelpon nomor yang pemiliknya sudah meninggal.
The beginning was somewhat of a drag. But once I read more into the book, I began to understand the protagonist much much more. I liked the story line, and also the love he had for his wife. It showed his trials, along with the drama he caused in his life. I loved certain characters that he came encountered with that helped him become more of who he is now. Overall, I would only recommend this book to those who have time and patience to really get into a book.
I wonder how much Tony Parsons bases his characters on himself--his books always seem very personal.
This one is sweet without being saccharine, and still engaging and very fun. The characters are all very much present and well-formed--even the secondary ones. I liked Alfie although I couldn't get worked up enough to love him, but I did really love his Nan. She's the kind of person I'd like to be.
Parsons is very good at looking at family, and he made me think about my own as I was reading. I love...more
This one is sweet without being saccharine, and still engaging and very fun. The characters are all very much present and well-formed--even the secondary ones. I liked Alfie although I couldn't get worked up enough to love him, but I did really love his Nan. She's the kind of person I'd like to be.
Parsons is very good at looking at family, and he made me think about my own as I was reading. I love...more
This is a great book that deals with some big issues. There is some great humour in it that had me laughing on a plane. It has a good beginning, middle and end but lacks a bit of pace at times (i.e bit of a slog).
Particularly enjoyed the part when the different uses of "fuck" are described to the foreign students.
Worth a read though.
Particularly enjoyed the part when the different uses of "fuck" are described to the foreign students.
Worth a read though.
Aug 05, 2011
Nicola
added it
I found this book very slow going to begin with, but am glad I persevered with it. I liked the fact that the characters were flawed and realistic. Shouldn't have read the particularly sad bit on a flight though - quite difficult to not let the person next to you see you crying when you're wedged into an airline seat!
Agak menyesal ketika membeli novel ini, karena setelah membaca ceritanya, yak ampun! Cengeng! Tapi tetap saya baca sampai habis. Sepertinya agak ragu : apakah ada laki2 setipe dengan karakter dibuku ini yang sampai sebegitunya mengejar cintanya? Cocok dibaca untuk kaum perempuan yang sangat menganggungkan 'cinta'...
An enjoyable and easy read. Even though the main character's behaviour was unlikeable I still felt sorry for him and was hoping that he'd see the error of his ways. Some humorous parts to the book but also sad in places, i think this was an entertaining book and i'll definitely read more Tony Parsons in the future.
I adored Man & Boy, and Man & Wife. I only read half of this book though and was left feeling a little flat each time I picked it up. I think that at least one character has to be likeable for me to become attached to a book. Just one, and there wasn't one (for me) in this book.
Tony Parson sangat pandai dalam menuangkan cerita dalam setiap kalimat, bikin penasaran. Membaca buku ini, sama aja belajar menggapai mimpi, bagaimana mempertahankan hidup dan cinta. Menjelajah setiap ruang-ruang yang disajikan Tony Parson membuat kita semakin betah berlama-lama membaca.
This book surprised me. It wasn't what I expected. Or rather, it was just what I expected - blokey, self-deprecating, sentimemtal - but what surprised me was that these were all postive things. A big-hearted, pie & chips kind of novel, and just what I needed after the Nobel-winning claptrap.
I love the way Tony Parsons writes. To love someone like he loved his wife does not happen to many people and it is understandable that he is lost and lonely. We may not agree with how he tries to overcome his loneliness, but we can empathise. All in all I liked it.
One for My Baby is a gentle tale about a guy who returns from Hong Kong following a tragedy and has to face life back home. It's a pleasant read with gentle humour and wry observations. I'll certainly be trying more of TP's work when I fancy an undemanding read.
“‘Surprise!’ someone shouts, and then the laughter abruptly dies in our throats.
My father is standing naked on the diving board, his disbelieving eyes slowly taking in the presence of everyone he knows. His eyes stop on my mother’s face for a short horrible moment, and then he looks away in shame.
Lena is kneeling in front of him, fully clothes, her golden head bobbing up and down to some inner rhythm. She is making the diving board squeak.”
This book is good. I am not usually a huge fan of books...more
My father is standing naked on the diving board, his disbelieving eyes slowly taking in the presence of everyone he knows. His eyes stop on my mother’s face for a short horrible moment, and then he looks away in shame.
Lena is kneeling in front of him, fully clothes, her golden head bobbing up and down to some inner rhythm. She is making the diving board squeak.”
This book is good. I am not usually a huge fan of books...more
I quote liked this, but not as much as Tony Parsons' first novel "Man and Boy". It's very much written from a man's point of view and I didn't find the protagonist very sympathetic or someone I wanted to spend a lot of time with. Despite this, still enjoyed it.
comparing this to his other books, i was a bit annoyed with the main character. sure he's a hopeless romantic, but i kind of wanted him to just grow up and move on. not my favorite story, but still entertaining enough to keep me reading.
An easy read. This book reminded me of Nick Hornby's books, but not as good. I didn't sympthesize with the main character very much, he seemed kind of pathetic, but it was a light, fun read and didn't require a lot of brain power.
Not a bad book to read, half way through the book I started to like the people in the book and started to get into the book and enjoy it, I think the writer has written a lot about his personal life as its told from a typical man's point of view on life and I wonder how much of the story is about his life! I might be tempted to read another book by this writer at a later date but Im not in any hurry as I like to have a break and read something totally different after each book I read.
Nov 30, 2012
Rebekkila
marked it as to-read
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11565543
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11565543
While I liked how the author explored each relationship between the protagonist and the other characters around him, I can't help but it was too draggy at some parts, and that there was too much of mopping around and longing for his dead wife.
Vtipné, pravdivé, dojímavé, reálné, o nás všech. Prostě o životě... A především OPRAVDU, ale opravdu hodně vtipné, tak jak to umí jedině Britové.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The ending is a bit twee but the issues it addresses throughout can be related to by all.
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Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the...more
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“Lako je voleti nekoga ko je na vasoj strani.”
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1 person liked it
“Rouz je bila na mojoj strani onako kako niko nikada nije bio na mojoj strani. Rouz je bila dobrovoljac. Bilo joj je stalo do mene. Voleci me, ona me je oslobodila. Bio sam slobodan da budem ono sto jesam. Nije u meni videla samo coveka kakav jesam, nego i coveka kakav bi mogao da budem. Voleci me, ucinila je da poverujem da bi moji snovi mogli da postanu stvarnost.”
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Jul 18, 2009 01:07am