Susannah’s official boyfriend, Jason, is the perfect foil for her student lifestyle. He is ten years older, an antiques dealer, and owns a st...
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reviews
Feb 11, 2012
Dorothyanne
rated it: 
In my head I've been wandering about, wondering if my academic career spent in the sciences has left a gaping hole in the philosophical and historical realm. It's true, it has, and I feel as if, now, I am running behind myself, trying to catch up.
So the title of this book enticed me, despite the thickly written back cover (which I still haven't read in its entirety) - very off-putting. And the start of the book is slowish- but I got completely pulled in by Susannah, a woman who screams he More...
So the title of this book enticed me, despite the thickly written back cover (which I still haven't read in its entirety) - very off-putting. And the start of the book is slowish- but I got completely pulled in by Susannah, a woman who screams he More...
Jan 17, 2010
Holly
rated it: 
Charlotte Greig puts forth quite an effort with "A Girls Guide to Modern European Philosophy". The novel is well thought out, an insightful version of chick lit.
Susannah is a Philosophy student that takes her studies very seriously. She loves to participate in extracurricular activities such as rallies as well. The setting is the 70's when the women's liberation movement was gaining ground.
Susannah realizes that her long term boyfriend isn't who, or what she wants o More...
Susannah is a Philosophy student that takes her studies very seriously. She loves to participate in extracurricular activities such as rallies as well. The setting is the 70's when the women's liberation movement was gaining ground.
Susannah realizes that her long term boyfriend isn't who, or what she wants o More...
Dec 02, 2009
Samantha
rated it:
Summary: In A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy, we meet Susannah, a 20-something philosophy major at Sussex University in the United Kingdom during the 1970s. Susannah’s official boyfriend Jason is the perfect mate, in the sense that he is about 10 years older than her, a mildly successful antiques dealer, and the owner of an elegant apartment off campus, but he’s not perfect enough to “keep” her. With Jason, Susannah can go to school, study philosophy, and explore the life of a normal
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Jul 24, 2009
Corinne
rated it: 
As a 22 year old philosophy student at Sussex, Susannah’s life revolves around her studies and her relationship with her older boyfriend Jason. When a boy in her course catches her fancy, she’s suddenly pulled in two different directions, but instead of making a decision and choosing one over the other , she floats along and lets her philosophical musings convince her that making no decision is a decision in and of itself. When the situation hits the fan and Susannah finally has to look into her
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May 31, 2009
Kristi (Books and Needlepoint)
rated it: 
I really enjoyed reading this book. The book was set in the 1970's - and even though the date is never mentioned, there are many clues regarding fashion, cars, etc, that lead you to the time frame. Susannah is very engaging and she drew me in immediately. Even though she did not want to live on campus and be a normal student, she seemed to crave the quiet that she found when she stayed at her friend's empty dorm room. It was almost like she was still a little girl who seemed to think she was su
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May 16, 2009
Rhianna
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Susannah Jones is working on her philosophy degree at a college in Sussex, circa the 1970's. She seems trapped between worlds, not wanting to dwell in the short-changed domiciles of her fellow students, nor be stifled in the identity robbing adult world of her boyfriend. But finding a balance between the two doesn't come easily. Living with her 10-years-older boyfriend provides a certain sense of financial safety but he seems to take her for granted not bothering to be home for days at a time, m
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Jul 02, 2009
Nicole
rated it:
For one reason or another, I fell in love with A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy on the very first page. Some books are just like that for me, but I can never explain why. I suppose I should make a list of them and compare those first pages in an attempt to find the answer.
The setting is the mid-70s, but I didn’t realize that at first (vinyl is popular again, so I just figured Jason loved the warmth of vinyl); the story does go on to mention events that solidify it as th More...
The setting is the mid-70s, but I didn’t realize that at first (vinyl is popular again, so I just figured Jason loved the warmth of vinyl); the story does go on to mention events that solidify it as th More...
May 23, 2009
Cheryl
rated it: 
The year is 1974.
Some days it feels like Susannah and her boyfriend Jason are talking complete circles around each other. A big reason for that might have to do with the fact that Jason is ten years older than Susannah. Also Jason is an antiques dealer, whereas Susannah is a college student at Sussex University. But there is one advantage to dating an older man and that is Susannah does not have to live on campus.
One of Susannah’s study partners for Modern European Mind More...
Some days it feels like Susannah and her boyfriend Jason are talking complete circles around each other. A big reason for that might have to do with the fact that Jason is ten years older than Susannah. Also Jason is an antiques dealer, whereas Susannah is a college student at Sussex University. But there is one advantage to dating an older man and that is Susannah does not have to live on campus.
One of Susannah’s study partners for Modern European Mind More...
Dec 09, 2009
Jemima
rated it:
A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy is a story about a young woman named Susannah who is a college sophomore studying philosophy. It is set in the 1970's at Sussex University. It details Susannah's faltering steps toward adulthood and her desire to apply philosophy to her own life choices. The main choices that she struggles with are to do with her relationships. Should she be with her older boyfriend Jason who is set up financially or should she pursue a relationship with Rob, a young
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Aug 15, 2009
Becky
rated it:
The plug on the cover of the book calls it "saucy," which it is not, and "profoundly funny," which it is also not. (I am beginning to wonder if reviewers feel like they have to call a book funny if they liked it, even if it isn't particularly funny.) It is "beautifully written," however, so at least Tracy Quan, author of "Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl" got that part right. The first half of the novel is an angsty introduction to Susannah and her life, the
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Jul 05, 2009
Alea
rated it:
A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy was just ok to me. I think before deciding to read it I should have considered the fact that the word "Philosophy" was in the title a bit more than I did. I think if I appreciated Philosophy a bit more than I do I would have enjoyed it more.
I found the story to be rather slow moving for me. I thought the idea of Susannah trying to balance two relationships, school, and growing up would be enough to grab my attention but still I h More...
I found the story to be rather slow moving for me. I thought the idea of Susannah trying to balance two relationships, school, and growing up would be enough to grab my attention but still I h More...
Aug 09, 2009
Liza
rated it:
Susanna is a philosophy student at Essex University. She lives with a boyfriend she doesn't really like in his apartment, which she considers to be a warehouse for antiques. Much of the story is concerned with appearances (clothes, shoes, where to eat, walking around alone, what to drink, what to read). Everything passes through Susanna's mind only to be judged on how it would appear to others. This isn't just a pattern of behavior for Susanna; she's a snob.
The writing isn't bad, More...
The writing isn't bad, More...
Aug 11, 2009
Darrell
rated it:
Susannah is a second year university student, carelessly indulging her confusions in a manner that readers of a certain age will quickly recognize. Watching her drift between her two lovers, her capacity to properly attend to matters is apparently questionable, except when it comes to her curriculum. She mulls over her western philosophers as frequently as she considers the benefits and weaknesses of her lovers, or her wardrobe, but with a little more care. Her moment of clarity is foreordained,
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May 27, 2009
Terzah
rated it:
Really enjoyable and thought-provoking book. It could have been a 1970s-era Bridget Jones' Diary knock-off, but it rose above that thanks to the smattering of philosophy, fleshed-out, mostly sympathetic characters and gritty period details (did people really smoke so much back then???). I liked that the setting wasn't urban New York or London, that the narrator wasn't perfect (I often sympathized with Rob, her lover, more than with her) and that the big decision she had to make at the end was ne
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Aug 31, 2010
Alana
rated it:
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.
Susannah is a philosophy student at Sussex University in the 1970's and she feels quite content with her antique dealer 'grown up' boyfriend. Except, of course, that she has to wake herself up by screaming her head off every morning. Things become more complicated when Susannah starts an affair with her tutorial partner Rob and even worse when she discovers her unexpected pregnancy. To sort out her dilemma, Susannah turns More...
Susannah is a philosophy student at Sussex University in the 1970's and she feels quite content with her antique dealer 'grown up' boyfriend. Except, of course, that she has to wake herself up by screaming her head off every morning. Things become more complicated when Susannah starts an affair with her tutorial partner Rob and even worse when she discovers her unexpected pregnancy. To sort out her dilemma, Susannah turns More...
Sep 10, 2009
Sandra
rated it:
I'm torn. I really thought it was going to go a different direction and then it didn't. I had no idea it was set in the 1970's until almost the end of the book. Maybe I missed an earlier reference. However, I couldn't put the book down and so hence the three stars instead of the two stars.
I thought the main character was a brat. She annoyed me. As did her boyfriend. And one of her closest friends. But, I soldiered through nonetheless.
I thought the main character was a brat. She annoyed me. As did her boyfriend. And one of her closest friends. But, I soldiered through nonetheless.
Jul 16, 2009
Cheryl
rated it:
Um, yeah, needed a diversion so I read my vacation book before vacation. Decent read, the philosophy bits were the most interesting especially as they were interwoven with the narrator's decisions. And I've been meaning to revisit Heidegger and Kierkegaard. (LOVED my time as a philosophy student!) But after so much philosophical discourse the ending devolved into chick lit (which usually is not my thing). That's the best way I can describe it because there was such a disconnect between the caref
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Jan 02, 2010
Audra (Unabridged Chick)
rated it:
I had mixed feelings when I began the book but by the end, I couldn't put it down. Susannah was actually very engaging, despite her bad life choices, and I found her plight far more moving than I anticipated. The conclusion was very satisfying -- I thought it was going to be a she-had-the-baby-and-lived-happily-ever-after wrap up, and it wasn't.
Aug 08, 2009
Heidi
rated it:
Fascinating book that I'm going to need to keep reflecting on before I can finish this review. This is a novel about a young philosophy student and it weeks modern philosophers' works into her thinking and actions--quite an interesting concept. The book claims to weave in Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and others, but I really feel like I only learned about Nietzsche. The story itself is wonderful, light at times, heavy at others, but very well written with good characters AND humor--an interesting and
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May 14, 2010
Stina
rated it:
Interesting premise and I liked the mixing of philosophy with real life, but in real life the dialouge is not nearly so painful. Also, it took me until pretty much the last chapter to understand that this took place in the '70s instead of more recently. Not sure if that's good or bad.
Sep 13, 2009
Corinne
rated it:
Someone else needs to read this book and tell me the significance of the ending and some of the symbolism throughout. Maybe I need to read more philosophy before I get it, I don't know. I did enjoy the stroll with Kierkegaard, though. It made me laugh.
Sep 27, 2009
Michelle
rated it:
It's the 1970's set at a sea-side town. Lots of smoking, coffee, wine , free love & v little food. Incipient of the civil rights movement. Think Nietzsche & Kierkegaard's were the underpinnings of 1970's.
Nevertheless, the book didn't sit well with me. Didn't think the discourse of the philosophy was essential to book (unlike sophie's world), at least 3/4 of it didn't seem so. Will grudging admit though, the book is not the formulaic usual.
Nevertheless, the book didn't sit well with me. Didn't think the discourse of the philosophy was essential to book (unlike sophie's world), at least 3/4 of it didn't seem so. Will grudging admit though, the book is not the formulaic usual.
Sep 10, 2009
Louisa
rated it:
I enjoyed this despite the title. I had to push myself a bit to get through it since the narrator seems so flaky and unlikable. My opinion of her changed by the end, and I almost wanted to pick up my college copy of Kierkegaard again.
Aug 06, 2011
Emily
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Depressing. The whole book was gray. Nothing sparkled, nothing came to life. None of the characters felt young and constantly stating their ages won't change that.
Aug 22, 2010
Rebecca
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I almost stopped reading this book about 8 times...but the main character grew on me. I was sad for her that things didn't work out for her as neatly as I expected.
Nov 04, 2009
Beth
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Samantha, working on her dissertation in philosophy, uses lessons from Nietzsche and Kirkegrard to direct her actions, namely, beginning an affair with her classmate, even though she lieves with a boyfriend 10 years her senior. The writing a little dense, and the protagonist is not a particularly sympathetic character.
Sep 01, 2011
Rosie
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University life in the 1970s - this rang lots of bells for me! Philosophy may have some answers, but you make your own decisions.
Aug 02, 2011
Laura
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The ending really disappointed me - I didn't think that it followed from the philosophical journey Susannah went through.
Sep 01, 2009
Tj
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It was interesting to follow through her the philosophical thought process but really overall I did not like the main character.
Jan 26, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
A lot sadder than I anticipated it being. A good representation of what it's like to be stuck.
