This is the story of how we grow old -- how we give up the dreams of youth for something better -- and how many chances we have to get it right. Ge...
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reviews
Jun 14, 2010
Ian
rated it: 
This is a bit episodic. It is as if Tony has taken issues reported in the daily mail (facebook wrecking parties, google earth dipping parties) and woven them into a family tale that covers all his usual ground. Getting older, responsibilities, how this generation of fathers and not as good as the one before etc.etc.
The story is a family man - wife - two kids - who has a heart transplant and starts behaving like a younger man - rebuilding matey relationships with his kids etc.
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The story is a family man - wife - two kids - who has a heart transplant and starts behaving like a younger man - rebuilding matey relationships with his kids etc.
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Aug 06, 2011
Jayne
rated it: 
Mixed feelings about this one. The start felt disjointed, as though in a rush over the editing the author had simply ripped out random sections of his manuscript and posted the rest to the printers. Somewhere along the line a guy who’s either 42 or 47 depending on whether you believe the text or the back cover synopsis, gets a heart transplant. It happens so quickly they might possibly have installed a zipper in his chest. Then he starts taking on some of the characteristics of his much younger
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Apr 08, 2010
Faith
rated it: 
Why do I keep reading books by a middle aged man? A middle aged middle class British man. Because of Man and Boy, the "love letter from a father to his son, and from a son to his father". That's beautiful and relevant to me. But I'm definitely not part of Parsons's target audience. I find all his books ok and quite sympathetic, but... This time it's a middle aged man who gets a new heart and a new chance at life. And becomes like a boy. And there's his relationship to his teenage son
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Jan 04, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
I'm still not so keen on Tony Parson's newer books. I much preferred Starting Over to My Favourite Wife (and the truly uninspiring Stories we Could Tell) but it wasn't so good as Man and Boy, Man and Wife or One for my Baby. Reading the blurb for this novel, the plot grated a little (the whole memory effect thing seemed a bit naff - I'm just waiting for a Cecelia Ahern novel on the subject to prove me right :)). The writing was clean and easy but I don't really think I ever got over the plot. It
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May 26, 2011
Peter Simpson
rated it:
It was okay. I felt that the plot meandered at times and seemed to chop and change a bit. The protagonist would be in one setting and a completely different one the next. He'd do absolutely ridiculous things to. I know that was the idea behind the book - man has heart operation, starts behaving young again, but it didn't really feel that there was a hard emotional development behind his sudden change of behaviour. Not enough to warrant it.
There was a lot of good expression between th More...
There was a lot of good expression between th More...
Jul 09, 2011
Faridahyunos
rated it:
i think it's a light book. and it is fun to read, but incomparable with his Man and Boy. it is just a sory about how a once responsible father turned into someone who was too simple-minded that left his family unstable. his wife left him, his daughter didn't like home anymore and his son strayed away and didnt finished schooling. this was all from the impact of the heart transplant from a teenager into this man's body. anyway it is a good read! :)
May 12, 2011
Dain145
rated it:
I think the book is funny.. It's weird thinking such thing could happen to a person but I got excited wanting to know what will happen next. Never thought that I would put much interest on a life of a middle-aged man...
At the beginning I found George to be extremely irritating with his some kind of crazy teenage crisis... I mean at the age of 42?? Poor Lara....
But unlike My Favourite Wife, i found this book more easy going and light.. My vote goes to My Favourite W
At the beginning I found George to be extremely irritating with his some kind of crazy teenage crisis... I mean at the age of 42?? Poor Lara....
But unlike My Favourite Wife, i found this book more easy going and light.. My vote goes to My Favourite W
Feb 16, 2011
Daniel
rated it:
It's a run-of-the-mill soap opera in terms of plot, and not half as interesting as previous novels such as "Man and Boy", but what Tony Parsons loses in story he makes up for with fantastic characters. These are richly drawn creations, and the single best thing about this novel. It's hard to turn what appears to be ordinary on the surface into something extraordinary, but Parsons manages this feat with the character of George. Lush, feel-good comfort food.
Apr 16, 2011
Jason
rated it:
Early on this threatened to turn into a supernatural domestic drama, with the heart transplant central character channelling his dead heart donor's spirit. Luckily that was only hinted at then dropped for the rest of the book.
A great read. The only reason I gave this three instead of four stars is that it's likely only a great read if you're a thirty-something English dad. Otherwise, it's not likely going to grab you.
A great read. The only reason I gave this three instead of four stars is that it's likely only a great read if you're a thirty-something English dad. Otherwise, it's not likely going to grab you.
Jul 15, 2010
Mel
rated it:
i like his other books better.
and oh, this is a story of 47 yo man, not 42 as what's written on the back cover, who has a second chance to live his life again; given the heart of a 19-year-old.
p.21:
"We're getting old,' I said. Keith was forty-two, five years younger than me, ...
p.31:
'Male, forty-seven, history of heart disease, had a myocardial infarction- let's see...
go figure.
Mar 23, 2011
Joe
rated it:
Tony Parsons writes easy to read books with a real life feel about them. While none of them have blown me away, I've enjoyed the ones I've read to a degree. "Starting Over" is the tale of a middle aged man who goes on a voyage of discovery following a heart transplant. It's a gentle, pleasant read with situations in that many readers will smile knowingly at.
Feb 01, 2011
Faaizz
rated it:
after reading this book, i realized that
1. i just loved the idea of 'cellular memory phenomenon' .
2. i've been thinking(this is even b4 i read SO) about Pledge my organs and tissues by filling NATIONAL ORGAN DONOR REGISTRATION FORM.
thus is signed up for one of the http://www.rayma.com.my/giftoflife/signu...
It’s the right thing to do.
1. i just loved the idea of 'cellular memory phenomenon' .
2. i've been thinking(this is even b4 i read SO) about Pledge my organs and tissues by filling NATIONAL ORGAN DONOR REGISTRATION FORM.
thus is signed up for one of the http://www.rayma.com.my/giftoflife/signu...
It’s the right thing to do.
Sep 01, 2009
Lucy J
rated it:
I do like Tony Parsons. Warm, funny, very believable characters.
Not quite sure I like any book about a person who needs a heart transplant at 42 - and the acceptance that a person of that age is definitely "middle aged". But obviously I'm in denial, I guess.
Laugh. Cry. And dread the day when your cute little children become teenagers.
Not quite sure I like any book about a person who needs a heart transplant at 42 - and the acceptance that a person of that age is definitely "middle aged". But obviously I'm in denial, I guess.
Laugh. Cry. And dread the day when your cute little children become teenagers.
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Sep 10, 2010
Jon
rated it:
At first, I have to be honest, I did not really like George Bailey...such a selfish prick, but towards the end (even though I knew he was going to find himself) I grew to like him and cheered him on. This is why I have given it only 3 stars (the dislike of the character and the too clear narrative path leading to a happy ending).
Jan 29, 2010
Edward
rated it:
I have all of Tony Parsons novels. They are very good. Real people, real problems, everyday life. Reasonable solutions. This newest novel had several real life issues and situations dealt with. Health, family, birth and death to name a few. Yet the slices of life are not so thin so as to be unsubstantial.
Aug 11, 2010
Ria
rated it: 
A brilliant story, told with humour, sympathy and a great empathy for the characters involved, the novel's theme deals with real life issues, the story of a man who has a heart transplant and who then takes on the persona of a man half his age which in turn causes repurcussions in his home life and relationships with his loved ones.
Nov 01, 2011
Kathy
rated it:
Reviewed at http://mamakucingbooks.blogspot.com/2011... Mama Kucing Books & Ravings: Starting Over by Tony Parson
The bookmwas kinda patchy with a lot of guess works needed to read it. Could it be highly influenced by some of the latest movies?
The bookmwas kinda patchy with a lot of guess works needed to read it. Could it be highly influenced by some of the latest movies?
Jul 27, 2011
Another Tony Parsons book about a middle aged man who loses "it" and finds "it" . Perhaps I am getting over my own midlife crisis now and don;t need to read about it any more, but the phrase "middle aged git lit" comes to mind.
Sep 11, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
The story of George who at 42, suffers a heart attack and is given the heart of a young 19 year old tearaway. To be honest, not much happens thereafter and I was disappointed. I doubt I will remember this book for long. A quick read, some nice characters, but pretty uneventful. Not fo me.
Jul 29, 2011
Tony Parsons has a gift of pulling the reader's heartstrings and this is one of his typical books. However, I would still recommend anyone interested in reading his books to first read Man and Boy.
Dec 20, 2010
Shannon
rated it: 
Wow, this was really annoying and bad. I don't get why this guy is popular, hes a terrible writer. I didn't care one lick for any of the characters, didn't bother to finish it.
May 16, 2010
Penny
rated it:
I usually like Tony Parsons books like My Favourite Wife etc but this was a little bland and it didn't have an ending it just tailed off.
Aug 11, 2011
Bookhuw
rated it:
A bit of a chewing gum book - accessible, undemanding, you build up a rhythm, and soon over.
Jul 21, 2011
Karin
rated it:
It was really fun to read this :) reminded me somewhat of the movie "17 again" with Zac Effron.
Aug 10, 2010
Philip
rated it:
Great start but loses it's way a little. Still, a good male perspective on life.
Oct 09, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
This was a slow start for me, but I did really enjoy it. Set in England, it is a whiff of home and the dialog is English too. I will definitely re visit this author. It's a unisex book. I do like the 1st person to be male as I get enjoyment from the male point of view. He really loves his wife which makes me root for him !
Jan 10, 2012
Graham
rated it:
An easy read, and pretty much what I've come to expect from Tony Parsons. So no surprises, or change of direction (his next is set to be a follow up to Man & Boy/Man & Wife - so again, sticking to familar territory). Enjoyable for the most part; an undemanding style of writing with recognisable characters/scenarios. And only this existential puzzler to test the grey matter, "..if you changed the blade of a sword, and then you changed the handle - is it still the same sword?" - (though
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