Few people have to deal with a haiku-speaking flower-shop-owning ninja every day on their way to work. Unfortunately for Andrew Connor, he is one o...
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reviews
Apr 13, 2011
Debbie
rated it: 
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy from the author.
As I had said in a previous status update, this is a really good book in search of a copy editor. I very much liked the book - it was quirky, fun, kept me engaged, not predictable at all, and Eric Smith had a great voice in his writing. So it was a bit disheartening to be periodically thrown out of the story by a missing comma, or a "through" instead of "threw." However, minor quibble. I acknowledge that I More...
As I had said in a previous status update, this is a really good book in search of a copy editor. I very much liked the book - it was quirky, fun, kept me engaged, not predictable at all, and Eric Smith had a great voice in his writing. So it was a bit disheartening to be periodically thrown out of the story by a missing comma, or a "through" instead of "threw." However, minor quibble. I acknowledge that I More...
Feb 18, 2011
Marianna
rated it:
When reading this book I kept imagining it as a TV sitcom. I thought the character of Brave Orchid was quite unique, I would have liked more of her.
This review can also be found at my blog Books and Circuses.
I suppose I think of this book as a romantic comedy. When I was reading I kept imagining that this easily could translate into a sitcom for TV. The set-up just seems so right for TV. The story and characters all seem to be the perfect for a weekday night's viewing. Whenev More...
This review can also be found at my blog Books and Circuses.
I suppose I think of this book as a romantic comedy. When I was reading I kept imagining that this easily could translate into a sitcom for TV. The set-up just seems so right for TV. The story and characters all seem to be the perfect for a weekday night's viewing. Whenev More...
Mar 06, 2011
Hira
rated it: 
One sentence sums up this book – “Textual Healing” by Eric Smith is a delightful novel. Ace, or Andrew Connor, the main protagonist, is everyone’s favorite guy. He makes you laugh, endears you to him and you want to cheer him on, as the book progresses, to get past his writers block. Ace’s character can easily be described as dorky, or quirky – but for me, his character was endearing and insanely charming, especially his sense of humor. Even at his lowest, Ace’s self-deprecating mannerisms are s
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Jun 13, 2011
Sari
rated it: 
I received a free copy from the author, Eric Smith. Review copies of books are great - except there's always that fear that you're going to get a book and not like it, and then what do you say?
I picked this book up last night, meaning to just read the first page or so to see how I liked it and read the entire book straight through. I really like this book! Andrew Connor, the main character, is a writer who no longer writes. His former bestselling book is on sale at Barnes and Noble f More...
I picked this book up last night, meaning to just read the first page or so to see how I liked it and read the entire book straight through. I really like this book! Andrew Connor, the main character, is a writer who no longer writes. His former bestselling book is on sale at Barnes and Noble f More...
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Dec 31, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This is a book that desperately wants to be a movie. From the very first page, I could see the movie in my head -- the first words of the novel read as a voiceover, with a scene-setting panorama of New York City, before cutting into Ace's apartment. It reads as a kind of mashup, Scott Pilgrim meets High Fidelity meets Empire Records meets the bookstore of Notting Hill. The movie image was so clear in my mind, I even have the film all mentally cast.
Ace, a writer whose one best-se More...
Ace, a writer whose one best-se More...
Feb 07, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Rating 3.5/5 Stars
I have never had a pet sugar glider, nor have I ever known any one with such an exotic pet. I wouldn’t even know where to buy one! Can you even get a sugar glider at a regular pet store? When the main character, Ace aka Andrew makes the impulsive decision to buy a sugar glider in order to impress a girl that he is smitten with, I learned that one should never leave such an unusual animal unattended. Ace’s adventure with his psychotic pet that he dubbed Ditto is just o More...
I have never had a pet sugar glider, nor have I ever known any one with such an exotic pet. I wouldn’t even know where to buy one! Can you even get a sugar glider at a regular pet store? When the main character, Ace aka Andrew makes the impulsive decision to buy a sugar glider in order to impress a girl that he is smitten with, I learned that one should never leave such an unusual animal unattended. Ace’s adventure with his psychotic pet that he dubbed Ditto is just o More...
Mar 08, 2011
Jackie
rated it:
First, there is Andrew Conner, or as he prefers, Ace. He was once a best-selling author, but now he suffers from a drought of inspiration. He’s neither the hyper-masculine brute nor the silent, brooding type that seems to plague too many novels (of the romantic sort). He’s dorky and quirky and witty and well-read, and even at his lowest, Ace still elicits some smiles—even a few chuckles. Then there is Hannah, a spunky gal from Montana who makes me wonder why can’t more heroines be like her?
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Mar 17, 2011
Gmr
rated it:
Okay, so I have a feeling that this review, no matter how long I ponder over what to say, is going to come off a bit fan-girlish. Why? Well, to put it simply, it was really good and that tends to put me in a situation where I don't know exactly what to say because you want to say everything...know what I mean?
Let’s address the title first because to be honest that combined with the cover image have generated many a false impression about the book. The title is just that…a pun…and More...
Let’s address the title first because to be honest that combined with the cover image have generated many a false impression about the book. The title is just that…a pun…and More...
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Feb 14, 2011
Lily
rated it:
Textual Healing by Eric Smith
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
Few people have to deal with a haiku-speaking flower-shop-owning ninja every day on their way to work. Unfortunately for Andrew Connor, he is one of those people.
And poor Andrew, his week has been a rough one. His former bestseller, Chasing Fireflies, is on clearance at Barnes & Noble for $1.37, his girlfriend left him for a corporate America action figure, and he's been tricked into joining Textual H More...
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews.
Few people have to deal with a haiku-speaking flower-shop-owning ninja every day on their way to work. Unfortunately for Andrew Connor, he is one of those people.
And poor Andrew, his week has been a rough one. His former bestseller, Chasing Fireflies, is on clearance at Barnes & Noble for $1.37, his girlfriend left him for a corporate America action figure, and he's been tricked into joining Textual H More...
Mar 07, 2011
Faye
rated it:
'Textual Healing' is a romantic comedy set in New York City and Hoboken, New Jersey. It's a really enjoyable, quick read. I found myself continuosly laughing throughout at the main character, Andrew (or Ace), who is completely full of quirky jokes and one-liners. I found it was easy to relate to most, if not all, of the characters. I liked all of them, literally. Which isn't a usual thing for me. I tend to find myself annoyed with at least one character but that wasn't the case with 'Textual Hea
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Mar 04, 2011
Pauline
rated it:
"The kind that stays with you, a clever line in a movie, a well-written anecdote in a book, a quip in a poem, and finally, finally I had a punch-line, a point, a meaning to the rambling." - Thoughts on Textual Healing by Eric Smith
I tend to shy away from funny-romantic stories when it comes to books, mainly because the cookie-cutter formulas are getting rusty overtime: boy (or girl) with a crisis meets and falls in love with a girl (or boy) who becomes an inspiration for se More...
I tend to shy away from funny-romantic stories when it comes to books, mainly because the cookie-cutter formulas are getting rusty overtime: boy (or girl) with a crisis meets and falls in love with a girl (or boy) who becomes an inspiration for se More...
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Feb 16, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I was lucky enough to receive this book from a GoodReads giveaway. I started and finished this book today in one sitting. What I loved about this book was the language of the characters. I feel like a lot of book's characters are more philisophical, well-read, intelligent or use bigger words when they speak than that of real people. Sure, those books are good too! But to read something that spoken in a way that I speak is refreshing. My two favorite lines from the book included "I renamed h
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Jan 04, 2011
Nancy
rated it:
Andrew Connor's life has been better. Once a celebrated writer, he now finds his one book located on the discount shelves at his local Barns and Noble. He spends his time running a struggling used bookstore located across the street from a flower-shop-owning ninja. When his girlfriend breaks up with him, it seems like the last straw. Then he meets Hannah, a friendly woman from the Midwest who changes his life in just a week.
Apparently, I was very lucky the last half of December, becaus More...
Apparently, I was very lucky the last half of December, becaus More...
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Sep 20, 2011
Todd
rated it:
To be honest, when I first picked up this book I had no idea what it would be about. Textual Healing? Is that some kind of “Texters Anonymous” type of meeting? Upon reading the back of the book, the mystery deepened. “Few people have to deal with a haiku-speaking flower-shop-owning ninja every day on their way to work. Unfortunately for Andrew Connor, he is one of those people.” Alas, upon reading that, I had to give it a try! Kim’s contact (and friend) at Quirk Books, Eric Smith, was happ
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Feb 14, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
This book had me hooked by page three when Joel Schumacher was called “the talentless hack who put nipples on Batman’s costume.” On page four a shout out to Sayid from Lost made me smile because I love Sayid. By page 17 I was totally wrapped up in the story and laughed out loud literally when I read some funny observations about “range free worms.” I have read some of the other reviews for this one on Good Reads and I think it might be the law that I use the word “quirky” to describe the book
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May 04, 2011
Erika
rated it:
Do you want to laugh? Have a blast? Meet some great people? Take a stroll through a wacky, wild, and sometimes heartwarming adventure? Then may I suggest you take a look at Textual Healing?
Textual Healing had me from page one. Here we find the protaganist Andrew, who we'll come to know as "Ace", a former bestselling author with a movie deal to show for it being dumped by his long-term girlfriend who is fed up with his lack of motivation to write anything else. If this wasn' More...
Textual Healing had me from page one. Here we find the protaganist Andrew, who we'll come to know as "Ace", a former bestselling author with a movie deal to show for it being dumped by his long-term girlfriend who is fed up with his lack of motivation to write anything else. If this wasn' More...
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Dec 28, 2010
Cheryl
rated it:
I particularly enjoyed the ninja flower shop owner. I liked Ace, the main character, and his haplessness, although I got fed up with him whining a few times. I really liked Hannah and her fearless attitude about telling people the unvarnished truth. However, the many pop culture references are going to make the book feel very dated very soon. In addition, there were many editing errors (run-on sentences, misplaced commas). In a book about an author, the errors were particularly jarring. I would
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Jan 21, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
*This book was sent to me by the publisher (goodreads giveaway win)*
Textual Healing is a straight-forward romantic comedy; nevermind bizarre elements like ninja florists and rapacious sugar gliders. The writing itself is excellent and descriptive, but we're not talking about the Great American Novel here.
Some of it may be universally funny, but on the whole I think you have to be a certain type of person in a certain age range to really appreciate it. If you don't know what More...
Textual Healing is a straight-forward romantic comedy; nevermind bizarre elements like ninja florists and rapacious sugar gliders. The writing itself is excellent and descriptive, but we're not talking about the Great American Novel here.
Some of it may be universally funny, but on the whole I think you have to be a certain type of person in a certain age range to really appreciate it. If you don't know what More...
Feb 15, 2011
David
rated it:
Textual Healing, I found to be a engaging book for a variety of reasons. For some the pop culture, indie music and other such references might turn them away but I absolutely loved them they helped to give a fuller picture of the characters. Since I've learned preferences like those are often very telling about people. I particularly enjoy the ninja verse pirate reference, though as we all know pirates win, yarg.
The characters whether supporting or otherwise were interesting, and colorful t More...
The characters whether supporting or otherwise were interesting, and colorful t More...
Apr 04, 2011
Cschuft
rated it:
Now here's a bright first novel - characters are engaging, story funny and smart. Definitely recommend a read.
It's the story of a writer who had a success, and couldn't quite measure up after...well, couldn't quite live up to 'success'. This is a serious subject, for women as well as men, yet Eric Smith treats the situation with overall joy.
One thing I was disturbed by - the alarming number of typos and grammatical errors. I understand this book is self-published...but goodness, a t More...
It's the story of a writer who had a success, and couldn't quite measure up after...well, couldn't quite live up to 'success'. This is a serious subject, for women as well as men, yet Eric Smith treats the situation with overall joy.
One thing I was disturbed by - the alarming number of typos and grammatical errors. I understand this book is self-published...but goodness, a t More...
Sep 14, 2011
Alicia
rated it:
Pssst I know the guy who wrote this!
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Dec 09, 2011
Angie
rated it:
From <a href="http://lilacwolfandstuff.blogspot.com/2011/12/textual-healing.html" target=_blank">Lilac Wolf and Stuff</a>
The fact that this is a self published book always surprises me. The cover is professional and the editing is superb. I only saw one error that I remember.
The characters aren't too in depth. Really the only person you get to know is Andrew (aka Ace), which makes sense as it's from his point of view. And the timeline is one wee More...
The fact that this is a self published book always surprises me. The cover is professional and the editing is superb. I only saw one error that I remember.
The characters aren't too in depth. Really the only person you get to know is Andrew (aka Ace), which makes sense as it's from his point of view. And the timeline is one wee More...
May 15, 2011
Meaghan
rated it:
I entered to win this book from the Good Reads First Reads program and didn't win but I was pleasantly surprised when the author contacted me and asked me if I'd like a copy of the book for review. I said yes right away. I have to admit that I read this book quite some time ago but I haven't had the time to write the review. That being said, it was not because I didn't love the book. Smith is an excellent writer and I really hope that he continues to write more books. This book is about a m
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Jul 30, 2011
Chris
rated it:
There are two ways to interpret Textual Healing while reading it. Either:
(A) You are ready the prose form of Scott Pilgrim's spiritual cousin, loaded to the brim with relatable pop cultural references, delightful geekery, and characters whose personality types are widely recognizable, but blown way out of proportion for comedic value. I have often argued that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is every bit as much a romcom as it is an action flick. Well, Eric Smith's Textual Healing is ever More...
(A) You are ready the prose form of Scott Pilgrim's spiritual cousin, loaded to the brim with relatable pop cultural references, delightful geekery, and characters whose personality types are widely recognizable, but blown way out of proportion for comedic value. I have often argued that Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is every bit as much a romcom as it is an action flick. Well, Eric Smith's Textual Healing is ever More...
Aug 10, 2011
Shellie
rated it:
One of the things I enjoyed about the book is the mismatched cast of characters who I imagine would be absolutely perfect for a movie or TV show. They are quirky and funny and I really did find myself taking a general interest in them. The book however fallows the very basic formula of most romantic comedies in which the main character finds a girl, falls for said girl, lost girl due to a misunderstanding, and then of course in the end wins the girl back. It is what it is for the genre and I don
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Apr 27, 2011
Grace
rated it:
Textual Healing
by Eric Smith
Rating: R; 3 ½ stars
Summary: Andrew “Ace” Connor is struggling with life. His former best-seller is now in the clearance bin, his girlfriend is gone, and he hasn't been able to write in over 3 years. However, he does have friends on his side. His best friend, Brian, sets Ace up with his wife's cousin, Hannah. His writer neighbor convinces him to join a writer's group...that just happens to end up being a support group for writers who find them More...
by Eric Smith
Rating: R; 3 ½ stars
Summary: Andrew “Ace” Connor is struggling with life. His former best-seller is now in the clearance bin, his girlfriend is gone, and he hasn't been able to write in over 3 years. However, he does have friends on his side. His best friend, Brian, sets Ace up with his wife's cousin, Hannah. His writer neighbor convinces him to join a writer's group...that just happens to end up being a support group for writers who find them More...
Dec 11, 2011
Anthony
rated it:
A great word for this book is "quirky," and I'm a huge sucker for quirky books, I know, I know some people raise their eyebrows or frown at quirky (some of you may be even doing that now) but look at other reviews of this book... it's quirky, 'nuff said. As a whole the book could be called a great romantic comedy, but it is loaded with pop culture references sort of like "Scott Pilgrim" or "Dash and Lily's Book of Dares," and I got a good laugh from those. But reall
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May 21, 2011
Ambur
rated it:
Textual Healing was hilarious! I loved the little side comments that the main character Andrew Connor, or Ace, made, they honestly made me burst out laughing so many times...which was kind of awkward when I was in the waiting room of the dentist's office, but I was okay with that. haha
I think Textual Healing is the perfect book for anyone who is in need of a good laugh, or for someone who has been annoyed by the cliches of many books and romantic comedy movies...as the characters sta More...
I think Textual Healing is the perfect book for anyone who is in need of a good laugh, or for someone who has been annoyed by the cliches of many books and romantic comedy movies...as the characters sta More...
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Mar 16, 2011
Katherine
rated it:
Textual Healing is referencing the book group Ace is a member of (guilted into joining)- not the song "Sexual Healing". As far as fixing anything with this book, I'd recommend a new cover image as the photo of the girl made me believe this book was about texting during some high school drama. This book was WAY better than I thought it was going to be based on the cover art. Try it on for size.
Andrew "Ace" Connor is appealing in so many different ways. He is not t More...
Andrew "Ace" Connor is appealing in so many different ways. He is not t More...
Mar 26, 2011
Ishanie
rated it:
I just won this selection on goodreads First Reads giveaways! I like "quirky" books and I'm looking forward to having a couple of good laughs during this read! Thank you ;-)
****UPDATE**** Spoiler Alerts!!
I finished this book in 2 days. It's a light and quick read that makes it hard to stop because it's hilarious. I only read during my crazy commute these days, or else I would've finished this in one sitting.
It's different from anything else I've More...
****UPDATE**** Spoiler Alerts!!
I finished this book in 2 days. It's a light and quick read that makes it hard to stop because it's hilarious. I only read during my crazy commute these days, or else I would've finished this in one sitting.
It's different from anything else I've More...
