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Bundle of Joy?
Voula Pavlopoulos won't be planning a big fat Greek wedding anytime soon. After a turbulent childhood and two-and-a-half former boyfriends--if you can call them that--Voula's content to have alone time in her crowded apartment and drinks with her best friend, Jamie (who's never been one of those married people who ditches her pals). Voula doesn't see it coming when Jamie says the two grossest words in the English language Voula can possibly imagine--"We're trying." Of course, after "We're trying" comes "We're pregnant." Now, Jamie's busy with Lamaze class and besieged by swollen ankles, while Voula is becoming an expert on what to expect when your former wild-and-crazy girlfriend is expecting. Well, Voula's tired of sitting on the sidelines of life and has decided she'd better start living it. First step: Stop being her mother's doormat. Second step: Stop being so picky and give a guy a chance. But most importantly: It's time to say goodbye to Armando, her Italian stallion roommate, and whoever else is living in their third bedroom. That's right--she is going to buy a place. There are three and a half million apartments in Manhattan. Finding the right one can't be that hard. Can it?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 29, 2010
Hey, do you want a character that's hard to like and a plot that meanders until ending suddenly at a seemingly arbitrary point in the chracter development? Would you like subplots that seem big to never be resolved? Do you want to be introduced to aspects of a supporting character only to have them never developed, explained, or resolved? Then have I got the book for you!
August 18, 2016
3.5 stars
I found this book in my sister's bookshelves a few years back and when I read it I found out it was a really good book. It was my favorite book for a while back then (2013), but now that I think of it (2016) I know that there is much better.
I found this book in my sister's bookshelves a few years back and when I read it I found out it was a really good book. It was my favorite book for a while back then (2013), but now that I think of it (2016) I know that there is much better.
December 19, 2015
‘Bundle of Joy?’ was a bundle of mess. There’s no proper storyline, it lacks direction, it features different themes without delving into any of them well enough and the ending baffled me.
The main character Voula Pavlopolous is a freelancer writer who realizes that people around her are getting pregnant and moving into a new phase of life that she can’t understand. This is especially evident when her friend Jamie reveals her desire to have a child. Based on the title of the book I expected an in-depth exploration into this topic but it went nowhere. Throughout the book, you merely get Voula’s observations of mothers and their ill-behaved kids as well as an insight into what she thinks. She figures she doesn’t want kids and she gets tired of hearing Jamie rambling about anything related to her pregnancy yet Voula herself goes on and on about it in her own mind. What was the point of all this? It was boring, redundant and served no purpose.
The romance between her and the fireman Paul was horrible. There was no chemistry whatsoever. Both of them were equally dull. I can’t even describe Paul’s personality because he doesn’t have one. It just seemed like Voula wanted a boyfriend for whatever reason and was given one. I also couldn’t understand why she was still interested in a former boyfriend / lover, Warren. Again, I can’t describe his personality. What is up with bland love interests? Her conversations with Paul were boring, everything involving the two of them felt like an eternity.
As for the real estate aspect, again what was the point? All of a sudden Voula thinks of having her own living quarters. For a writer she sure was pretty blank when it concerned real estate. That’s fine but it was like she never really researched anything to the point where when she was about to close a deal, she still couldn’t fully comprehend what the others were saying. Seriously, how stupid is that? More importantly, why include this real estate nonsense when it has no significance to the story?
Then there’s her messed up family – the father she never talks much to anymore, the controlling annoying mother, a dead sister, a runaway sister. Nothing was resolved. She never did anything to change the situation. What was the point of repeating about her sister’s death? I didn’t feel as though Voula was still grieving or having a hard time moving on with her life. It’s not like she makes an epic discovery that the true reason she doesn’t want a child is because she’s afraid of losing someone she loves again. I disliked Voula’s mother and none of her family drama or history was necessary.
What about Armando and Kelly, the people she lives with? You’re basically told about them and shown the budding friendship between Kelly and Voula and then – nothing. Why bother introducing characters and developing their relationship if all of that will merely be dropped and forgotten? For some reason, I couldn’t warm up to Voula. I guess it’s because she wasn’t anything specific. She wasn’t particularly funny or intelligent or kind or outspoken etc.
Overall, this book was a disappointment.
The main character Voula Pavlopolous is a freelancer writer who realizes that people around her are getting pregnant and moving into a new phase of life that she can’t understand. This is especially evident when her friend Jamie reveals her desire to have a child. Based on the title of the book I expected an in-depth exploration into this topic but it went nowhere. Throughout the book, you merely get Voula’s observations of mothers and their ill-behaved kids as well as an insight into what she thinks. She figures she doesn’t want kids and she gets tired of hearing Jamie rambling about anything related to her pregnancy yet Voula herself goes on and on about it in her own mind. What was the point of all this? It was boring, redundant and served no purpose.
The romance between her and the fireman Paul was horrible. There was no chemistry whatsoever. Both of them were equally dull. I can’t even describe Paul’s personality because he doesn’t have one. It just seemed like Voula wanted a boyfriend for whatever reason and was given one. I also couldn’t understand why she was still interested in a former boyfriend / lover, Warren. Again, I can’t describe his personality. What is up with bland love interests? Her conversations with Paul were boring, everything involving the two of them felt like an eternity.
As for the real estate aspect, again what was the point? All of a sudden Voula thinks of having her own living quarters. For a writer she sure was pretty blank when it concerned real estate. That’s fine but it was like she never really researched anything to the point where when she was about to close a deal, she still couldn’t fully comprehend what the others were saying. Seriously, how stupid is that? More importantly, why include this real estate nonsense when it has no significance to the story?
Then there’s her messed up family – the father she never talks much to anymore, the controlling annoying mother, a dead sister, a runaway sister. Nothing was resolved. She never did anything to change the situation. What was the point of repeating about her sister’s death? I didn’t feel as though Voula was still grieving or having a hard time moving on with her life. It’s not like she makes an epic discovery that the true reason she doesn’t want a child is because she’s afraid of losing someone she loves again. I disliked Voula’s mother and none of her family drama or history was necessary.
What about Armando and Kelly, the people she lives with? You’re basically told about them and shown the budding friendship between Kelly and Voula and then – nothing. Why bother introducing characters and developing their relationship if all of that will merely be dropped and forgotten? For some reason, I couldn’t warm up to Voula. I guess it’s because she wasn’t anything specific. She wasn’t particularly funny or intelligent or kind or outspoken etc.
Overall, this book was a disappointment.
December 23, 2008
I loved this book. It's got a nice story line about a Cypriot woman, Voula, and her quest to be and stay independent, yet still live happily, if not ever after.
When her best friend, Jamie, announces that she and her husband are
'trying' for a baby, Voula watches the changes that occur in Jamie's life and lives the changes that happen in her own life. She meets a good guy, starts house hunting (in NYC), and generally learns that she is stronger than she thinks and that she can be happy, if she chooses to be.
Towards the end, after Jamie has her baby, this book actually is one of the first books I've ever read that doesn't sugar coat the new mom 'experience.' It's not all roses and sunshine, and any other mother friends that tell you it is are lying to you. Motherhood, especially first-time motherhood, is hard; it's a big adjustment if you've spent a good part of your adult life focused on you; in short, it can and usually does take a bit of getting used to. Jamie deals with the 'baby blues' (perhaps with a touch of PPD), hormonal ups and downs following delivery, the lack of 'payoff' in the baby's first few weeks, and her own fears and rationalizations as a new mother. A refreshing change from stories where the new mom is 'in love,' and new baby is sleeping 8+ hours a night, etc. (lies, all lies, I tell you).
Ariella Papa really 'tells it like it is' in this book and that makes for an enjoyable read.
When her best friend, Jamie, announces that she and her husband are
'trying' for a baby, Voula watches the changes that occur in Jamie's life and lives the changes that happen in her own life. She meets a good guy, starts house hunting (in NYC), and generally learns that she is stronger than she thinks and that she can be happy, if she chooses to be.
Towards the end, after Jamie has her baby, this book actually is one of the first books I've ever read that doesn't sugar coat the new mom 'experience.' It's not all roses and sunshine, and any other mother friends that tell you it is are lying to you. Motherhood, especially first-time motherhood, is hard; it's a big adjustment if you've spent a good part of your adult life focused on you; in short, it can and usually does take a bit of getting used to. Jamie deals with the 'baby blues' (perhaps with a touch of PPD), hormonal ups and downs following delivery, the lack of 'payoff' in the baby's first few weeks, and her own fears and rationalizations as a new mother. A refreshing change from stories where the new mom is 'in love,' and new baby is sleeping 8+ hours a night, etc. (lies, all lies, I tell you).
Ariella Papa really 'tells it like it is' in this book and that makes for an enjoyable read.
June 14, 2007
This has been my least favorite of Papa's works. Just average for Red Dress Ink.
June 14, 2007
A cute light read. Nothing that is going to strain your brain. Good for a bubble bath or laying out in the sun.
January 9, 2008
Another great book by this author. Super quick read, fun and entertaining. Loved it!
October 17, 2008
What out from hot firefighters!!!! =)
December 23, 2009
This book easier to read than her first book due to the chapter breaks. The character Voula had so many unique dimensions. I would have loved to get to know her more in depth.
February 26, 2010
This was a cute, easy read about friendship, babies and house-buying. I loved that I felt like I could relate in some ways to the main character and what she went through. A great chic lit read.
May 3, 2014
Remember how I'd kept asking for the plot to thicken up well, that never happened. No proper story at all. Just some 29 year old woman's mindless rambling! Stay away from this one.
September 10, 2015
This was an okay book. I didn't fall in love with the book like I usually expect from a book. Not one I would recommend. Glad I finally finished it though.
August 25, 2009
I liked this book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews