The Love Secrets of Don Juan

by Tim Lott

The wickedly funny new novel from the winner of the 1999 Whitbread First Novel Award. National feature and review coverage guaranteed. 'Very funny ... his writing [is] a pleasure to savour like a favourite food' Ruth Rendell, Sunday Times (on RUMOURS OF A HURRICANE) 'A formidably talented writer' Daily Telegraph Tim Lott's backlist has recently been re-packaged to tie in with paperback publication of RUMOURS OF A HURRICANE (Jan 2003).

Genres: Fiction

294 pages, Hardcover

First published January 27, 2003

About the author

Tim Lott is the author of seven novels and a memoir, The Scent of Dried Roses, which won the PEN/J.R. Ackerley Prize. White City Blue won the Whitbread First Novel Award and his young adult book Fearless was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Book Award. Tim lives with his family in north-west London.

Reviews

[Caitriona · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a couple of insightful gems to be found in this book but it was not worth the trouble of finding them.
The book was just one man's diatribe and painful to plough through.

[Alexbookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangely enough, I loved this book. It was about time to read a guy's funny and clever account of love and relationships, marriage and divorce.

[Julie Round · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thoughts and feelings of a man looking for romance and wondering where he went wrong, written with humour and insight. Maybe all the conclusions weren't entirely accurate but at least he tried!

[Tony Lawrence]

(retrospective review c.2009)

This was my most disappointing Lott so far. He still writes from the heart, although the raw experience of a marriage break-up (mirrored on his own I assume?) comes across as a bit too cynical. The 'Don Juan' of the title is anything but, a dis-illusioned marketing whiz kid in a middle-aged funk, going through a messy divorce, questioning all his past lovers and relationships (too much introspection!), and generally at odds with the world. The 'secret' in the end, and we knew there would be one was a bit lame, an existential realisation that "Nothing can be done". He does end up happy-enough, fighting against his naturally pessimistic outlook, and finds a similarly wounded soul to share a new life with.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read, his lessons were interesting. Ending feels a bit inconclusive

[Sharon March · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed some of it which is not a good sign! OK book but too wordy and needy

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I ended up reading this. Wouldn't recommend it though it wasn't entirely awful..