Lessons in Duck Hunting: A Novel

by Jayne Buxton

A harried single mother of two young children in London, Ally James is less than thrilled with her lackluster life. Her job marketing marmalade is a yawn fest and the domestic front seems to streak by in a flash of fish sticks and school runs. To top it all off, Ally’s ex-husband David seems to have a never-ending roulette wheel of rotating girlfriends, while Ally has endured two meager (and disastrous) dates in as many years.

Then there’s David’s newest arm-candy, Chantal, who is the first flavor-of-the-month to ever meet the kids–that must mean it’s serious. Ally’s friend Mel is sure she has the solution to the a Market Yourself dating seminar. It’s either the perfect way to find a new man or the first sign of the apocalypse–Ally isn’t sure which, but she decides to give it a whirl. What happens next is stranger, and more invigorating, than Ally could ever have imagined.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Dan Knudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend you keep reading this book. I found it slow in the middle, but it has a hell of an ending. It's well worth the read

[Caitlin Munson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like easy chick-lit.. this definitely fits that description

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

""

[❀ Sabina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hoe vang ik een vent" door Jayne Buxton
Gelezen: 4-5 december, 2015

8 december 2015

Een zeer vermakelijk verhaal over een alleenstaande werkende moeder met twee jonge kinderen. Wanneer een vriendin de 37-jarige Ally overhaalt om een cursus bij te wonen zodat zij een verhaal erover kan schrijven komt Ally erachter dat de effecten van de cursus anders uitpakken dan ze had verwacht. Ally, met een achtergrond in marketing, ziet er niets voor om proactief achter een man aan te gaan op marketingsprincipes; maar als goede vriendin en met het voorruitzicht van een cheque van 1000 pond om uit te geven aan shoppen voor het "onderzoek" belooft twee van de drie seminars bij te wonen. Als een brave studente die ze was, stort ze zich op het huiswerk van de seminars met bijkomende inzichten. Tenslotte, ze was al twee jaar gescheiden van haar ex-man en wilde niet eindigen als de hulpeloze dames in de krant. De seminars geven haar niet alleen een nieuwe blik op haar liefdesleven, maar ook op haar carriere en wat ze echt wil.

Ik heb kunnen lachen tijdens het lezen. Als iemand die ook marketingprincipes leert, kon ik Ally's afgrijnzen wel begrijpen (hoe logisch het ook klonk). Ik vond de reactie van de man toen hij erachter kwam dat ze de boel een beetje manipuleerde om hem te ontmoeten nogal overdreven. Ik bedoel, hij zou zich gevleid moeten voelen dat ze een ontmoeting tussen hen regelde gezien ze vreemden waren.

Zoals ik al zei, een zeer vermakelijk verhaal en vier sterren. Het was niet perfect en dat is prima.

[Evanston Public Library]

If, like me, you enjoy smart and funny "chick lit" this book is for you. Recently divorced, single mom and marmalade marketer Ally James is like a grown up Bridget Jones. Tired of her lackluster life and upon the urging of a friend, Ally decides to give a "Proactive Partnership Program" dating seminar a try. True to her marketing roots she finds that with a little bit of repackaging and some new found confidence she is actually a pretty great catch. So much so that she suddenly has the eye of her brother's friend, her electrician, a new neighbor, and her ex-husband. Which, if any, of her many suitors will she end up with? This light romance novel will have you laughing and cheering for Ally while you find out.

RIka G.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you read a book at the right time that it just resonates with you. I think that was this book. It read as real. It was not a contrived love story. It was a realistic story of love lost and a divorced mothers's story. I enjoyed it and it has motivated me in a way to get out there and change the way I approach my life. I am really happy for Ally in the story and the way that changing one thing, helped her in so many ways. It showed me that a change in attitude can change anything. Maybe I go too much form this book lol.

[bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

a book about priorities, choices, and getting on with one's life.

If i had rated this the first time i read it years ago, it probably would have gotten 5 stars. I was pretty wounded then from a messy divorce and it helped me think some things through and get rid of ny own baggage. Not that i was tempted to follow some crazy plan to hunt for mr right, but i got over mr wrong.

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not normally the type of book that I would have expected too enjoy so much. I was intrigued by the title initially, and then captivated by the tale. Very light on long descriptive prose and heavy on dialogue which was authentic and funny. A good fun read.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

good chick lit. smart.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. British "hen" lit (as opposed to chick lit). Fun read.

[Cath Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun. Bear with the beginning, but it really gets better about half way through. The end made me squeal out loud! Excellent fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great - single mother story

[Lucy Price (Marshall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good chick-lit!

[Jodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

very easy read, kinda inevitable ending

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant to read but nothing spectacular. I was happy with the ending.