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| The Life and Soul of the Party | 
 enlarge | Author: Mike Gayle
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Category: Book
List Price: £11.99
Buy Used: £2.49
You Save: £9.50 (79%)
New (22) from £5.96
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 1980
Media: Paperback
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 034082543X
EAN: 9780340825433
ASIN: 034082543X
Publication Date: August 21, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Gayle's is fanstastic November 11, 2008
Gayle should seriously consider the idea of writing a screenplay. The Life and Soul of the Party perfectly fits the bill. The novel is compelling, emotional and really witty. A screenplay like this will make perfect TV material and attract large audience. We could really do with some quality dramas, that is a little absence on mainstream TV.
The novel is beautifully written with the prinicpal focus on three couples. The couples experience the lows and high times of the year. Parties, social gatherings, nightouts and arguments dominate their lives. A few of the couples's life are on the verge of changing forever. Although Gayle novels are purely male dominated, he has provided a typical women accounts on life, which is really impressive and accurately depicted. Gayle's latest novel shows the depth of knowledge he has in the field of relationships and the 30 age group. The novel has taken the issue of relationship to a new and interesting level.
Gayle's conversational writing adds real credibility as the reader is drawn closely to the story and shows emphaty to the characters. The fact that six characters are featured shows how versatile and originality in writing the author can prove to readers. Gayle latest novel "The Life and Soul of the Party" shows he is a fanstastic writer as the book is enjoyable to read. It provides a fine combination of drama and humour.
 Another good read October 11, 2008
I was excited to hear Mile Gayle had a new book out as I have read and enjoyed all his previous books, so I snapped this one up quick and I wasn't dissapointed. I really enjoyed The Life and Soul of the Party, I loved the way it was set over a series of parties, I've never read anything like that before, it was original. I laughed and cried in all the right places and usually with books focusing on more than one character I always have a favourite and don't enjoy reading about whats going on with the others cause I feel its wasting time, but with this I felt connected to every character. For me, the only thing it was lacking was development of Pauls character, I can't really understand what Mel saw in him and felt we should've got to know his character better, cause as it stands I was upset when he died but only for his friends, not really cause I liked his character. My favourite Mile Gayle novel is still His 'n' Hers but this is definately a good read!
 Not his best.... September 20, 2008
I own all of Mike Gayle's other titles so was quick to snap this one up. I have to say I found it quite disappointing. I liked the idea of the story being written in the first person and from various characters point of view but I didn't feel like I'd connected with any of the characters. I was a little annoyed that out of all the people mentioned in the book, only one character was black and she played a minor role in the story. As the author and I are both black, I'd expected a person of colour to have a much bigger part. Now that I think about it, only one of his 9 books has a black person as the main character (Dinner For Two). I also got the impression that all the people led really perfect lives which doesn't really mirror real life at all. All in all, the book is an easy read but I'll think twice before purchasing Mike Gayle's next novel.
Like An Old Friend September 20, 2008
To me, a Mike Gayle novel is like a good friend that you see from time to time. When you meet up you automatically pick up where you left off, and it's with some sadness when the evitable time approaches for you to say your goodbyes. This novel is no exception, although there are new additions to this novel not seen in his others. Death makes an appearance, which along with love, is an essential ingredient of life. Adultery, trust, settling down, and feeling restricted within a relationship are all explored among a group of six friends, within the settings of house parties, leaving do's, and house warmings. To me, Mr. Gayle's novels are why I love reading. Unlike some novels, which are hard to get into (but to be fair, some do get better, and reward a patience person) I immediately feel at home in his work, with this being no exception. That's not to say that I didn't find fault with one or two things here. Like a fellow reviewer has expressed, I couldn't understand what it was about Paul, which enamored Melissa so such. Maybe his character could have been better explored/explained.
In conclusion I'd say that this was an enjoyable read that will sit well with fans of this genre, and of Mr. Gayle
 Awful September 3, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Oh, dear. Mike Gayle's books used to be comfort reading on holidays but with The Life & Soul Of The Party, he has not done himself any favours. Where to start? The book starts off with the death of one of the characters, so this is not a spoiler but the problem is that during the book the character is not really developed. He appears to be the soulmate of his ex (who cannot let go) but during the book he behaves in a way that does not really explain as to why his ex finds it so hard to let go or why we should be sorry for his death (other than that it is obviously terrible if somebody in their thirties dies in a car accident). Whilst I did not expect any great depth, all the characters are somewhat shallow and most of them unfaithful without any reason or explanation. I am not saying that there needs to be a reason why somebody cheats on the somebody else but in order to like any character featured in a book, an explanation would help. For the time being Mike Gayle is off my holiday reading list.
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