Neurotica

by Sue Margolis

Tabloid journalist Anna Shapiro has a problem. As she explains to her editor, "I've been married to Dan for twelve years. He's been like this for yonks. Every week it's something different. First it was weakness in his legs and he diagnoses multiple sclerosis, then he feels dizzy and it's a brain tumor. Last week he decided he had some disease which, it turns out, you only get from fondling sheep. Alison, I can't tell you the extent to which no Jewish man fondles sheep." Still, Dan's hypochondria might not be such an insurmountable obstacle if it weren't for the fact that he's afraid to have sex "in case the strain of it gives him a heart attack." Naturally, this state of enforced celibacy makes Anna the perfect person to take on a feature story about women and infidelity, to "go out and interview three slappers who make a habit of being unfaithful just for the sex." It isn't long, of course, before Anna decides that she would make a perfect subject for the story herself. Neurotica, by British writer Sue Margolis, is one of many novels being compared to Bridget Jones's Diary. But whereas Bridget is frequently naughty, Anna tends toward the downright raunchy ("All through the lunch she had been aware that she was having a bad pubic hair day. The sideburns on her inner thighs were reaching a density that would have done a woolly mammoth proud"). Graphic sex scenes abound, usually followed by a punch line; eventually, however, Anna reaches a crisis point in which she must choose between her marriage or a new shot at love. Readers won't be unduly surprised by the choice she makes, for, despite all the bawdy talk, Neurotica is, at heart, a pretty conventional tale wrapped up in a risqué package. Though Margolis doesn't impart anything new on the subjects of love, sex, or marriage--or plastic surgery--her novel offers an amusing way to spend a few hours. --Margaret Prior

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Humor, Comedy, British Literature

Hardcover

First published March 12, 1998

About the author

Sue Margolis is the author of nine books, which have more than half a million copies in print from Bantam Dell. She lives in England, where she's at work on her next novel.

Sue worked as a reporter for the BBC, before leaving broadcasting to write her first novel. She lives in London with her journalist husband Jonathan. They have three grown up children. Sue’s hobbies include napping, constantly interfering in her children’s lives, not going out, eating - especially the remains of the previous night’s take-out curry straight from the fridge, and watching made for TV true-life movies in her PJs.

She died of lung cancer, aged 62.

Reviews

[Ahnna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm going to keep this short: This was an entertaining read but left me wondering if nowadays we are trying to make adultery a light subject? This book would have scored higher but the ending really threw me. I feel like all of the sudden the author changed her mind and felt bad and flipped things therefore making the story not finish solidly. I would write further and more eloquently but I honestly don't feel the energy with this book.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is about a married mother of two who, in the name of journalism (and getting some much-needed loving), has several steamy affairs in the course of a couple of months. It’s hilarious and even trashy at points (that’s a compliment). But it goes beyond the funny and fantastical to get to the bottom of the things that really matter in love and in life.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Very tawdry British smut, beach reading. Shallow characters, kind of funny in parts, but predictable and formulaic. I was expecting more from the blurbs I'd read. Not the worst thing ever, but definitely not very good.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

No review necessary. This is a fun book, not a whole lot of substance, just (un)adulterated amusement.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I debated giving this three stars. I honestly went back and forth while reading this between really liking it and kind of hating it. It might have earned three stars if not for the completely ridiculous notion of the main character falling in "love" with a man she barely knows and spends one night spilling her guts to and then having sex with. To the point that when she returns home and realizes that her husband has found out about her affairs, even though she still loves her husband, her response is basically "Oh, well, if that's what you want..." because she wants to find out if she has a future with this other man. Then she almost immediately realizes that she still loves her husband, but instead of fighting to get him back, she decides to blame the wacky feminist author who wrote the book that got her into all this trouble in the first place. Seriously, she spends almost the entire rest of the book on this mission with her article and going after this woman, rather than going to her husband and apologizing for being such an idiot. What reasonably intelligent woman doesn't know that she's playing with fire attempting to have multiple flings with other men?

So, basically, I guess I'm just saying that I totally hated the ending. If it had wrapped up a little better, it would have been a solid three stars for me. Parts of it were really funny, and I did feel for Anna in her predicament, even if I didn't agree with her chosen course of action. I would have also liked if her husband, Dan, had received more attention. Multiple perspectives are given, but the others are limited, and I felt perhaps the book was a bit slight in this regard. A quick and entertaining read for the most part, that ultimately left something to be desired.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

British Chick Lit-definitely for mature audiences as Sue Margolis can become graphic with her sex scenes. Incredibly funny and hard to put down, her books become addictive.

At 37, tabloid journalist Anna Shapiro proves to be a real do-it-yourself expert. While researching an article on adultery, she embarks on three spine-tingling extramarital trysts. Annas husband, Dan, is a compulsive hypochondriac, spending his time agonizing over a plethora of self-diagnosed diseases, planning his funeral and dodging his dead mothers nagging, reproachful voice. All this, and the demands of their two young children, has drastically reduced the Shapiros sex life; Anna remembers the last time she and her husband had anything resembling mind-blowingly filthy sex was three years ago. While Anna is shagging to her hearts content, she is unaware that her husband, still faithfully in love with her, is seeking to cure himself of his neuroses, secretly, through therapy and a wacky New Age psychic. And she is surprised when her most recent fun-loving Romeo snags her heart, forcing her to face the possible disintegration of her family. In the midst of humorous high drama, Anna maintains her mission to publicly reveal a shocking secret of one of Americas most hypocritical and arrogant feminist figures. This subplot blooms alongside racy sex scenes, near-death catastrophes, a Jewish funeral, and the cost of male strippers, shallow editors and loyal friends. Anna emerges with a new understanding of herself, her family and her happiness.

[Chrissy Moon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this because I wanted to read something funny and also get a good idea about what ‘chick lit’ is. I read the book description on the back, and it sure seemed funny as hell. A husband who was a hypochrondriac and had no interest in sex, and a wife who was a journalist and had to interview women who had an affair purely for the sex. Sounds promising, right?

Nope.

The book desciption claims that this story will have you ‘howling with laughter’ (I never even cracked a smile while reading this). Well, I don’t know which dogs they read it to, but I certainly wasn’t laughing when Anna’s husband was holding his privates, writhing in pain on the bathroom floor, calling his wife a dumb bitch. I also didn’t like the mention of the new moms club that thought it was terrible to breastfeed your baby and only wanted to feed their newborns dehydrated vegetables.

In what universe is this crap considered funny? Humor can exist with people having at least minimal respect for each other.

All ‘humor’ aside, at first I appreciated how the author had very short scenes. It was a great idea for a reader like me who had a short attention span. But that combined with her detachment to her characters prevented me from forming any type of understanding or bond with them. And really, what is a novel without an emotional foundation to cling to?

Sex can be great to write about. Irreverence can be fun to read, if done correctly.

This book wasn’t.

I congratulated myself for getting to Chapter 2, but that’s as far as I’ll get with this one.

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on the fence with this one...
There are quite a few hilarious laugh-out-loud moments, surprisingly steamy explicit sex scenes and great character portraits, especially of Anna Shapiro's immediate family but Anna herself seemed self-centered and abrasive. I really felt for her hypochondriac husband Dan and her two children she continually sloughs off on her best friend and soon-to-be single mother Brenda.
Dissatisfied with her marriage to her self-obsessed husband, Anna as a free-lance journalist assigns herself an exposé on adultery, using herself as the model for three trysts with various men, assuming no repercussions would follow, all stemming from a tome written by a feminazi American woman.
I'll leave it at that.
It was a fun read but I just couldn't get into Anna as a person. I guess when you're surrounded by crazies it's only natural to always be on the the defense. ??

[Natacake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first audio book I'd listened to. I think I enjoyed this book more listening to it than I would of it I had read it. Yes, there's some almost pornographic segments but the story around it was a good one. I would recommend...if you're not prude that is.

[Vivian Herrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading I never thought I would end up giving four stars to this book! But putting morals aside, which can be hard to do, I get it, this book is very funny! I'm smiling as I am writing this review…

[Brenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good start of a story line but the ending was too fast, and messy.

[Blue Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trashy, utterly predictable. The MC cheats on her husband with 3 men. Her husband leaves her.

Will her husband find a better woman than his cheating wife? Will her husband come crawling back to his wife? Will the author have the creativity to break the stupid script for these wife-go-a-cheating stories?

No the husband never leaves his cheating wife. Yes the doormat husband always comes crawling back to his cheating wife. No follows the script for this genre to the letter - wife cheats, husband never says I can find a better woman, just is a complete doormat.

Yawn.

[Jacqueline Denis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect novel to take on a holiday. It is sexy, funny, and very British. To quote Publishers Weekly, taking up where Bridget Jones’s Diary took off, this saucy, sexy British adventure redefines the lusty woman’s search for erotic satisfaction! It answers questions like is it beyond the pale to pick up a man at a funeral? And, what is the perfect outfit for committing adultry in?
I enjoyed this 1998 book and it was a quick read.

[Aiduss LR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muuuy divertido y superficial.

[Fabíola Salomão Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engraçado.

[Christina M Rau · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read British chick-lit. I don't know if I've changed or if it's changed. Maybe neither, and this was a different kind of chick-lit, borderline women's erotica. I don't remember Bridget Jones's Diary talking about running a finger over a tingling anus. That's the type of scene I found in Sue Margolis's Neurotica.

I also found scenes of slapstick comedy like two women having a fight by smushing pie onto each other. Or a service for married woman to find the perfect datable man. Or a hypochondriac husband who sits on the floor in front of a mirror to inspect his ball sack in the wee morning hours. Funny stuff.

While I didn't catch onto the pop culture and sundry references to all things British, I did catch onto the story of a writer doing research by having affairs while her husband tries out some therapy that leads him to mother issues. It is a nice escape from heavy literature or, say, student papers (oh, the student papers, pages and pages of unrevised final drafts).

[Patricia Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I now remember why I dropped this book originally. While I loved Perfect Blend (also by Margolis) I found this book slow to start and the characters slightly painful to read. I get the whole "I love my spouse" and I can totally understand how Anna would go bonkers with a husband like Dan who is the epitome of a hypochondriac. but accepting the challenge to be a "Clitoris Centered Woman" made me lose all sorts of respect for Anna. Love best friend Brenda and there were some lovely written scenes, but overall I wouldn't reread the book.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written in British English. I keep re-reading parts for understanding, but once into it, it's an interesting twist on having an affair. I mean her poor husband is a hypochondriac to the max. I just didn't like it. I'm glad I stayed with it and read it until the end, but this is not a re-read or recommend from me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't honestly remember anything about reading this book other than the premise, that I got it for free in London, and that I read it soon after I got home and was missing all things British. However, I think I would remember if I hated it or thought it was terrible, plus it's still on my bookshelf, so I must have liked it enough.

[~Gen hearts books.~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of this book a while ago. I must say that I liked it from the start. I thought that it was a good light and fun read. It was also hilarious! It did have some raunchy humor, but I enjoyed the read. It didn't hurt that it was British chick lit. I love reading British novels. They are so funny to me. This one was one of the funniest ones that I have ever read.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a woman who is fed up with her sexless marriage
Set in London
She’s a reporter for a tabloid magazine and had has to write about adultery
Realizes instead of interviewing women, she will be the one fooling around
Brings her and her husband back together
Not all marriages are perfect and they all go through ups and downs

[Racheal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty fun, and more daring in terms of content than other chick lit books I have read. The author had a great vocabulary. The plot was a little too implausible and cliche in some parts, but all in all it was an enjoyable read.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was difficult at first to get into and I found myself irritated between the relationship of the wife and her husband...literally wanted to slap her across the face, but overall it was a quick and easy read.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise, lots of humor, fantastic (if anatomically suspect) dirty bits, but a rushed and improbable ending takes away a star.

Hey, look at that - I read this already without remembering - back in July 2004.

[gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because it was right next to _The Dark Mirror_ at my library.) A tabloid reporter decides to do her own research for an article about adultery. It made me laugh out loud in spots, but was a bit too, erm, clinically graphic for my tastes.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Margolis writes truly naughty, british chick-lit. I really enjoyed this one (it is the first one I read). It was funny and had great descrptive writing allowing the reader to get fun visuals...

Warning - not for the prudish at heart - like I said, she's naughty...

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was bored by this book by the half-way point. The author's language skills are poor- and not in the normal "British chick lit" kind of way. I wouldn't recommend this book to any of my serious reader friends. In fact, I'm not sure how I came to be in possession of such drivel.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #61 read in 2007

I have to admit that after I read the beginning of this book, I wasn't too sure it was my kind of reading. I stuck with it, however, and I ended up thinking it was great.

Sent to a bookcrosser

[#artdamnit Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neurotic was a fast, fun and wacky read about a british journalist who decides to have some affairs because her hypochondriac husband can’t handle sex any more. It was funny, touchy and just down right wacky but i love british humor and enjoyed it.

[Emie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get through this book. Usually I like reading this author, but this book just drove me crazy.