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A Life Lived Ridiculously
When a girl with obsessive compulsive disorder falls in love with a sociopath, she must fight for her sanity and her life.
Maxine's brain is stuck. Everything around her feels wrong and the only way to fix it is to check, double-check, rearrange and count everything. What Maxine can't fix though is her parents' constant nagging over the absence of a husband. A humiliation that is further compounded when her younger brother runs off with Miss Perfect. Then she meets Sam, a smooth-talking charmer with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and enough terminal diseases to wipe out a small village. Maxine decides that Sam is her salvation, never mind that his life is more depressing than a Greek tragedy, and others are urging her to get away from him. The problem is that Sam has Maxine under his spell. Will Maxine escape from Sam before it is too late?
Maxine's brain is stuck. Everything around her feels wrong and the only way to fix it is to check, double-check, rearrange and count everything. What Maxine can't fix though is her parents' constant nagging over the absence of a husband. A humiliation that is further compounded when her younger brother runs off with Miss Perfect. Then she meets Sam, a smooth-talking charmer with the weight of the world on his shoulders, and enough terminal diseases to wipe out a small village. Maxine decides that Sam is her salvation, never mind that his life is more depressing than a Greek tragedy, and others are urging her to get away from him. The problem is that Sam has Maxine under his spell. Will Maxine escape from Sam before it is too late?
- GenresPsychology
246 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
7 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Annabelle R. Charbit
1 book14 followersDr. Annabelle R. Charbit grew up in London, UK, and has been writing since 2006, when her comedy play, Sound Advice, was performed by CP Theatre Productions in London, UK.
In 2007, she was published in The London Paper and in the British Neuroscience Association’s Summer Bulletin. In 2010 she wrote for TheFrisky.com, an online magazine who commissioned her after noticing her humorous blog, Crazy in a Crazy World.
Dr. Charbit holds a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London and has been researching migraine headache at UCSF in San Francisco, about which she has published in scientific journals.
Her inspiration behind A Life Lived Ridiculously stemmed from her research work as a neuroscientist, and she wished to write a story from the point of view of people who suffer from distorted thinking.
A Life Lived Ridiculously is Dr. Charbit's first novel.
In 2007, she was published in The London Paper and in the British Neuroscience Association’s Summer Bulletin. In 2010 she wrote for TheFrisky.com, an online magazine who commissioned her after noticing her humorous blog, Crazy in a Crazy World.
Dr. Charbit holds a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London and has been researching migraine headache at UCSF in San Francisco, about which she has published in scientific journals.
Her inspiration behind A Life Lived Ridiculously stemmed from her research work as a neuroscientist, and she wished to write a story from the point of view of people who suffer from distorted thinking.
A Life Lived Ridiculously is Dr. Charbit's first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 7, 2014
I've just finished reading “A Life Lived Ridiculously” by author Annabelle R. Charbit. It was a good book; well-written and the story / characters drew me in from the get go.
The premise of “A Life Lived Ridiculously” is this: Maxine (this story’s main character) is a Jewish girl with a serious case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Of course she doesn’t realize this; she’s done all the research on this particular ailment and none of its symptoms correctly fit what she experiences on a painful minute by minute basis. Her parents are constantly on her case to find a man; get married and settle down, after all, what woman really needs to hold a PhD in anything? Her younger brother Claude, who has always been her best friend and confidante, has apparently met “Miss Perfect” and has turned his back on his earlier days of debauchery which unfortunately also includes Maxine.
One night at a family dinner party Maxine meets Sam... Sam is a boney stick of a man who comports himself like someone who is fifty not thirty and Maxine is instantly repelled by him. However, time moves on and Sam, desperate to win Maxine’s affections, is ever present in her life until one day she does the unthinkable and actually falls in love with him. It’s at this exact moment that Sam vanishes off the face of the earth. Maxine is frantic; she worries that Sam is dead and she finds herself obsessing about him and becoming more depressed by the day.
I’m not going to give away anymore of the story but suffice it to say that “A Life Lived Ridiculously” was a page turner in a dramatic and very true to life way. I guess my only beef with this book was its title: “A Life Lived Ridiculously.” Throughout its entirety I never felt that any of this fictional tale was ridiculous in fact, more often than not, I found it to be extremely sobering. I know there are people and situations that mirror this story in real life. Regardless, “A Life Lived Ridiculously” was a great read and definitely worth four stars. Probably a “must read” for most single women too...
(Reviewed in association with Rebecca's Reads).
The premise of “A Life Lived Ridiculously” is this: Maxine (this story’s main character) is a Jewish girl with a serious case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Of course she doesn’t realize this; she’s done all the research on this particular ailment and none of its symptoms correctly fit what she experiences on a painful minute by minute basis. Her parents are constantly on her case to find a man; get married and settle down, after all, what woman really needs to hold a PhD in anything? Her younger brother Claude, who has always been her best friend and confidante, has apparently met “Miss Perfect” and has turned his back on his earlier days of debauchery which unfortunately also includes Maxine.
One night at a family dinner party Maxine meets Sam... Sam is a boney stick of a man who comports himself like someone who is fifty not thirty and Maxine is instantly repelled by him. However, time moves on and Sam, desperate to win Maxine’s affections, is ever present in her life until one day she does the unthinkable and actually falls in love with him. It’s at this exact moment that Sam vanishes off the face of the earth. Maxine is frantic; she worries that Sam is dead and she finds herself obsessing about him and becoming more depressed by the day.
I’m not going to give away anymore of the story but suffice it to say that “A Life Lived Ridiculously” was a page turner in a dramatic and very true to life way. I guess my only beef with this book was its title: “A Life Lived Ridiculously.” Throughout its entirety I never felt that any of this fictional tale was ridiculous in fact, more often than not, I found it to be extremely sobering. I know there are people and situations that mirror this story in real life. Regardless, “A Life Lived Ridiculously” was a great read and definitely worth four stars. Probably a “must read” for most single women too...
(Reviewed in association with Rebecca's Reads).
May 8, 2012
At first it bothered me that there is not more scientific information regarding the characteristics of a sociapath and OCD. But then as the story progressed I really got so stuck into the drama that unfolded that it did not matter.
It was very well written and I liked the British humor that came through in the book. I got so frustrated with the gulable Maxi for not realising what this man is doing:) I completly got absorbed into the story.
I can totally (and hopefully) see a number of books dealing with disorders like this in the future from this author.
December 23, 2011
A Life Lived Ridiculously was a delightful read from start to finish. The main character was so vulnerable and raw, I was just praying for her the whole way through.
I also found this to be an easy and quick read (probably because I couldnt put it down), and recommend it highly.
I also found this to be an easy and quick read (probably because I couldnt put it down), and recommend it highly.
December 23, 2011
Absolutely LOVED this. Very clever writing, and you can feel the British humor. In fact I think I had a British accent in my head the whole time I was reading this. A real gem. I pre-ordered my copy from the website and read it in one day!
January 13, 2012
Fantastic book! I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read the first chapter of "A Life Lived Ridiculously." Dr. Charbit weaves a hilariously sinister roller coaster ride that keeps you perched on the edge of your seat...with a few unexpected twists and turns.
Dr. Charbit takes two serious topics (OCD and sociopaths) and weaves a suspenseful sinister plot but adds a good dose of humor that kept me both entertained and intrigued. Maxine represents the every day woman struggling with OCD, her dysfunctional family and her melodramatic love life with Sam, the sociopath. Sam is "that" guy who represents the crazy ex from your past, or the "oozing from his pores" charmer you met at the bar that you wanted to run far away from!!
Every woman who dates needs to read this book. Dr. Charbit sends a strong and powerful message to young women through the eyes of Maxine. She reminds women that you can never be too careful...and sometimes your parents and friends DO know what's best for you. Add it to your reading list and pick up a copy for your BFF! A must-read!
Dr. Charbit takes two serious topics (OCD and sociopaths) and weaves a suspenseful sinister plot but adds a good dose of humor that kept me both entertained and intrigued. Maxine represents the every day woman struggling with OCD, her dysfunctional family and her melodramatic love life with Sam, the sociopath. Sam is "that" guy who represents the crazy ex from your past, or the "oozing from his pores" charmer you met at the bar that you wanted to run far away from!!
Every woman who dates needs to read this book. Dr. Charbit sends a strong and powerful message to young women through the eyes of Maxine. She reminds women that you can never be too careful...and sometimes your parents and friends DO know what's best for you. Add it to your reading list and pick up a copy for your BFF! A must-read!
August 28, 2012
Maxine is your average psychotic basket case, obsessing over the light fixtures in her room, until Sam enters her life and turns it upside down. A Life Lived Ridiculously is a fun read as we follow Maxine’s madcap thoughts and misadventures. It reminded me of Bridget Jones’ Diary, but with darker humor. Annabelle Charbit could however use a better cover artist. I guess this is one of those examples of ‘don’t judge a book by the cover’. And I do recommend this one! (The book, not the cover…)
December 12, 2011
This book was a great find! Once you pick it up, you can't put it down. It tells a compelling story of a women in the throes of OCD. Annabelle Charbit's writing is packed with great characters and even greater prose. You won't stop laughing! Grab this book ASAP!
December 24, 2011
This book absolutely rocks. Amazing writing. Laughed, cried, loved the main character Maxine. Just wanted to take her home and give her a big hug.
December 30, 2011
Loved the book. Keeps you wanting to read more. Interesting and unexpected ending. A must read.
February 21, 2015
Not long after reading "Sherry Cracker Gets Normal" by D. J. Connell, an entertaining story of a woman with a slightly skewed world view, I came across ''A Life Lived Ridiculously'', which promised to travel a similar path. What made me anticipate this book is that the author, Dr. Annabelle R. Charbit, is a doctor of Neuroscience and so should have a decent understanding of things affecting the human mind. As a psychology graduate myself, this is something that has always fascinated me.
Maxine is from a Jewish family who think that as her 20s are nearing their end, she should be married. Maxine, for her part, hasn't found anyone to interest her and is more concerned with combining her job and her studies and getting away from the yoke of her parents. She is also worried about her possessions and worries that she has too many and that they make her flat look untidy. She just can't get her flat organised the way she likes it, either, with the light not being quite right and never quite being able to decide which room her television should be in.
Much changes when she meets Sam. They have much in common, as he's also Jewish and running multiple jobs so he can pay for his studies. He has several things working against him, however, as he's only on a student visa which limits his earning capacity and he suffers various physical ailments, including cancer. He also has a tragic past, with his parents meeting nasty accidents and a former girlfriend committing suicide. Despite warnings from various people, Maxine is determined to try and make a go of things with Sam.
I very much enjoyed "A Life Lived Ridiculously", for the most part. Despite, or maybe because of, her idiosyncrasies, Maxine is a thoroughly likeable character. Her slightly over-bearing parents, especially their willingness to see her married off, remind me slightly of my own. This gives the book a slight edge of realism that isn't apparent in many chick-lit style novels, helped by Maxine not having time to spend hours meeting friends over long lunches when she should be working.
What endeared me to Maxine, and the book as a whole, was that we see so much of her life. There are none of the huge jumps over the boring parts that often happen in the genre. We see Maxine at work and her studies and when she's rearranging her flat. She fails to see Sam's attraction to her at first and vacillates over whether to give him money he seems to need. Her suspicions that all isn't well creep up on her slowly and she has moments of doubt when mutual friends don't immediately agree with her point of view. Such natural events and feelings, but so often missing from chick-lit novels and they help to balance out the stranger events like misplacing her car and spending hours messing with lamps when she should be sleeping.
As enjoyable a read as ''A Life Lived Ridiculously'' was, a couple of aspects took the enjoyment away. Firstly, the ending wasn't in keeping with the rest of the novel, as if the author was trying to balance things out for Maxine a little. More of an issue for me, however, was the editing, which let a number of mis-spellings get through, such as "dozed" being constantly spelt as "dosed" among others. Maybe I'm more of a stickler for spelling than some, but each time I saw one of these errors, it interrupted the flow of my reading. At a couple of points, Maxine wondered how anyone could possibly collapse, but some of the spelling left me wondering how anyone "dosed off".
It's a shame about these flaws, as otherwise ''A Life Lived Ridiculously'' had the potential to be an excellent book. It may fit nicely into a chick-lit genre I'm not really the ideal audience for, but I still enjoyed it. The edge of realism of Maxine's life, so beautifully counter balanced by the strange behaviours of her O. C. D. made for an interesting and enticing combination and if the editing at least can be improved in later editions, this is certainly going to be a book worth having a look at.
This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk
Maxine is from a Jewish family who think that as her 20s are nearing their end, she should be married. Maxine, for her part, hasn't found anyone to interest her and is more concerned with combining her job and her studies and getting away from the yoke of her parents. She is also worried about her possessions and worries that she has too many and that they make her flat look untidy. She just can't get her flat organised the way she likes it, either, with the light not being quite right and never quite being able to decide which room her television should be in.
Much changes when she meets Sam. They have much in common, as he's also Jewish and running multiple jobs so he can pay for his studies. He has several things working against him, however, as he's only on a student visa which limits his earning capacity and he suffers various physical ailments, including cancer. He also has a tragic past, with his parents meeting nasty accidents and a former girlfriend committing suicide. Despite warnings from various people, Maxine is determined to try and make a go of things with Sam.
I very much enjoyed "A Life Lived Ridiculously", for the most part. Despite, or maybe because of, her idiosyncrasies, Maxine is a thoroughly likeable character. Her slightly over-bearing parents, especially their willingness to see her married off, remind me slightly of my own. This gives the book a slight edge of realism that isn't apparent in many chick-lit style novels, helped by Maxine not having time to spend hours meeting friends over long lunches when she should be working.
What endeared me to Maxine, and the book as a whole, was that we see so much of her life. There are none of the huge jumps over the boring parts that often happen in the genre. We see Maxine at work and her studies and when she's rearranging her flat. She fails to see Sam's attraction to her at first and vacillates over whether to give him money he seems to need. Her suspicions that all isn't well creep up on her slowly and she has moments of doubt when mutual friends don't immediately agree with her point of view. Such natural events and feelings, but so often missing from chick-lit novels and they help to balance out the stranger events like misplacing her car and spending hours messing with lamps when she should be sleeping.
As enjoyable a read as ''A Life Lived Ridiculously'' was, a couple of aspects took the enjoyment away. Firstly, the ending wasn't in keeping with the rest of the novel, as if the author was trying to balance things out for Maxine a little. More of an issue for me, however, was the editing, which let a number of mis-spellings get through, such as "dozed" being constantly spelt as "dosed" among others. Maybe I'm more of a stickler for spelling than some, but each time I saw one of these errors, it interrupted the flow of my reading. At a couple of points, Maxine wondered how anyone could possibly collapse, but some of the spelling left me wondering how anyone "dosed off".
It's a shame about these flaws, as otherwise ''A Life Lived Ridiculously'' had the potential to be an excellent book. It may fit nicely into a chick-lit genre I'm not really the ideal audience for, but I still enjoyed it. The edge of realism of Maxine's life, so beautifully counter balanced by the strange behaviours of her O. C. D. made for an interesting and enticing combination and if the editing at least can be improved in later editions, this is certainly going to be a book worth having a look at.
This review may also appear, in whole or in part, under my name at any or all of www.ciao.co.uk, www.thebookbag.co.uk, www.goodreads.com, www.amazon.co.uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk
November 8, 2012
I actually give it 2.5 stars. It started slow, then one of the main characters became annoying. However, it did grip me enough to make me want to finish it.
April 7, 2017
this was a thrilling book and I highly enjoyed when Sam or Shane got his comeuppance
Want to read
September 8, 2017I won this book from Jean BookNerd blog as a giveaway!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews