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Фън шуй откачалки
Един ден Джули неблагоразумно се прибира по-рано вкъщи и заварва лимоненожълт сутиен на дръжката на вратата.
Положението е ясно – мъжът й Ронан й изневерява. Но вместо да се втурне към прелюбодейците, Джули замисля пъклен план за отмъщение. Първо: да унищожи поршето на Ронан. Второ: да накара майка си да се нанесе при тях. Трето и най-важно: да открие проклетата любовница Никол и да я съсипе. Никол обаче се оказва мила блондинка, почитателка на фън шуй. Дали планът на Джули ще успее?
Положението е ясно – мъжът й Ронан й изневерява. Но вместо да се втурне към прелюбодейците, Джули замисля пъклен план за отмъщение. Първо: да унищожи поршето на Ронан. Второ: да накара майка си да се нанесе при тях. Трето и най-важно: да открие проклетата любовница Никол и да я съсипе. Никол обаче се оказва мила блондинка, почитателка на фън шуй. Дали планът на Джули ще успее?
318 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Brian Gallagher
2 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Brian Gallagher was born in Stockholm, Sweden and lived all over Europe as a child, learning several languages. He studied Law and Philosophy at University College, Dublin, earning money by busking with a clarinet all over Europe. Trained as a barrister in The Four Courts, Dublin, Brian Gallagher is now a full-time writer, with ongoing involvement in film and music. He lives in Dublin.
Brian Gallagher was born in Stockholm, Sweden and lived all over Europe as a child, learning several languages. He studied Law and Philosophy at University College, Dublin, earning money by busking with a clarinet all over Europe. Trained as a barrister in The Four Courts, Dublin, Brian Gallagher is now a full-time writer, with ongoing involvement in film and music. He lives in Dublin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 27, 2022
melodramatic visceral revenge porn
“Revenge is a dish best served cold, so vulgar folks say”phrase apparently dating from the 19th century French book by Eugene Sue. Now, a book about revenge on a cheating husband has enormous comedic potential and in an Irishman’s hands, this could be pure gold. Sad to say, with 2 very funny exceptions, this proves an opportunity wasted.
Instead, there is a catalogue of furious invective interspersed with aggressive outbursts to all manner of objects, creatures and the occasional human. As I abhorred Roddy Doyle’s The Woman Who Walked Into Doors for the latter reason, I am nothing if not consistent! Grief is multi-layered and nuanced in my lifetime experience and this book really doesn’t reflect the reality of this. Nor the extensive experience of flying with small children and babies, don’t get me started….
The prose is invariably overwrought and the great mantra ascribed from Jane Austen onwards, “show,don’t tell” frequently transgressed to the irritation of this reader who was really only interested in the “craic”.
Having said that, I don’t think the intention of the author was to provide for anything other than entertainment and as pulp fiction for the journeying and holidaymaker fraternities, these novels have their niche. I’m not sure how this novel appeared on my shelves but it’s now made way for some more appealing fare and into the outbound box! Mission accomplished!
2.75 twinkling ✨ (extra 0.5 for debut) rounded up
“Revenge is a dish best served cold, so vulgar folks say”phrase apparently dating from the 19th century French book by Eugene Sue. Now, a book about revenge on a cheating husband has enormous comedic potential and in an Irishman’s hands, this could be pure gold. Sad to say, with 2 very funny exceptions, this proves an opportunity wasted.
Instead, there is a catalogue of furious invective interspersed with aggressive outbursts to all manner of objects, creatures and the occasional human. As I abhorred Roddy Doyle’s The Woman Who Walked Into Doors for the latter reason, I am nothing if not consistent! Grief is multi-layered and nuanced in my lifetime experience and this book really doesn’t reflect the reality of this. Nor the extensive experience of flying with small children and babies, don’t get me started….
The prose is invariably overwrought and the great mantra ascribed from Jane Austen onwards, “show,don’t tell” frequently transgressed to the irritation of this reader who was really only interested in the “craic”.
Having said that, I don’t think the intention of the author was to provide for anything other than entertainment and as pulp fiction for the journeying and holidaymaker fraternities, these novels have their niche. I’m not sure how this novel appeared on my shelves but it’s now made way for some more appealing fare and into the outbound box! Mission accomplished!
2.75 twinkling ✨ (extra 0.5 for debut) rounded up
April 12, 2014
Every character was completely unlikeable, their relationships with each other were all caustic and it was hard to believe real people would behave like these ridiculous characters. One of those books that leaves you wondering '... who on earth decided that this was worth publishing!?' An absolutely rubbish book.
April 2, 2015
I thought I was going to read a light hearted chick lit. However the casual treatment of the domestic violence appalled me. More care is lavished on the damage to the car than to the woman who is
Holding a bloodstained handkerchief to her nose. Her left eye is swollen and closed ... Her lip is cut and enlarged, and blood is streaming over her jaw and dripping onto the pavement... Her other arm is folded around her stomach as if she is in pain.
Her partner has tried to drown her.
But we ignore all of that and encourage her to go back because she doesn't have anywhere else to go.
I am putting this book in the recycling, I don't want anyone else to read it
Holding a bloodstained handkerchief to her nose. Her left eye is swollen and closed ... Her lip is cut and enlarged, and blood is streaming over her jaw and dripping onto the pavement... Her other arm is folded around her stomach as if she is in pain.
Her partner has tried to drown her.
But we ignore all of that and encourage her to go back because she doesn't have anywhere else to go.
I am putting this book in the recycling, I don't want anyone else to read it
March 15, 2013
Чета подобни книги, когато се запъна с някоя по-сериозна. Използвам ги за разнообразие и връщане към едно по-нормално темпо за четене.
Иначе книгата е по-различна като сюжет от стандартните чиклити, но отново предвидима и абсурдна. Дъвка.
Иначе книгата е по-различна като сюжет от стандартните чиклити, но отново предвидима и абсурдна. Дъвка.
March 29, 2013
I picked this up because 1. it had a bright yellow cover, as opposed to the easter-basket chick-lit covers that indicate soppy stories and insipid heroines, and 2. it promised that there would be revenge gallore, something that I've noted many times is missing from a lot of chick-lit. I didn't want someone to cry into their wine and let their husband get away with being a total arse. I wanted shouting, scathing comments and wit.
Positives first, this book had revenge, there was smashing, crashing sabotage, a truly gross misuse of fish, and at the very end, the heroine does (SPOILER) tell her hubby to take a hike.
The book is also sometimes quite funny, and made me at least crack a smile a number of times. It wasn't anything like chick-lit as I've read it before, and it was a refreshing change.
Unfortunately the tone of the book is very uneven, the reader is expected to respect the protagonist, because she's intelligent, has an important job, and has had horrible marriage-related experiences growing up. All those things make her a sympathetic character, but, while I can see a wife smashing up her husband's car, and can agree that he deserved it, I was left conflicted by her smashing aquariums left right and centre, and by her by turns psychotic and mopey personality.
I was also left flabbergasted by her insistance that she loved her husband, who is painted as a two-dimensional dick-hole from page one. He wears polonecks with blazers, drives a porshe, is a dentist with pretentions to art fame, and does his wife down at every turn. How would anyone want to marry him in the first place? let alone wanting to stay with him after witnessing his infidelity, and hearing him lie to her face, and try to convince her that she's the crazy one?
Also, there was a throwaway allusion to glue/other substance sniffing, when the main character huffs a load of chemicals (something she has apparently done before?) then she passes out and wakes up after her mother has put her to bed - THIS IS NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN. I have no idea why it was included.
Also, a lot of the 'witty' dialogue, seems to be just word association. It makes no sense, but the characters spout it like it's been gifted to them by the spirit of Oscar Wilde.
I found the fact that Julie befriends her husband's mistress at the end to be very inrealistic. And the fact that the author seems to be insinuating that Julie is 'baby crazy' to be quite insulting.
You can tell the book was written by a man, which is fine, but a lot of the character traits of the two female leads were heavily stereotyped. While Julie, her friend and her mother are painted as cackling bitches stiring a cauldron of fish-bits - Nicole, the mistress, is a golden haired waif who loves art, animals, babies and feng shui - and only Julie seems to hate her.
So, basically the whole thing came off a little directionless, because though the 'bad guy' of the situation was obviosuly the husband - it felt like the writer wanted us to dislike 'baby crazy, bitch-wife' Julie, and her friends, and instead feel sympathy for poor 'too stupid to know anything, beaten wife' Nicole, which left a bad aftertaste in my brain.
Positives first, this book had revenge, there was smashing, crashing sabotage, a truly gross misuse of fish, and at the very end, the heroine does (SPOILER) tell her hubby to take a hike.
The book is also sometimes quite funny, and made me at least crack a smile a number of times. It wasn't anything like chick-lit as I've read it before, and it was a refreshing change.
Unfortunately the tone of the book is very uneven, the reader is expected to respect the protagonist, because she's intelligent, has an important job, and has had horrible marriage-related experiences growing up. All those things make her a sympathetic character, but, while I can see a wife smashing up her husband's car, and can agree that he deserved it, I was left conflicted by her smashing aquariums left right and centre, and by her by turns psychotic and mopey personality.
I was also left flabbergasted by her insistance that she loved her husband, who is painted as a two-dimensional dick-hole from page one. He wears polonecks with blazers, drives a porshe, is a dentist with pretentions to art fame, and does his wife down at every turn. How would anyone want to marry him in the first place? let alone wanting to stay with him after witnessing his infidelity, and hearing him lie to her face, and try to convince her that she's the crazy one?
Also, there was a throwaway allusion to glue/other substance sniffing, when the main character huffs a load of chemicals (something she has apparently done before?) then she passes out and wakes up after her mother has put her to bed - THIS IS NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN. I have no idea why it was included.
Also, a lot of the 'witty' dialogue, seems to be just word association. It makes no sense, but the characters spout it like it's been gifted to them by the spirit of Oscar Wilde.
I found the fact that Julie befriends her husband's mistress at the end to be very inrealistic. And the fact that the author seems to be insinuating that Julie is 'baby crazy' to be quite insulting.
You can tell the book was written by a man, which is fine, but a lot of the character traits of the two female leads were heavily stereotyped. While Julie, her friend and her mother are painted as cackling bitches stiring a cauldron of fish-bits - Nicole, the mistress, is a golden haired waif who loves art, animals, babies and feng shui - and only Julie seems to hate her.
So, basically the whole thing came off a little directionless, because though the 'bad guy' of the situation was obviosuly the husband - it felt like the writer wanted us to dislike 'baby crazy, bitch-wife' Julie, and her friends, and instead feel sympathy for poor 'too stupid to know anything, beaten wife' Nicole, which left a bad aftertaste in my brain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2013
Got halfway through, reasonably interested in the screamingly awful people. Then the central character killed a cat. Stopped reading.
March 19, 2023
Il faut prendre ce roman au second degré, et même, au troisième - si cela existe!
Je ne m’attendais pas à faire la rencontre d’une héroïne aussi vindicative, aussi cruelle.
Les tentatives d’humour faites par l’auteur n’ont pas eu de succès sur moi.
Bref, je n’ai pas éprouvé vraiment de plaisir à lire ce roman et je ne le recommande pas - même pas en tant que lecture légère durant les vacances.
Je ne m’attendais pas à faire la rencontre d’une héroïne aussi vindicative, aussi cruelle.
Les tentatives d’humour faites par l’auteur n’ont pas eu de succès sur moi.
Bref, je n’ai pas éprouvé vraiment de plaisir à lire ce roman et je ne le recommande pas - même pas en tant que lecture légère durant les vacances.
July 9, 2016
Искрено съм се смяла с тази книга. Определено отново нещо по-различно в жанра, колкото и невъзможно да е авторите да избягат от наложения стереотип за сладникавите дамски романчета. Бих я прочела отново, даже планирам това да се случи през идните няколко месеца. Беше ме заредила с изключително много позитивни емоции.
March 7, 2012
Oh gods, how horrible was this book?
I don't want to spoil anyone who wants to read it, but, as funny as it seemed at first, things got very dark and twisted at the end; and the scene in the airport was... okay, the entire book was gross.
I don't want to spoil anyone who wants to read it, but, as funny as it seemed at first, things got very dark and twisted at the end; and the scene in the airport was... okay, the entire book was gross.
February 7, 2013
It was an ok read - one I would recommend for a bit of light holiday reading rather than to widen your literary prowess. It had a vaguely interesting plot, nominally there was more to it than just a cheating husband. However, for me it just nothing special. Predictable, cheesy and unforgettable.
July 11, 2012
Готинка е в началото, но към края всичко вече става банално и някак тягостно. Но в началото е супер свежа и зареждаща :)
June 21, 2020
This was just a weird book. It’s packaged like chick-lit, but animals (pets) are straight up murdered, and the main character spends a scene sniffing paint and other fumes trying to get high. Not chick-lit material. Plus, it’s written by a guy. I don’t want to sound sexist. I gave this book a try despite my misgivings. But the fact that Julie reacts to news of her husband’s affair like a psychopath, and comes off as a truly horrible person, makes me think this author just hates women. Yes, Ronan is a horrible person, too. But every character in this book comes off as just terrible. I was hoping this would be a fun revenge book, but really we just spend three quarters of the book watching Julie behave in a completely horrible way. Nicole is naive to the point of stupidity. Julie’s mother and best friend are sociopaths. Every person in this book is just bad. I was hoping it’d get better: that Julie would reach a point of self-awareness. But she doesn’t, really. She passively refers to her horrible treatment of fish and a cat (warning: if you love animals just don’t read this book) as an amusing anecdote. She strings Ronan and Nicole along without actually telling them she knows about their affair for way too long, instead reveling in crazy, sociopathic behavior. She just gives her husband more reason to feel justified in his actions. She never admits what she did to Nicole’s cat.
Sort of spoiler:
Also, we never find out for sure who trashed Ronan’s office...? And we just gloss over the fact that Nicole’s husband tries to kill her..? WTF.
I tried to give some leeway in that maybe culture in Ireland twenty years ago was different enough that this kind of behavior was just a bit more accepted. But I had my limits with that.
All of this is just exacerbated by the knowledge that a man wrote this book. What the hell made him want to write this? Does he hate women? Does he hate all people, and animals? What would drive someone to want to express themselves like this?
Sort of spoiler:
Also, we never find out for sure who trashed Ronan’s office...? And we just gloss over the fact that Nicole’s husband tries to kill her..? WTF.
I tried to give some leeway in that maybe culture in Ireland twenty years ago was different enough that this kind of behavior was just a bit more accepted. But I had my limits with that.
All of this is just exacerbated by the knowledge that a man wrote this book. What the hell made him want to write this? Does he hate women? Does he hate all people, and animals? What would drive someone to want to express themselves like this?
February 22, 2020
I didn't dislike "The Feng-Shui Junkie" , but I also didn't love it . It felt like it was a bit longer than it should have been. I thought the characters were developed enough, though not very relatable. It may be the culture difference, given that it is an Irish book with Irish characters and so some of the references and humor took me a minute or two to get. I found that the main character, Julie was unpleasant and made terrible decisions, it was hard to feel bad for her. She was also a bit unrelateble to me because the characters were very wealthy and made expensive revenge based destruction seem like minor inconveniences at times
Not to mention, from a vegetarian's perspective....there was a little bit too much animal abuse for my taste. It was interesting how Brian Gallagher managed to make you feel sympathy for someone who was a fully aware cheater though, since instinct says you should dislike her. That was maybe the obly thing that I really agreed with the main character, Julie. I wouldn't unread it, but I also probably won't read it again and will be passing it on to make room on my shelf for something new.
Not to mention, from a vegetarian's perspective....there was a little bit too much animal abuse for my taste. It was interesting how Brian Gallagher managed to make you feel sympathy for someone who was a fully aware cheater though, since instinct says you should dislike her. That was maybe the obly thing that I really agreed with the main character, Julie. I wouldn't unread it, but I also probably won't read it again and will be passing it on to make room on my shelf for something new.
April 25, 2018
Just to begin with, while I have only rated this book with 2 stars, I was intrigued as to what would happen next and as a result I read it quite quickly. It was interesting that the author was male but there was a definite female narration to it, with the subject matter normally what one would associate with a female author. The book dragged on in parts and there were no nice characters at all and an almost ambivalence to domestic violence, in all its forms, which was a little disturbing. I think that came from the author trying 'too hard' to make the female lead character 'strong' but I do admit he was successful in not making her a victim. All up though, something did not quite work and I thought maybe that was because there was a fair bit of man hating going on from a male author. I also do reviews without reading other reviews first and I am really interested o see what others thought of this book.
June 14, 2020
I’ve read this a number of times, years ago... Recently went back to read it again and it just didn’t have the same ring for me. Maybe I didn’t realise quite how insanely awful Ronan (and quite frankly, Julie as well) were previously... It really hit home to me this time around. I enjoyed the prose, but all the animal murder was completely tasteless - what was she, a sociopath!?
Nicole, please run. Please change your number, run away to Amsterdam and never be seen again. For the sake of your daughter, if nothing else, you silly girl.
Ps. Julie, fuck you for killing that cat. That is all 🥵
Nicole, please run. Please change your number, run away to Amsterdam and never be seen again. For the sake of your daughter, if nothing else, you silly girl.
Ps. Julie, fuck you for killing that cat. That is all 🥵
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2025
Il s'agit d'un roman de style "chick lit" écrit par un homme au début des années 2000. Je ne m'attendais pas à ce qu'il soit autant intense! C'est en effet toute une vengeance qui y est décrite, la protagoniste étant à la limite de la psychopathe. C'est assez chaotique émotionnellement. Il va falloir que je me trouve une lecture légère pour décanter de ça...
February 8, 2018
Casual and unapologetic abuse of women and animals. Awful.
Read
July 18, 2019He
August 31, 2019
A quick read and funny!
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
June 27, 2021
Struggled through the first chapter. Dull characters that were instantly irritating. Couldn’t read the rest.
August 23, 2021
Имах нужда да прочета нещо подобно - непретенциозно, лековато, забавно и абсурдно на моменти. Сега е време да скоча в дълбокото след това развлечение
September 6, 2021
Totally horrible book! Took the advice from another review and dumped it in the recycling so that no-one else has to read this .
May 1, 2022
Decent book. Easy read a little confusing at times but over all pretty decent
July 19, 2022
Леко досадна...
October 8, 2023
so bumming good oh my god one of my favourite books. she's such an icon
January 4, 2024
Très intéressant, je ne m’attendais pas à ça mais au final on suit l’évolution de cette femme qui se fait tromper par son mari et c’est plein de surprises!
January 17, 2024
3.5 stars. Absolutely hilarious read!
May 3, 2024
Very good book
April 26, 2025
Ok book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews