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Ridiculous Expectations: Or How to Find a Prince
Merridy Eastman's been ditched by her builder boyfriend for a waitress named Nancy, but everyone seems to think she'll find Mr Right very soon. In England, to be specific, where she will be spending three months on her wacky sister's sofa bed.
- GenresHumor
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Merridy Eastman
3 books7 followersMerridy Eastman is a writer and actress who lives in Sydney with her German husband Tom, and their son Henry.
A NIDA graduate, Merridy has performed in a swag of productions for the Melbourne and Sydney Theatre Companies and spent several summers leaping about botanical gardens across Australia, bringing Shakespeare to the masses. As well as being an ex Play School presenter, Merridy has also had major roles in Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Always Greener, and can currently be seen playing the neurotic Donna on Channel Seven’s Packed to the Rafters.
In 2002, Merridy wrote the best seller There’s A Bear In There (And He Wants Swedish) followed in 2006 by Ridiculous Expectations. She was a contributing writer for Breast Wishes the musical (2008), and consequently featured in Penguin’s anthology Thanks For the Mammaries (2009). Merridy’s third book in the memoir trilogy, How Now Brown Frau (2011), tells the story of her biggest adventure so far, waking up one morning married, pregnant and without a word of German under her belt, living in Bavaria.
A NIDA graduate, Merridy has performed in a swag of productions for the Melbourne and Sydney Theatre Companies and spent several summers leaping about botanical gardens across Australia, bringing Shakespeare to the masses. As well as being an ex Play School presenter, Merridy has also had major roles in Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Always Greener, and can currently be seen playing the neurotic Donna on Channel Seven’s Packed to the Rafters.
In 2002, Merridy wrote the best seller There’s A Bear In There (And He Wants Swedish) followed in 2006 by Ridiculous Expectations. She was a contributing writer for Breast Wishes the musical (2008), and consequently featured in Penguin’s anthology Thanks For the Mammaries (2009). Merridy’s third book in the memoir trilogy, How Now Brown Frau (2011), tells the story of her biggest adventure so far, waking up one morning married, pregnant and without a word of German under her belt, living in Bavaria.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 24, 2017
I read Merridy Eastman’s first novel, There s a Bear in There and He Wants Swedish straight after reading two novels by Miles Franklin. I don’t want to labour the point, but in her second book Eastman’s career went bung.
Merridy found that being a published author is not all it’s cracked up to be, but being a single woman at forty is not the tragedy that’s made out to be either.
This is a much more personal story and we see a lot more of Merridy's family in this book. Rox, Wal, Georgina and Max are the stars of the show, providing some of the best moments.
Readers of the first book will know that Merridy is funny and honest but never cruel to her characters, who are after all, real people. And perhaps drawing on her acting career she as an excellent eye for farce and great comic timing.
Beneath the inevitable confusion and soul searching that Eastman experiences along the way, what comes through very clearly is that she values herself and her journey and that gives the book it’s life-affirming spirit.
Funny and true.
Merridy found that being a published author is not all it’s cracked up to be, but being a single woman at forty is not the tragedy that’s made out to be either.
This is a much more personal story and we see a lot more of Merridy's family in this book. Rox, Wal, Georgina and Max are the stars of the show, providing some of the best moments.
Readers of the first book will know that Merridy is funny and honest but never cruel to her characters, who are after all, real people. And perhaps drawing on her acting career she as an excellent eye for farce and great comic timing.
Beneath the inevitable confusion and soul searching that Eastman experiences along the way, what comes through very clearly is that she values herself and her journey and that gives the book it’s life-affirming spirit.
Funny and true.
January 27, 2014
Really enjoyed this book. I had to remind myself of 'bear in there' as it has been a few years since I read the book.
I must say, I am glad that my feelings toward the men in Merridy's life changed by the end of the book. At the stat I was very much "What is wrong with you woman to date a misogynistic d**khead? Leave now, and have some self-respect regardless of your age". Ugh, I near wanted to skip the parts Garth appeared in he was so revolting.
Tom on the other hand had me won over the minute he appeared. He sounds lovely, and I am so glad Merridy did have the sense to not let him walk out of her life.
Look forward to reading the next book.
I must say, I am glad that my feelings toward the men in Merridy's life changed by the end of the book. At the stat I was very much "What is wrong with you woman to date a misogynistic d**khead? Leave now, and have some self-respect regardless of your age". Ugh, I near wanted to skip the parts Garth appeared in he was so revolting.
Tom on the other hand had me won over the minute he appeared. He sounds lovely, and I am so glad Merridy did have the sense to not let him walk out of her life.
Look forward to reading the next book.
January 3, 2014
I read There's A Bear In There after having enjoyed Merridy in shows like Always Greener.
It was fantastic and I have regularly recommended it; I'm sorry that I borrowed this from the library as otherwise I'd be handing them around together.
You can certainly read this alone, but it's more entertaining in the context of having read There's A Bear...
This is one of only a few books I've finished in the last twelve months (and the first in 2014!) and I highly recommend it :-)
It was fantastic and I have regularly recommended it; I'm sorry that I borrowed this from the library as otherwise I'd be handing them around together.
You can certainly read this alone, but it's more entertaining in the context of having read There's A Bear...
This is one of only a few books I've finished in the last twelve months (and the first in 2014!) and I highly recommend it :-)
June 3, 2013
Absolutely fantastic book recommended by a friend. Merridy Eastman is a former Playschool presenter, actress and writer. When in the UK on a book tour to promote her first autobiographical book about her work in a brothel ("AS A RECEPTIONIST!"), she falls in love with a German man. This is their story.
April 14, 2012
A funny follow on from Merridy's first book (There's a Bear in there - and he wants sweedith). This one tells of her experiences trying to sell her book in the UK with hillarious cultrual differences and pressure from family & friends to find a man. Looking forward to reading the next installment
October 24, 2011
Very enjoyable book - reading of Merridy Eastman's journey through life!
January 6, 2012
Another quick read, and it was enjoyable to follow on Merridy's life story ...
January 19, 2015
Light hearted, easy to read. A real story about a girl finding love, laughter and happiness later in life by giving up her homeland- for love.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews