The Self-Preservation Society

by Kate Harrison

Staying alive in the 21st century is a full-time job ... one which self-confessed scaredycat Jo Morgan takes very seriously indeed. As a little girl growing up near Greenham Common Air Base, she stockpiled baked beans in case of nuclear holocaust; now she works in accident prevention, trying to protect the rest of us from conker injuries, killer tea-cosies and death by chocolate.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Kate was born in Wigan, and lived in more than a dozen places when she was growing up, including England, Scotland, and the Netherlands. She trained as a print journalist and then worked for the BBC as a reporter and Education Correspondent, before switching to behind the scenes producing on programmes including Newsround and Panorama. Her final 'proper' job involved coming up with TV programme ideas for the BBC whilst sitting on beanbags. She is a dab hand at writing on white boards.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

A novel idea, with a 'scaredy cat' main character ultra risk adverse keeping herself in a risk-free cocoon of life who has a major accident, but… it just didn't grab me enough, if at all. Some of the supporting cast were interesting, but even for a light, nothing to series read, it all felt a tab bit trite and predictable.
.
I can remember boasting at the time how inclusive my reading was, in that I read chick-lit like this.. shame about my low grading though right! My lowest grade for this genre yet, I'm afraid - 3 out of 12.

[Lyndsey Plitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly an awesome and inspirational book for those of us who have lead our lives trying to fit into other peoples molds. Its an easy read and its a book that you dont want to put down until the very end. Jo Morgan is a very likeable character and very easy to root for. Also I think it sends a wonderful message about not letting your past define your present. A big thumbs up and a five star rrating!

[Chrystyna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This all centres around Jo, nickname scaredycat! She's risk averse to the point that she never tries anything for fear of something going wrong. One day she's involved in an accident and her life changes.

Nice idea, but all a bit predictable - knew fine well what was going to happen & who would end up with who. The saving grace was the character Frisky, loved him, but would have liked to know more about him & his life. Regardless, didn't stop me reading it at a pace or enjoying it's lack of depth.

Ok for a quick read that doesn't require any concentration etc. - typical holiday reading. Having said that, there are other authors that I'd choose before I picked another by this author. No, let's face it - I won't be reading anything else by this author.

[Sam Entwistle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is abit slow to get started but it really does make you think. One bit really stuck out for me...chances of dying 100 perfect, chances of regretting things on your deathbed 99 percent. Chances of living the life you want, one.

[siso.sofy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest scaredy-cat ever.
The chances of dying: 100%
Chances of regretting things on your deathbed: 99%
Chances of living the life you want : ONE

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit hard going in places and a very predictable ending. But a good easy read.

[J-l · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable, light read.

[Rachel McKechnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, enjoyable read with a nice plot. Really had me thinking about my own choices. For me, it lacked a little bit more drama & detail at the end.

[Lainy]

review to follow xxx

[Rev Lynda Mead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glorious Fun

I really enjoyed reading this book. the one star deduction is only because I guessed early on the endings, even the 'other' match! But still a very good light-hearted read with a few good. words of advice/warning for all of us scarcely cats out there.

[Antony Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

From AntonySimpson.com:

The Self-Preservation Society by Kate Harrison was a book I picked up because it was on offer.

In it you meet Jo Morgan who puts all her energy in to minimising the risk in her life. Accident prevention is part of her job as is planning for catastrophes that might happen. But it is not just a job to her, it´s a way of life. Her long term boyfriend Dennis her senior at work also shares this way of life and it seems to be their bond.

Then Jo is the victim of a hit and run accident and everything starts to change as Jo realises that she can´t avoid all risks in life. Jo goes on a inner journey to explore why she has a deep desire to prevent accidents and plan for catastrophes. With guidance from new found friends Jo starts to take risks and begins her outer transformation. Jo´s life with Dennis starts to fall apart as a new one is created through her inner soul searching and outer risk taking. The conclusion of the book is the transformation of Jo to a much happier well rounded individual.

Jo Morgans character feels some what false at times because Jo´s views on risk minimisation in life are too extreme, especially at the beginning of the book. The plot is far too predictable and I would find myself reading other books rather than finishing this one.

[Catriona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting summary, I must have skimmed over the poncho choking incident.
Slow start but I got hooked and throughly enjoyed reading.

Jo has a dead-end job, a "best" friend who seems to thrive by being better than Jo and not supportive at all, a boyfriend who dismisses her abilities and encourages her neurosis, a disfunctional parents.

Jo steps out onto the road without paying attention, victim of a hit and run and in s coma. Once she comes out she find her personality has changed and she is having flash backs to her 12th year. She is also challenged not to return to her old ways by 3 new men (not all romantic interests) in her life while her family and friends seem to just want the old Jo back. Will she stay scared or learn to live again?

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl who has an accident and this makes her review her life and realises she is not happy with her controlled life in which she is scared of may things e.g. flying. She meets an old man whilst in the hospital who introduces him to his son Luke.To cut the long story short we learn that Luke lost his parents when he was young and part if him blamed his grandfather and as usual in these story there is a happy ending as luke and the girl get to gether and in the final scene they are told to be in Italy.
the girl dunmps her boyfriend for luke and then the x-boyfriend ends up hooking up with the girl's bestfriend but the girl is happy for them

[Felicity · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romantic comedy which also takes a light hearted look at OCD through the eyes of Jo, while she was a 12 year old girl in 1982 ("They were scary times. Midge Ure dancing with tears in his eyes. That German girl with the hairy armpits singing about 99 red balloons. And it's all part of puberty. The obsessions, that is, not the armpits."), and also during her adult years. Despite the humour, there's a constant underlying message about taking a leap of faith, and acknowledging that "the point of a partner is that they should make you better than the person you were alone. Not worse."

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable, although the plot was a little unbelievable, it was nevertheless entertaining and an easy read. I 'read' this audiobook format and it kept my interest even though you could guess the way it was going. I also felt that the ending seemed a little rushed or as though the author had become bored with the story or simply had 'run out of ideas' to finish it. However, a good entertaining easy read.

[Ummu Auni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, but the flashbacks sometimes feel a bit overloaded. I was able to finish this in short period of time. Light breezy reading on how the heroin trying to find herself when she was injured in an accident despite her over cautious self. Would recommend it to those who doesn't really want something mind boggling indeed.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't relate to the protagonist at all. Is anyone really that paranoid? Even with the pseudo-psychological 'flashbacks' she wasn't believable. And the boyfriend? Please, you have to have at least a shred of hope for a relationship to make it worthwhile reading to the end.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This an incredibly easy read with a really compelling story. I cannot understand how so many people have rated this book so badly.

Each to thier own. I loved Joanna as if she were my friend. Brilliant book.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a great book. i was looking forward to reading it and getting lost in a fun chick lit, but i just couldn't get the characters and it was too descriptive and wordy. i did try and hot to p143 but gave up!!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice bit of girly chick lit. Chewing gum for the eyes - don't need to think about it...funny/sad/poignant/silly...it has it all!

[Fibrelady · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light but fun read.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't believe I read this book... or that I kinda liked it. What's happening to me?!

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept was interesting but the reality wasn't.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. nice light, fun read. Will look out for more from Kate Harrison.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good book not one of my Favorited books though but for toughs of you who have had a traumatic life then i strongly recommend this book

[Sue Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

light hearted easy read

[Lindsey Paley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. Liked the concept and the characters.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Alita Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes you examine your own life.