Finding Myself

by Toby Litt

Dear Friend, How would you like to come—this August—and stay, completely free, in a lovely seaside house I've rented? Good food and plenty of alcohol will also be provided, gratis. But (you knew there'd be a but) afterwards you must allow me to write up the events of the month in a semi-fictionalised form. (In other you promise not to sue.) At the end of the book, you will have three full pages to say exactly what you like. If you think I've distorted things, told outright lies, etc., you can contradict me. I promise not to interfere editorially with your text in any way. Even if it is terribly libellous of me. I am inviting ten other people along, as well. Some of them you know; some of them you don't. I do so hope you can come. Love, Victoria

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Contemporary

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Toby Litt was born in Bedfordshire, England. He studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia where he was taught by Malcolm Bradbury, winning the 1995 Curtis Brown Fellowship.

He lived in Prague from 1990 to 1993 and published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled Adventures in Capitalism, in 1996.

In 2003 Toby Litt was nominated by Granta magazine as one of the 20 'Best of Young British Novelists'.

In 2018, he published Wrestliana, his memoir about wrestling, writing, losing and being a man.

His novel, A Writer's Diary, was published by Galley Beggar Press on January 1st 2022.

A Writer's Diary continues daily on Substack.

He lives in London and is the Head of Creative Writing at the University of Southampton.

Reviews

[Michele]

What a boring tedious book. I felt it could only get better so stuck with it and it did a little but really thought they were all such dull characters and nothing very interesting happened.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, about a female author who invites a group of people to a mansion for a month, to write a book about it. I expected clichés abound but was pleasantly surprised by its twists and turns. Nice how the book is set in black and blue ink. Black for the typed manuscript, blue for the scribbled notes by her editor. (3.5)

[Rachel Ewe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strong comic voice.
At times I hoped that the trope of clearly unreliable narrator would pay off, but it didn't.
At all times, I prayed for a plot - this book's premise has such potential. Alas, I was thwarted.
That strong comedic voice and the author's talent with prose earns the 3 stars but there's not much else to recommend it.

[Matt Fallaize · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining and acerbic, remains intensely readable probably because of the self absorbed awfulness of most of the characters, and the tart editor's notes on the text are a joy. Might not be everybody's cup of tea, it can be a little too arch for that, and plenty will find the characters too annoying (rather than interestingly annoying), but it I enjoyed it.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

L’idea iniziale, così enormemente farraginosa e intrigante al tempo stesso, avrebbe potuto sfociare in una sorta di esperimento del tipo Grande Fratello, con interessanti dinamiche tra gli occupanti della casa. In realtà, purtroppo (veramente, purtroppo, questi esperimenti in teoria li trovo geniali), è tutto di una noia disarmante. Tutti i personaggi sono o bidimensionali o caricature di sé stessi, i dialoghi sono sciatti, i sentimenti suonano falsi, perfino le scene di sesso sono alquanto deludenti. Non è un romanzo serio perché le riflessioni sono o confuse o didascaliche, non è un romanzo comico o ironico perché non si sorride nemmeno. È solo un romanzo non riuscito, con una parte centrale inutilmente lunga e ripetitiva, sonnolenta come un lungo sbadiglio. Le lettere finali riescono nell’ardua impresa di non aggiungere nulla alla caratterizzazione dei singoli personaggi che, di nuovo, purtroppo, continuano ad esprimersi come nelle 400 pagine precedenti, ovvero in maniera insulsa. Il capitolo finale? Da Big Brother a Liala.
Sufficienza risicata, 6- perché si intuiscono le potenzialità dell’autore.
C’è un però: mi è venuta voglia di leggere Gita al faro.

[Isabela Antunes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book, after reading I was a little disappointed. The entire concept was so much fun and exciting to think about. The book, contrary to its name, had me lost.

[Kinsey_m · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such good fun... A writer of chick lit invites several friends to a seaside house, telling them that she'll pay for a month's holidays if they let her novelize what happens. She even makes some predictions at the begging which obviously don't com true. This is an excellent parody of chick lit, and what happens when someone who thinks she is living in one of these books has to face reality. Provably a 3.5 stars rather than 4, but I'm adding an extra half star for the original structure, with comments from the editor/friend on the margin, plus predictions, plus a letter from each of the characters at the end.

[Marie France]

Decided to give sth completely different a try.
After 2 pages,I decided to give it 50.
I lasted or endured more like, for 20.

I got chaos (mistaken for intinsity?)and shallowness from a decidedly unlikeable main protagonist.
The sort of person (and her entourage?) that I would try to avoid mixing up with in real life, no matter how 'grand' they think themselves to be.

Does this count as chick lit? Not sure. So not for me at all. One point in its favour: litterary references to Virginia Woolf's to The Lighthouse. But it doesn't make up for the rest. At all.
If this is 'chick lit', totally not for me.

[Tolk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, it is a rather interesting book. But. But I have never had such problems with the author not being of the same sex as the person telling the story. There were so many times when I thought ‘That’s more what a man thinks a woman would say or do.’ I found that quite sad because otherwise the novel is quite entertaining, above all the fact that it contains all the notes of her editor. Sentences and paragraphs crossed out, comments, etc.

[Kavfrou · Rating 2 out of 5]

she tries to capture big brother in a novel. however, her plan is really a disaster on the run.. so is this novel.

[Morena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good book to read on the beach, but nothing that special really.

[Draackje · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was okay. I enjoyed reading it, but I don't think I'll remember it in a year. Something to read while traveling or when you just want something simple :)

[Kristel]

Jubilatoire.

[Pam]

Like a Big Brother set by an author female, nothing special. I like the manuscript font though.

[Natacake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled to get through this. The ending somewhat saved what was a dull read.

[JenniferB · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Clever"? Idea (author also lectures at Birkbeck college but I didn't find it emotionally honest.

[Julia Spaulding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I found was really interesting and full of detail.

[Lauretta]

Le prime due pagine ho pensato: che idea originale, potrebbe essere interessante... Poi ho trascorso le altre 500 a pensare: che noia, che noia, che noia... Storia statica, ferma, immobile.

[Annelies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Niet met tegenzin gelezen, maar ook niet voor herhaling vatbaar.

[Adri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...