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Little Stalker
In the tradition of Tom Perrotta, an offbeat and hilarious story of voyeurism, obsession, and relationships-both real and imaginary-from the bestselling author of High Maintenance and Going Down .
Rebekah Kettle is obsessed. Not with her quirky, adoring paparazzo boyfriend or the gossip columnist who wants to be her new best friend, but with someone she’s never even met—cult filmmaker Arthur Weeman. But when the window of an Upper East Side apartment provides her with a scandalous view into Weeman’s life, Rebekah has to does she give her new love the scoop of a lifetime—a photo of the compromised Weeman—or does she remain loyal to the man whose films have defined her life? Bold, daring, and deliciously twisted, Little Stalker is a hilarious story of voyeurism, obsession, and relationships—both real and
Rebekah Kettle is obsessed. Not with her quirky, adoring paparazzo boyfriend or the gossip columnist who wants to be her new best friend, but with someone she’s never even met—cult filmmaker Arthur Weeman. But when the window of an Upper East Side apartment provides her with a scandalous view into Weeman’s life, Rebekah has to does she give her new love the scoop of a lifetime—a photo of the compromised Weeman—or does she remain loyal to the man whose films have defined her life? Bold, daring, and deliciously twisted, Little Stalker is a hilarious story of voyeurism, obsession, and relationships—both real and
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2007
12 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Belle
10 books100 followersAn American novelist, based in New York City.
She attended Bronx High School of Science and dropped out of college. She has also written columns for Ms. magazine. In 2002, she married entertainment lawyer Andrew Krents, after they were introduced by fellow novelist Amy Sohn.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Observer, London’s The Independent, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Ms., Mudfish. She teaches at the New York Writers' Workshop.
-Wikipedia
She attended Bronx High School of Science and dropped out of college. She has also written columns for Ms. magazine. In 2002, she married entertainment lawyer Andrew Krents, after they were introduced by fellow novelist Amy Sohn.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Observer, London’s The Independent, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Ms., Mudfish. She teaches at the New York Writers' Workshop.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 14, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
That awkward moment when you’re about to fangirl all over a book that nearly everyone else will probably hate and you know you might get trolled AGAIN (because once wasn’t e-freakin’-nuff) about enjoying reading a book about a pedophile (and this time dude really is a pedophile) . . . .
You’re probably asking yourself . . .
“What’s it about?”
Well, let’s just have Rebekah speak for herself, shall we?
“It’s about a one-time famous writer who finds herself unable to write. So she starts writing letters to Arthur Weeman, pretending to be a thirteen-year-old-girl and through these letters she deals with something bad that happened to her when she was almost thirteen and . . .”
Sounds like a real page turner, huh? Also probably sounds like Rebekah is some seriously damaged goods and you should feel sorry for her, right? I’m not exactly sure how many people would agree with the first statement. For me it was, but I am a super fan of all things dark and grisly – especially when those things somehow manage to end up being black comedy brilliance. As for the second statement? Nope . . . .
And good lord did I love reading everything about her. From her morning ritual . . . .
To an unlikely friendship/nurse’s aide position/roommate status with an elderly woman who often times chose to hang out with her other friends . . . .
To a voyeuristic obsession with a famous director . . . .
(Yes, she sees EXACTLY what you would expect to seeWoody Allen Arthur Weeman doing when he thinks no one is looking.)
At this point if you aren’t real familiar with me you might be asking . . .
That would be an affirmative. It’s hard to ignore writing that jumps off the page at you like this one has, though . . . .
“In the end we Y.G.s don’t grow up to be over-the-hill Lolitas – sexless and worn and fat with child – we simply turn into the very thing that had once lusted after us.
Lolita in the end becomes Humbert Humbert.
And I had turned my back on Alice to find myself seeing things through Arthur Weeman’s eyes. I, like all Y.G.s everywhere, had become, to my shock and horror, nothing more than a little dirty old man.”
This is currently on ONE friend’s TBR. I’d prefer to keep it that way because I wouldn’t expect anyone else to enjoy it anyway and I’ll flat out say there’s at least one person out there who will get automatically defriended if all of a sudden they choose to read this book no one has ever heard of, but that would be soooooo easy to hate review.
As for the friend who put it on my radar? I’m eternally grateful to you, HFK, and I’ll gladly chip in for any therapy you might need since you started this with the idea it would be a light chick-lit type of read like Bridget Jones’ Diary only to discover something very different.
And to you, Jennifer Belle, I think I'm in love . . . .
That awkward moment when you’re about to fangirl all over a book that nearly everyone else will probably hate and you know you might get trolled AGAIN (because once wasn’t e-freakin’-nuff) about enjoying reading a book about a pedophile (and this time dude really is a pedophile) . . . .
You’re probably asking yourself . . .
“What’s it about?”
Well, let’s just have Rebekah speak for herself, shall we?
“It’s about a one-time famous writer who finds herself unable to write. So she starts writing letters to Arthur Weeman, pretending to be a thirteen-year-old-girl and through these letters she deals with something bad that happened to her when she was almost thirteen and . . .”
Sounds like a real page turner, huh? Also probably sounds like Rebekah is some seriously damaged goods and you should feel sorry for her, right? I’m not exactly sure how many people would agree with the first statement. For me it was, but I am a super fan of all things dark and grisly – especially when those things somehow manage to end up being black comedy brilliance. As for the second statement? Nope . . . .
And good lord did I love reading everything about her. From her morning ritual . . . .
To an unlikely friendship/nurse’s aide position/roommate status with an elderly woman who often times chose to hang out with her other friends . . . .
To a voyeuristic obsession with a famous director . . . .
(Yes, she sees EXACTLY what you would expect to see
At this point if you aren’t real familiar with me you might be asking . . .
That would be an affirmative. It’s hard to ignore writing that jumps off the page at you like this one has, though . . . .
“In the end we Y.G.s don’t grow up to be over-the-hill Lolitas – sexless and worn and fat with child – we simply turn into the very thing that had once lusted after us.
Lolita in the end becomes Humbert Humbert.
And I had turned my back on Alice to find myself seeing things through Arthur Weeman’s eyes. I, like all Y.G.s everywhere, had become, to my shock and horror, nothing more than a little dirty old man.”
This is currently on ONE friend’s TBR. I’d prefer to keep it that way because I wouldn’t expect anyone else to enjoy it anyway and I’ll flat out say there’s at least one person out there who will get automatically defriended if all of a sudden they choose to read this book no one has ever heard of, but that would be soooooo easy to hate review.
As for the friend who put it on my radar? I’m eternally grateful to you, HFK, and I’ll gladly chip in for any therapy you might need since you started this with the idea it would be a light chick-lit type of read like Bridget Jones’ Diary only to discover something very different.
And to you, Jennifer Belle, I think I'm in love . . . .
May 25, 2009
I'm left not knowing how I feel about this book. It was from bizarro world. The protagonist is a one-hit wonder of the literary world that can't seem to get that second novel underway (and is awful to her fans). Her interpersonal relationships are excruciatingly strained or nearly non-existent, and as a result of her intense daddy issues, she's obsessed with Little House on the Prairie and a New York filmmaker (a thinly veiled Woody Allen) to a disturbing degree. She's a thief, a liar, a ball-buster and incredibly self-righteous (and, hey, self-loathing too!), and the people in her life are no better. There's the boyfriend with whom she never seems to actually talk about anything, the obnoxious fan/stalker/nemesis who set them up and then does her best to tear them apart, and, of course, the source of so many of her issues, her father. Oh, and let's not forget Arthur Weeman. BIZARRE.
And yet. YET. By the end I was somewhat pleased, perhaps because she had gotten a little of what was coming to her, both good and bad. Or maybe because it was over. I'm still not sure.
If I could, I'd give it two-and-a-half stars, but in the meantime, I'll go for two.
And yet. YET. By the end I was somewhat pleased, perhaps because she had gotten a little of what was coming to her, both good and bad. Or maybe because it was over. I'm still not sure.
If I could, I'd give it two-and-a-half stars, but in the meantime, I'll go for two.
July 22, 2008
I was walking to the El from the Taste of Chicago and as a result of many beers, I really had to use the bathroom. I stumbled into Barnes and Noble, and assuming (correctly) that I would have to make a purchase in order to use the desired (and rapidly growing necessary) facility, I ended up with this delightful, not so little book. I wouldn't say it was brilliant or even wonderfully written, I just found it to be a cut above what I was expecting and what I normally find in the genre. Rebekah (who is an author) professes to hate having her book categorized as chick lit, and I have a feeling this is an expression of Jennifer Belle's sentiments as well, but I hate to tell her, this book is chick lit. Just really good chick lit. Not Bridget Jones mind you, but you get the idea.
It was ridiculously obvious that Arthur Weeman was modeled after Woody Allen, but this didn't bother me so much.
I am however, sick of EVERYTHING taking place in New York—really, people, there ARE other cities!
It was ridiculously obvious that Arthur Weeman was modeled after Woody Allen, but this didn't bother me so much.
I am however, sick of EVERYTHING taking place in New York—really, people, there ARE other cities!
January 2, 2008
What a strange experience it was to read this book. The protagonist: annoying and loathsome. The other characters: equally horrible. The plot: bizarre, though somewhat like watching a car accident. And yet, I kept reading and finished the whole thing. Was it good? I don't really know. I guess the author deserves props for keeping me going. If I was able to teleport myself into the book, I wouldn't be able to choose which character to smack first.
September 3, 2008
I LOVED this book. Nobody writes like Jennifer Belle. Nobody CAN write like Jennifer Belle. I was waiting forever for a new book from here and now I will start waiting again.
December 3, 2009
I've been following Jennifer Belle since I read her first book, Going Down and I definitely consider myself a fan. Not that the stories she builds around her characters are themselves particularly epic, but she has an incredibly vivid stream-of-conscious writing style that I find irresistable. Everything just flows together so naturally yet many of her passages are still completely surprising in their humor or cynicism. The characters are not your typical twenty something women, but they are also not encumbered with a contrived disability or special talent or physical issue so many authors use to highlight their characters' sense of alienation. They are just regular, slightly bitter and neurotic twenty-something women living in New York city but they are rich and deep and not always sympathetic. My biggest complaint about them is that they often say things that are the opposite of what they're thinking for no particular reason other than general neurosis, though this is where a lot of the surprising interactions come from. I wouldn't consider her work "chick lit" at all, which it has been labelled often which I think is a shame.
This book seems to be the most openly autobiographical of the three, and the character painted in the most forgiving light. It stars a 33 year old writer who has published one book which was successful and everyone around her wants her to write another one. At the same time she has an obsession with a New York jewish filmmaker who seems to me to be based entirely on Woody Allen, down to the signature glasses, and with her attempts to get herself close to him. I generally really hate the old cliche of writers also having their protagonists be writers (thanks for that Stephen King) even though I myself am a proponent of the "Write What You Know" mantra. But with this particular book it doesn't bother me too much. Jennifer's first two books had plots which revolved around the character's profession which was something other than writing, so at least it's not an old fallback of hers.
This book, like her first two, have such a magnificent flow that you find yourself tearing through them very quickly and really enjoying though sometimes being a little perplexed at the little New York City world she creates and in this novel, whenever she meets someone who knows her book they all say basically "I love your book! I read it in two days!", to which she responds, "Thanks. It took me five years to write." I'm certain this comes from her real life experiences. However it is not because these books are written at a low or easy reading level, it is simply because of her style and pacing which pulls you through it with almost no hiccups or speedbumbs, and with twists that you rarely see coming but which don't disrupt the momentum at all.
This book, like the first two, were not perfect but were a joy to read.
I've read on Jennifers blog that she currently has no desire to write anything since she has recently gotten married and had a child. But I really hope she does.
This book seems to be the most openly autobiographical of the three, and the character painted in the most forgiving light. It stars a 33 year old writer who has published one book which was successful and everyone around her wants her to write another one. At the same time she has an obsession with a New York jewish filmmaker who seems to me to be based entirely on Woody Allen, down to the signature glasses, and with her attempts to get herself close to him. I generally really hate the old cliche of writers also having their protagonists be writers (thanks for that Stephen King) even though I myself am a proponent of the "Write What You Know" mantra. But with this particular book it doesn't bother me too much. Jennifer's first two books had plots which revolved around the character's profession which was something other than writing, so at least it's not an old fallback of hers.
This book, like her first two, have such a magnificent flow that you find yourself tearing through them very quickly and really enjoying though sometimes being a little perplexed at the little New York City world she creates and in this novel, whenever she meets someone who knows her book they all say basically "I love your book! I read it in two days!", to which she responds, "Thanks. It took me five years to write." I'm certain this comes from her real life experiences. However it is not because these books are written at a low or easy reading level, it is simply because of her style and pacing which pulls you through it with almost no hiccups or speedbumbs, and with twists that you rarely see coming but which don't disrupt the momentum at all.
This book, like the first two, were not perfect but were a joy to read.
I've read on Jennifers blog that she currently has no desire to write anything since she has recently gotten married and had a child. But I really hope she does.
August 15, 2014
3.5 stars. It's offbeat and quirky, which drew me in, but I must admit I wish Rebekah's problems were dealt with a little better than the way they were. She seems like a pathological liar, living in a weird fantasy world and I swear the book was going to end with her finding out her tumour makes her believe parts of her life were real when they aren't... I honestly envisioned the end being that she's back on that first day at her father's office and she had never taken Mrs Williams home, and never found out about Arthur Weeman living across the square, and it was all in her tumour-addled brain. Up until the engagement, where plot points began to neatly tidy themselves up like a cliché chick flick, this book had a lot going for it and would've received a 4.5. It ended up being way too clean and convenient to be believable - where was the real conflict? Here are a few of the "of course that would happen" moments:
Ex: her dad doesn't care about the $22,000 she stole for her furniture
Ex: her tumour is benign (does she ever tell Isaac about this?!)
Ex: an elephant escapes from the zoo and is shot to death (wtf really?)
Ex: Derek invites her to the Emmys 3 seconds after she gets engaged
Ex: Ivy and Derek
Ex: Sacha and Irmabelle love her
Ex: Hugh isn't at the screening - whereas I thought her relationship would be tested
Ex: AW is in Venice
The narrative was rambling, but that was great. I actually appreciated it, and it made the character and story more likeable... But a lot of it was ridiculous and overbearing and she reminded me a lot of Shopaholic, which I couldn't stand.
Ex: her dad doesn't care about the $22,000 she stole for her furniture
Ex: her tumour is benign (does she ever tell Isaac about this?!)
Ex: an elephant escapes from the zoo and is shot to death (wtf really?)
Ex: Derek invites her to the Emmys 3 seconds after she gets engaged
Ex: Ivy and Derek
Ex: Sacha and Irmabelle love her
Ex: Hugh isn't at the screening - whereas I thought her relationship would be tested
Ex: AW is in Venice
The narrative was rambling, but that was great. I actually appreciated it, and it made the character and story more likeable... But a lot of it was ridiculous and overbearing and she reminded me a lot of Shopaholic, which I couldn't stand.
February 14, 2013
If you are old enough to remember Woody Allen (no worries, he is still with us just not as much in the press), Little Stalker by Jennifer Belle could be your choice. Rebekah is a young author with a significant case of writer’s block. She has started to dread questions about her next book. It has been a long time since the last book. Men don’t work out well for Rebekah either, she has a string of failed romances. Her biological clock is not just ticking, it is clamoring. Lacking either promising dates or inspiration for her writing, the bright spot in Rebekah’s life is the annual release of an Arthur Weeman movie (think Woody Allen). She has a real thing for the actor/director. Her love life starts to perk up when she is introduced to a paparazzi who bears an astonishing resemblance to Weeman. Rebekah’s is called to fill in at her father’s office when his long time receptionist quits. One of his elderly patients happens to live across the street from Weeman. Well you know where this is going. Rebekah is funny, likable, and flawed, she will make you laugh.
abandoned
July 31, 2014Jennifer Belle is a mixed bag. She's good when you're in the mood for highly acerbic and/or random neuroses, and she falls victim to the expectation that a female writer writing about a woman's relationships in the vernacular automatically equals chick lit. This book so would not please the audience for "chick lit," despite the pink title and cutesy striped pajama pants of the cover. The trouble is that sometimes her writing is so odd or flat that she fails to connect with me, who is most definitely entirely in her corner on a good day. I had to abandon this one at 75 pages in. I'd strongly recommend that anyone interested in her writing avoid Little Stalker and read High Maintenance instead.
I'll still try The Seven Year Bitch, the first few pages read promisingly.
I'll still try The Seven Year Bitch, the first few pages read promisingly.
July 27, 2012
Ugh. Hard to get past a protagonist who is as selfish and spoiled as this one, plus the novel is in the first person so the reader (in my case listener) is in this 33 year old brat's head. I feel sorry for the reader of this audio version - she tried so hard to give the character some spirited life but only makes her sound spiritedly spoiled. I gave up after 2 of the ~10 CD's, so I think that was a fair enough shot to now call it quits.
August 1, 2022
What a weird, funny little book!
I really enjoyed the ride, and it was super funny, in a very unique way. Her inner dialogue is such a great little insight into her character.
That said, the main character says some SHIT!!!!! Holy wow she has a racist brain.
I was really REALLY hoping for an arc of her emotional and social growth in this regard - it happens in all other regards.
So now I'm just not sure if it was a swing-and-miss attempt to add to the character's strangeness, or the author's true brain.... which is a scary idea.
A few examples:
"My inner Jap had made a surprise attack on my inner Pearl Harbor"
'Without moving your head, how many fingers am I holding up?' I slid my eyes over like an Egyptian"
I was very uncomfortable, and honestly, I've stopped reading books like this in the past, but it seemed so probable that she would improve in this arena.... disappointing that it wasn't even ADDRESSED.
I really enjoyed the ride, and it was super funny, in a very unique way. Her inner dialogue is such a great little insight into her character.
That said, the main character says some SHIT!!!!! Holy wow she has a racist brain.
I was really REALLY hoping for an arc of her emotional and social growth in this regard - it happens in all other regards.
So now I'm just not sure if it was a swing-and-miss attempt to add to the character's strangeness, or the author's true brain.... which is a scary idea.
A few examples:
"My inner Jap had made a surprise attack on my inner Pearl Harbor"
'Without moving your head, how many fingers am I holding up?' I slid my eyes over like an Egyptian"
I was very uncomfortable, and honestly, I've stopped reading books like this in the past, but it seemed so probable that she would improve in this arena.... disappointing that it wasn't even ADDRESSED.
July 17, 2019
A very odd, very angsty book. I can see why 2009
me wanted to read it, but 2019 me didn’t like it as much as she would have. There was a lot of heavy Jewishness, a lot of suspension of disbelief, a lot of skeeve, and a lot of annoying New York-y characters. It was often hard to feel bad for Rebekah, even when really messed-up things happened to her, because she spent is much time getting in her own way, causing drama, and not standing up for herself. It was also hard to feel like a lot of the bad or weird things that happened to her felt real enough for sympathy. But, oddly, there was also a lot to recommend the book. It was charming - Rebekah really is charming, too - and there was some really good, funny, poignant writing and some sweetness to the side stories. I wish I had read it 10 years ago when I really would have loved it.
me wanted to read it, but 2019 me didn’t like it as much as she would have. There was a lot of heavy Jewishness, a lot of suspension of disbelief, a lot of skeeve, and a lot of annoying New York-y characters. It was often hard to feel bad for Rebekah, even when really messed-up things happened to her, because she spent is much time getting in her own way, causing drama, and not standing up for herself. It was also hard to feel like a lot of the bad or weird things that happened to her felt real enough for sympathy. But, oddly, there was also a lot to recommend the book. It was charming - Rebekah really is charming, too - and there was some really good, funny, poignant writing and some sweetness to the side stories. I wish I had read it 10 years ago when I really would have loved it.
November 1, 2016
It has been several years since I read a Jennifer Belle novel -- I had read Going Down and High Maintenance back-to-back I think. This one I listened to. She has some great lines throughout and her character Rebekah was endearing and frustrating and at times a spectacle, but I enjoyed listening about her relationships with the people around her, her infatuation with a movie director and her rationalization of everything.
March 20, 2024
When I found this book I was very excited because I adored Jennifer Belle’s other book Going Down. I almost loved this book. It was her writing style, which I do like a lot, however the entirety of its plot had me cringing which made it particularly hard to get through! I did LOVE the ending, I felt like it was perfectly done.
February 23, 2024
Another brilliant riotous read with an unexpected möbius twist or two and characters that feel eerily familiar. Literary and film references like sparkly Easter Eggs and a bra I hope exists in real life.
May 8, 2018
A weird book, very Michael Chabon esque. I will look for more by this author.
January 16, 2019
I’m nonplussed. I don’t really know WHAT to think about this and therefore I like it...?...
June 19, 2025
It was okay….but not great. I don’t know…i couldn’t really get into this very much.
January 27, 2008
Rebekah Kettle, following the blockbuster success of her first novel, is in a bit of a slump. Her relationship with her father is strained, she’s unlucky in love and has lots of unresolved angst from her youth that she avoids by obsessing with filmmaker Arthur Weissman. When she starts contacting Weissman, she finds the creative outlet she needed and the other areas of her life start clicking into place.
I enjoyed this one, although, while reading it, I felt like I was missing out on lots of inside jokes, because I’m not a New Yorker, familiar with the NY literary scene, Jewish, or a Woody Allen fan. (I wonder if Allen is familiar with this book, and if he took any legal action. It’s very obvious that it’s about him.)
The one thing I didn’t like is I felt it dragged on for too long. I made the mistake of reading the book flap, and it gave away the entire plot, and I spent the first 2/3 of the book waiting for the big plot twist to happen. When it did, tt was sort of anti-climactic.
I’m curious about this author now, and am going to add her other books to me to-read list.
I enjoyed this one, although, while reading it, I felt like I was missing out on lots of inside jokes, because I’m not a New Yorker, familiar with the NY literary scene, Jewish, or a Woody Allen fan. (I wonder if Allen is familiar with this book, and if he took any legal action. It’s very obvious that it’s about him.)
The one thing I didn’t like is I felt it dragged on for too long. I made the mistake of reading the book flap, and it gave away the entire plot, and I spent the first 2/3 of the book waiting for the big plot twist to happen. When it did, tt was sort of anti-climactic.
I’m curious about this author now, and am going to add her other books to me to-read list.
August 30, 2013
I have waited years for Jennifer Belle to pen a new novel. So needless to say that when I heard she was writing her third novel 'LITTLE STALKER' I was very excited. A few years ago, I'd read and loved her second novel 'HIGH MAINTENANCE', so much so that after reading it I rushed out to get her debut 'GOING DOWN' which although it possessed the same dark humor didn't grab me like the former.
Therefore I was anxious to see if her third novel was going to live up to the standards of 'HIGH MAINTENACE' or be a bit of a let down like 'GOING DOWN'. Now after having read Belle's newest book I am happy to say that it is everything I hope for it to be and more.
Jennifer Belle's dark humor works extremely well here and had me laughing out loud several times before I even hit page 50! If you have never read any of Belle's work I definitely suggest you pick up either 'LITTLE STALKER' or 'HIGH MAINTENANCE' ASAP, I promise you will be in for a reading experience like no other!
Therefore I was anxious to see if her third novel was going to live up to the standards of 'HIGH MAINTENACE' or be a bit of a let down like 'GOING DOWN'. Now after having read Belle's newest book I am happy to say that it is everything I hope for it to be and more.
Jennifer Belle's dark humor works extremely well here and had me laughing out loud several times before I even hit page 50! If you have never read any of Belle's work I definitely suggest you pick up either 'LITTLE STALKER' or 'HIGH MAINTENANCE' ASAP, I promise you will be in for a reading experience like no other!
Want to read
May 18, 2009Book Jacket:
Rebekah Kettle is obsessed. Not with her quirky, adoring
paparazzo boyfriend or the gossip columnist who wants to
be her new best friend, but with someone she's never even
met--cult filmmaker Arthur Weeman. For twenty years, she
has looked forward to seeing Weeman's newest release every
fall, and she's tracked his movements around New York
City. But this year, when the window of an Upper East Side
apartment provides her with a scandalous view into Weeman's
life, Rebekah has to decide: does she give her new love
the scoop of a lifetime--a photo of the compromised
Weeman--or does she remain loyal to the man whose films
have defined her life? Bold, daring, and deliciously
twisted, "Little Stalker" is a hilarious story of
voyeurism, obsession, and relationships--both real and
imaginary.
Rebekah Kettle is obsessed. Not with her quirky, adoring
paparazzo boyfriend or the gossip columnist who wants to
be her new best friend, but with someone she's never even
met--cult filmmaker Arthur Weeman. For twenty years, she
has looked forward to seeing Weeman's newest release every
fall, and she's tracked his movements around New York
City. But this year, when the window of an Upper East Side
apartment provides her with a scandalous view into Weeman's
life, Rebekah has to decide: does she give her new love
the scoop of a lifetime--a photo of the compromised
Weeman--or does she remain loyal to the man whose films
have defined her life? Bold, daring, and deliciously
twisted, "Little Stalker" is a hilarious story of
voyeurism, obsession, and relationships--both real and
imaginary.
December 30, 2008
An amusing, interesting read. I went into this book thinking it was 'chick lit' (which I have nothing against, though there are too many authors who think they have mastered the genre when they clearly have not), but it was a little darker than your average chick lit book. The story explores some very emotional areas, and handles them in an adequate way (not well - I would have prefered to see a little more depth into the main character, but then, that may have been the author trying to make a point - that the main character has some depth but is also slightly shallow at the same time). I laughed out loud many times throughout the book, and overall enjoyed the read. I will seek out other books by this author and recommend this book.
December 17, 2012
Belle’s novel follows a young, one-hit wonder novelist and her relationship (from afar and altogether too near) with a very Woody Allen-ish character, Arthur Weeman. For someone who has enjoyed very few Woody Allen movies, I really like this book! It is certainly funny, entertaining and a fast, not to mention engrossing, read. I really like that it sort of made fun of itself with the first-person versus third-person comments. And I must admit, it makes me almost want to rent a Woody Allen movie! I like the humour in the book a lot, and its sense of immediate intimacy. I am looking forward to reading more by this author!
July 10, 2007
Jennifer Belle always presents a fun, wry, slightly disturbing portrait of a 20- or 30-something, alienated, unmotivated intellectual chick in New York City. "Little Stalker" is no exception, and probably the her best of her three novels to date.
Readers can't help but wonder if it's a semi-autobiographical story of a promising novelist's obsession with Woody Allen. But whatever Belle's inspiration, this is a fast, amusing read with some truly terrific imagery. (Circus elephants parading down NYC streets in the middle of the night, how can you beat that?)
Readers can't help but wonder if it's a semi-autobiographical story of a promising novelist's obsession with Woody Allen. But whatever Belle's inspiration, this is a fast, amusing read with some truly terrific imagery. (Circus elephants parading down NYC streets in the middle of the night, how can you beat that?)
April 8, 2009
I didn't like this book. It said it was supposed to be funny; I didn't find it funny except for one incident in the whole book. I didn't like the main character, I wouldn't like her for a friend. I don't understand how a 33 year old woman could be obsessed with anything let alone with a celebrity - isn't that a little teenagerish??? I didn't feel her relationship with her boyfriend, then husband was for real. And her relationship with her father was really pitfully. I'm not sure I would pick up another book by this author to read.
October 1, 2014
I had put off reading this one for a long time because of so many negative reviews. I am so glad i read it! I really loved it! This was not chick lit, which is why I figure many people have been put off. I guess I am bizarro, but I found her character completely relate-able. She is not a carbon copy of Bridget Jones. She's an original person with many varied flaws as real people have; refreshingly real. All the other characters were real as well. The relationships she has are strange, strained and real. And hilarious. The subject matter is not the usual, thank goodness.
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August 2, 2011Truly original plot and a bizarrely sympathetic narrator. While there's a sort of chick lit aroma here, the wacky undermines it and successfully overthrows it. I'm not down with the sympathetic portrayal of pedophilia, but, despite it, I still like the narrator and want to root for her (she's not the pedophile, just a non-judgmental observer). This book is ultimately about loving, sacrificing for, and valuing artistic creation, and I'm not ever going to argue with that. Okay--maybe if we're talking Roman Polanski--but not as a philosophy.
June 13, 2016
I...uh...I don't...uhhhh...I can't...I just...I am not sure what I just read (technically listened to - audio version was great) and I...I don't know if I liked it. There is just so much to this novel...would be an AMAZING book club discussion. I mean where to start? The writer's block? The forgotten cinematic career? The obsessive spying? The "daddy issues"? The brain tumor? The boyfriend who pees the bed? The uber annoying Ivy? Infidelity and affairs? The pedophilia? The elephants? Yeah...it's all that...and for some reason I'm still reeling from it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2013
I'm still not sure what to think about this. One of the major points in Rebekah's life that has shaped her, that was revealed very early in the story, made me roll my eyes because it was so clichéd. That colored the rest of the book for me and may have done so negatively. But then I might not have liked it because she, and everyone else, is so selfish.
I may rate this higher on further reflection because the writing itself was really good.
I may rate this higher on further reflection because the writing itself was really good.
June 23, 2010
so... this book was a little sexy, although the scenes moved the plot along and weren't titillating. It also dealt with issues of pedophilia and adultery. All in all, a good read. The author dealt with major issues without weighing down the plot or characters. Gives me something to think about without feeling burdened by the character. I think Belle does this by giving her main character, Rebekah, some personality flaws.
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