The List: A Love Story in 781 Chapters

by Aneva Stout

The blind date with a gluten allergy. The ex who can't stop talking about the French girlfriend who dumped him. The cute young bartender who knows how to make a Manhattan straight up. And, of course, Mr. Right―who looks like Liam Neeson, writes poetry like e.e. cummings, plays the guitar like Jimmy Page. Until he turns out to be a complete and total jerk.

Narrated in 781 chapters― The List  is an irresistible look at love, dating, friendship, sex, cats, thongs, and shopping. And a story that's as pleasurable, as interesting, as gossipy, as truthful, as reassuring, as compelling, as sane, as necessary as a late-night phone call to your best friend ever. Pour a cup of tea, curl up on the couch, and read to your heart's content.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction

94 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[SHR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is described as a love story in 781 chapters – which is a bit of a stretch, as it is 781 points. A really quick read and entertaining. For something with so little detail, it still manages to create a sense of character, largely due to familiarity with the pop culture it draws from.

[Gracella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute, light, and unique book. I found it so enjoyable to read.

[Josefien Robijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lol

[Brina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ist es möglich, ein 93-seitiges Buch in 781 Kapiteln zu unterteilen? JA, wenn diese stichpunktartig sind.

Aneva Stout hat mit „Die Liste“ eine ungewöhnliche Liebesgeschichte geschrieben, die komplett in Stichpunkten geschrieben ist.

Grundsätzlich ist dies keine schlechte Idee, sie hat mir gut gefallen. Allerdings lernt man durch so einen Schreibstil nicht viel der einzelnen Charaktere kennen.

So weiß man über die Protagonistin eigentlich nur, dass sie gerne trinkt, eine Katze hat und die Liebe ihres Lebens sucht. Alles andere bleibt dem Leser leider ein Geheimnis. Auch von den anderen Charakteren, wie z.B. ihres Ex-Freundes oder ihrer besten Freundin erfährt man nicht viel.

Allerdings sind diese Stichpunkte recht amüsant und authentisch geschrieben und stecken voller Gedanken, die wohl jede Frau zu verstehen weiß.

89. Du machst Dich wegen deiner Figur verrückt.
90. Du machst dich wegen deiner Frisur verrückt.
91. Du machst dich wegen deines Gewichts verrückt.
92. Du findest Dich häßlich.
93. Du stellst fest, dass deine Lieblingsschauspielerin Cellulitis hat.
94. Du fühlst dich gleich viel besser.
95. Du liest, dass Uma Thurman sich gelegentlich zu dick findet.
96. Du fühlst dich gleich noch ein bißchen besser.

Besonders originell ist jedoch die Aufmachung dieses Buches. Neben einer pinken Schrift findet man auf allen Seiten kleine Herzchen, die sehr gut zu den Gedanken der Protagonistin passen.

„Die Liste“ ist ein außergewöhnlicher Frauenroman für zwischendurch. Man kann es lesen, muss es aber nicht…

[Meagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essentially, this was a cute chick lit story told in a really gimmicky way. The 781 chapters of the story are each approximately one sentence in length. It makes for a choppy story, but the ideas get across just fine. In a few cases, the unusual format actually makes for some really funny moments. On the whole, though, I wouldn't go out of my way for it. It could be a good fast beach read, or a good book to pick up when you have absolutely no time for reading, but other than that, not much special here.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and clever, but left a little to be desired. This was a very quick read (under an hour, max) and was one of those books I read and went "yup, that's happened to me..." or "been there..." on more than one occasion. It read quickly and was very easy to follow. Only thing I didn't really like about it was the lack of any back story/personalization of the character. But then again, I suppose I saw a lot of myself in the chapters, so that works too. One I would recommend to friends for a quick read, or a laugh when they're down. 7/10

[Faa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing out loud when read this book. It is funny in a way, yet somewhere in the book, it will not fail to touch our heart, especially those single women out there.
You can never use the book as your guidance in finding love, but it can be a perfect checklist for you.
I like it nonetheless, despite of the bitter truth in it and thanks to the author for making me laughing out loud for being single! ;-)

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious =) Read this while waiting for my parents in the supermarket (I bought it at a book sale for $7) and it definitely passed the time. I think we're all guilty of at least one of the 'chapters' in this book... hahaha. =P

[Gina - What She Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short read and a brilliant pick-me-up. We even go along with what she says and pick which we would do ourselves. We even laugh at how true some of the answers that are written are. A clever and witty way to have chapters in this book/novella.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

'The List' is a cute, entertaining and quick read. the author managed to actually make a book using the list concept. It does draw the reader into the entire experience of dating, loving, and losing the one you thought you loved.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three cheers for the meta-fiction/romance novel!

[Danielle Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must have for any dating woman! So funny that I was laughing out loud as I read it. Short read, seems a bit like a child's book but just so funny!

[Melanie is on Storygraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes about 15 very fun minutes to read - funny and very true and very cute.

[Safron Mitchelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fab little girlie read, written in a unique format.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, cute, and gimmicky. If you liked Bridget Jones you'd probably get a bit of a kick out of this.

[Rosalind M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little chocolate of a book. Some moments of amusement, a smile, and then it's finished.

[Ummu Auni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this less in 1 hour. A quick witty read, somehow I can relate few chapters in the book. I think most of us are guilty and can relate to the events depicted in the story :P. Short but funny :)

[Derya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unique writing technique, short, easy and hilarious! This book would be most useful when you're having a bad day, a break up or PMS-ing.

[Vids]

LOVED IT.

[Katrina Bocage simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished it in one day! Easy read,kinda cute.

[Jessica Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

concise and hilarious. I'm definitely going to share with my girlfriends

[Bluetiful Hadeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend lent me this book a while ago that I have finished so fast. Due to it's FUN truthful portrayal of life, I went again and re-read it.
This book is all about love, friendship and sometimes about being a shopoholic.

Are you looking for a light read for the night??? or a reading cleanser in between War & Peace and Doctor Zhivago? I totally recommend this book. You will find the REALITY-BITES-humour that you will totally relate to.

Happy Reading :D