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Biting the Big Apple
Bella describes her book as being all about "secret women's business - raw, honest and comedic. Women deal with these issues all the time. Fear of failure, the complexities of love, sexual fears and triumphs, commitment phobia, career lust, stalking your dreams." Its a memoir - intimate self portrait.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
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26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 17, 2008
Not quite as much on the city of New York itself, a lot more about her relationships with people and the city. An enjoyable read.
January 18, 2020
I actually really love this book. Its a light, easy to read book that is the only fiction book I have read time and time again.
February 20, 2023
A best seller in australia and new zealand, I love this book, it's a feel good read that big-ups women, I lend my copy to any girlfriends who feel down for a pick me up. Recommended!
October 2, 2010
My dear friend Halley brought this book around a couple months ago, saying "here, you'll like this".
And indeed she was right.
While 'Biting the Big Apple' is by no means profound, it was a highly enjoyable book written in a relaxed & comical writing style that suited my picky self.
:-))
Vendramini's book was honest, raw and intimate - very much a memoir of a specific time in her life. And one that I found interesting to read because of my connections to the things about which she wrote (and additionally because of her being an Australian in America, whereas I am an American living in Australia).
Bella writes of her depression & trying to "find herself", trying to get over fears and follow her dreams. She writes of her acting - and her time at the famous Strasberg Institute in NYC. Being an actress myself who studied theatre as my Undergrad, I found her accounts of being a Performing Artist in New York fascinating. I especially loved hearing about her studies at Strasberg. I was reminded of my own time studying acting.
Even more eerie similarities was Bella's relationship with a man who she later discovered was an alcoholic. Reading the chapters about her troubled beau James, and how truly devastating it is to date someone with a substance abuse problem, was like looking into a mirror of my past. She writes with such vividness that my stomach was in knots - I felt nauseous from recognition.
I wondered if my friend had lent me this book so that I could think about, and identify with, my own past relationship with an alcoholic. In a way it was more than just a bit hard to read for me, those parts, because it stirred up a lot of grief.
Anyhoooo, I digress.
Bella's book is lovely, and I hope others can derive such pleasures from reading it as I did. Not sure it's the kind of novel for just anyone - although, she writes in such a way that you feel a familiarity with her, perhaps even if you don't, like myself, have oodles in common with the woman.
cheers
And indeed she was right.
While 'Biting the Big Apple' is by no means profound, it was a highly enjoyable book written in a relaxed & comical writing style that suited my picky self.
:-))
Vendramini's book was honest, raw and intimate - very much a memoir of a specific time in her life. And one that I found interesting to read because of my connections to the things about which she wrote (and additionally because of her being an Australian in America, whereas I am an American living in Australia).
Bella writes of her depression & trying to "find herself", trying to get over fears and follow her dreams. She writes of her acting - and her time at the famous Strasberg Institute in NYC. Being an actress myself who studied theatre as my Undergrad, I found her accounts of being a Performing Artist in New York fascinating. I especially loved hearing about her studies at Strasberg. I was reminded of my own time studying acting.
Even more eerie similarities was Bella's relationship with a man who she later discovered was an alcoholic. Reading the chapters about her troubled beau James, and how truly devastating it is to date someone with a substance abuse problem, was like looking into a mirror of my past. She writes with such vividness that my stomach was in knots - I felt nauseous from recognition.
I wondered if my friend had lent me this book so that I could think about, and identify with, my own past relationship with an alcoholic. In a way it was more than just a bit hard to read for me, those parts, because it stirred up a lot of grief.
Anyhoooo, I digress.
Bella's book is lovely, and I hope others can derive such pleasures from reading it as I did. Not sure it's the kind of novel for just anyone - although, she writes in such a way that you feel a familiarity with her, perhaps even if you don't, like myself, have oodles in common with the woman.
cheers
February 4, 2010
Loved it, I read the Cosmopolitan review and got interested, then couldn't put it down, laugh out loud moments but poignant too, brilliant book, thoroughly recommend.
October 19, 2011
Was basically chic lit but based on Bella's life. Mostly entertaining at times a little boring. Some of the language used was annoying and repetitive.
July 23, 2011
Fun, witty Aussie memoir!
Review to come in Aussie August month.
Review to come in Aussie August month.
July 21, 2011
This woman is nothing like me but it was nice to go along for the ride with her. Part of me wishes I had her gumption.
May 19, 2009
Trash. The terrifying thing being that I think it's supposed to be a true story?
Read
July 8, 2009parts of it reminded me of a 25 year old me in NYC... and partly relieved i'm no longer 25 ;)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews