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Starting Over
This is the story of how we grow old - how we give up the dreams of youth for something better - and how many chances we have to get it right. George Bailey has been given the gift we all dream of - the chance to live his life again.
After suffering a heart attack at the age of 42, George is given the heart of a 19-year-old - and suddenly everything changes... He is a friend to his teenage son and daughter - and not a stern Home Secretary, monitoring their every move. He makes love to his wife all night long - instead of from midnight until about five past. And suddenly he wants to change the world, just as soon as he shakes off his hangover. But George Bailey discovers that being young again is not all it is cracked up to be - and what he actually wants more than anything in the universe is to have his old life back.
After suffering a heart attack at the age of 42, George is given the heart of a 19-year-old - and suddenly everything changes... He is a friend to his teenage son and daughter - and not a stern Home Secretary, monitoring their every move. He makes love to his wife all night long - instead of from midnight until about five past. And suddenly he wants to change the world, just as soon as he shakes off his hangover. But George Bailey discovers that being young again is not all it is cracked up to be - and what he actually wants more than anything in the universe is to have his old life back.
291 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2009
41 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
Tony Parsons
66 books892 followersThere is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
January 24, 2015
I wish I could explain my feelings for Tony Parsons in a way that would do him true justice. Whenever I read his books I feel a sort of heartbreaking hope. I know why, but not well enough to be able to express it accurately. The way Tony writes makes you feel relieved that someone is paying attention to life in such a way that they really do just get it. I think with this book especially, the way George loves Lara makes me feel hopeful. After all that time he still loved her, and not in a daft star-crossed lovers kind of way, but in a real way. It feels a relief to know that someone wrote that, because it kind of means that he feels that way, and feeling that way in itself is kind of lovely. Tony Parsons is someone that I wish everyone would read. I often wonder while I am reading his books if other people see themselves in the characters he creates. And if they do, do they learn about themselves in the process? Do they learn a little something about relationships? Are they inspired? Or does it take too much radical honesty to be able to look at yourself in this way? Maybe that kind of honesty is too rare for it to make an impact. It's strange, I guess. Tony Parsons' work seems so relevant to me, and yet I cannot help but think that relevance might be lost on most. Which is a real pity.
August 6, 2011
Mixed feelings about this one. The start felt disjointed, as though in a rush over the editing the author had simply ripped out random sections of his manuscript and posted the rest to the printers. Somewhere along the line a guy who’s either 42 or 47 depending on whether you believe the text or the back cover synopsis, gets a heart transplant. It happens so quickly they might possibly have installed a zipper in his chest. Then he starts taking on some of the characteristics of his much younger donor.
The action throughout moves between scenes with the swiftness of Tarzan swinging through the trees. The reader has to fill in the stuff that happens off camera, and there is a lot of that. There is a lot of reliance on punchy one-sentence paragraphs designed to create impact, and which read like an editorial in the Daily Mirror. Fine if there is drama going on, but that wasn’t always the case. I suspected soon we might be reduced to stuff like:
I put the kettle on.
I really fancied a cup of tea.
(cue EastEnders drumbeat)
On the other hand, the observations of family life with teenagers were impressive, and the plot played to the author’s strong suit – father and son relationships. There were some wonderfully witty moments – the mobile phone in the theatre, the frying pan, and particularly the wedding (featuring a guest ‘you wouldn’t want to meet even up a very well-lit alley’). I haven’t read any of Tony Parsons’ work since ‘Man and Boy’, but I can see how his writing has developed over the intervening period, whilst retaining the things he does best. I suspect if you like his writing you will like this.
The action throughout moves between scenes with the swiftness of Tarzan swinging through the trees. The reader has to fill in the stuff that happens off camera, and there is a lot of that. There is a lot of reliance on punchy one-sentence paragraphs designed to create impact, and which read like an editorial in the Daily Mirror. Fine if there is drama going on, but that wasn’t always the case. I suspected soon we might be reduced to stuff like:
I put the kettle on.
I really fancied a cup of tea.
(cue EastEnders drumbeat)
On the other hand, the observations of family life with teenagers were impressive, and the plot played to the author’s strong suit – father and son relationships. There were some wonderfully witty moments – the mobile phone in the theatre, the frying pan, and particularly the wedding (featuring a guest ‘you wouldn’t want to meet even up a very well-lit alley’). I haven’t read any of Tony Parsons’ work since ‘Man and Boy’, but I can see how his writing has developed over the intervening period, whilst retaining the things he does best. I suspect if you like his writing you will like this.
December 20, 2010
Wow, this was really annoying and bad. I don't get why this guy is popular, hes a terrible writer. I didn't care one lick for any of the characters, didn't bother to finish it.
December 11, 2017
I found this book at Ewell East station and thought, ‘Tony Parsons. Yes I can relate to him. He understands people like me. This will be good’.
It wasn’t. I despised virtually all the characters. They ranged from narcissistic to selfish to criminal to hopeless to unsympathetic to downright rude. I didn’t believe in them, didn’t relate to them and couldn’t believe they were related to each other.
There were a few interesting themes along the way, some pleasant scenes, but when you are longing for them to clean the swimming pool again, you know this book is not going to work from you.
If you are going to nick a character from my favourite film, if he is not at least half as decent as Jimmy Stewart, then I am not going to be unhappy. Most characters in this book weren’t as sympathetic as Old Man Potter.
Very disappointing.
It wasn’t. I despised virtually all the characters. They ranged from narcissistic to selfish to criminal to hopeless to unsympathetic to downright rude. I didn’t believe in them, didn’t relate to them and couldn’t believe they were related to each other.
There were a few interesting themes along the way, some pleasant scenes, but when you are longing for them to clean the swimming pool again, you know this book is not going to work from you.
If you are going to nick a character from my favourite film, if he is not at least half as decent as Jimmy Stewart, then I am not going to be unhappy. Most characters in this book weren’t as sympathetic as Old Man Potter.
Very disappointing.
October 28, 2025
I like the Max Wolfe series but find the author's stand alone books to be hit and miss and this falls into the latter category for me.
It felt as if parts of the text had been omitted or removed and the end seemed rushed and also lacking details.
It felt as if parts of the text had been omitted or removed and the end seemed rushed and also lacking details.
December 13, 2025
Prima verhaal, over tweede kansen krijgen en hoe je daarmee omgaat. Hoewel het hoofdpersonage niet heel likeable was en ik zijn keuzes niet begrijp, was het best een aardig verhaal.
February 18, 2020
Tony Parsons writes with warmth, humour, and heartbreak his characters are about real people who I can relate to and Starting over was all the above.
If you are a fan of the extremely outstanding Man And Boy trilogy there are lots to like and love in Starting Over.
After suffering a heart attack at the age of 47, George is given the heart of a 19-year-old - and suddenly everything changes for George and his family and friends.
This is my 5th Tony Parsons book and I have loved them all there is just something about his writing that warms my heart it's as if he just gets life and coming from London where all those said books located as if the books are actually written for me and me alone.
Starting over is a little disjointed in places and at times feels a little rushed but the main characters here are just written so well that I just want to spend time with them, I laughed and cried my way to the end.
The story is about families and the love we share and can to easily take for granted a father to his Son George a dad to said son and a father and husband in George all the characters here are beautifully written as we follow George on his discovery of a second chance at love and to realise that all things are not always greener, as stated before this is a little disjointed at times it's as if Mr Parsons introduced events and the decided against them but I can forgive him for this.
Tony has a real gift of observing everyday life especially Father and son relationships Its laugh out loud one page and wiping my eyes from tears the next and if a book can move me in that way I can forgive the Author for some of this books shortcomings.
I wish everyone would read a Tony Parsons book they are full with so much hope in a sometimes dark and hateful world.
Well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
If you are a fan of the extremely outstanding Man And Boy trilogy there are lots to like and love in Starting Over.
After suffering a heart attack at the age of 47, George is given the heart of a 19-year-old - and suddenly everything changes for George and his family and friends.
This is my 5th Tony Parsons book and I have loved them all there is just something about his writing that warms my heart it's as if he just gets life and coming from London where all those said books located as if the books are actually written for me and me alone.
Starting over is a little disjointed in places and at times feels a little rushed but the main characters here are just written so well that I just want to spend time with them, I laughed and cried my way to the end.
The story is about families and the love we share and can to easily take for granted a father to his Son George a dad to said son and a father and husband in George all the characters here are beautifully written as we follow George on his discovery of a second chance at love and to realise that all things are not always greener, as stated before this is a little disjointed at times it's as if Mr Parsons introduced events and the decided against them but I can forgive him for this.
Tony has a real gift of observing everyday life especially Father and son relationships Its laugh out loud one page and wiping my eyes from tears the next and if a book can move me in that way I can forgive the Author for some of this books shortcomings.
I wish everyone would read a Tony Parsons book they are full with so much hope in a sometimes dark and hateful world.
Well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
February 28, 2018
A male writer of chick flicks for men is how I have seen Tony Parsons described, I prefer to think of him as a male writer of Contemporary Fiction which can be enjoyed by both male and female readers. I happen to enjoy his take on relationships and have read five other novels of his, although this is only the second time I have reviewed one here.
If you have not already realised that 'life' is a precious gift, you will have by the time you have finished reading 'Starting Over'. This is an emotional read. Though not in my opinion his best work, it is probably worth reading if you are already a fan of his novels.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
If you have not already realised that 'life' is a precious gift, you will have by the time you have finished reading 'Starting Over'. This is an emotional read. Though not in my opinion his best work, it is probably worth reading if you are already a fan of his novels.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
September 1, 2009
I do like Tony Parsons. Warm, funny, very believable characters.
Not quite sure I like any book about a person who needs a heart transplant at 42 - and the acceptance that a person of that age is definitely "middle aged". But obviously I'm in denial, I guess.
Laugh. Cry. And dread the day when your cute little children become teenagers.
Not quite sure I like any book about a person who needs a heart transplant at 42 - and the acceptance that a person of that age is definitely "middle aged". But obviously I'm in denial, I guess.
Laugh. Cry. And dread the day when your cute little children become teenagers.
November 13, 2012
There was this familiar feeling that swept right into my veins as I read this book. It was the same sensation as when I read Mark Haddon's A Spot of Bother. Nevertheless, I was happy with the ending. It was good enough.
"If you change the blade, and then you change the handle - is it still the same sword?"
"If you change the blade, and then you change the handle - is it still the same sword?"
July 9, 2014
A nicely written book, nice to pass your time, and some bits to make you think as well.
October 1, 2024
Didn't even finish, didn't dislike but just took me too long to read and couldn't be bothered. Think it had a good message behind it but needed to move on was too bored.
May 10, 2020
Tony Parsons - Gyvenimas iš naujo
*
👮♂️Džordžui Beiliui 47-eri. Jis yra tėvas, vyras, policininkas. Tai senamadiškas, apkerpėjęs vyrukas, kuriam lemta vėl tapti jaunam.
*
🌪Dėl paveldimos širdies ligos Džordžas pasidaro, kaip policijoj vadinama, kelnių zulintoju, kuriam beveik nereikia kelti kojos iš policijos nuovados, bet kai jo kolega vieną rytą pasiūlo patirti nuotykių - pasivaikyti smulkių nusikaltėlių, Džordžas neatsispiria pagundai ir... prisišaukia nelaimę. Kai akis į akį susiduria su ginkluotu nusikaltėliu, Džordžą ištinka širdies smūgis, kurio jis bijojo jau daugelį metų.
*
♥️Jam persodinama devyniolikmečio širdis - ir gyvenimas tiesiog apvirsta aukštyn kojom.
*
♂️Džordžas - ir vėl energija trykštantis vyras, galintis naudotis jaunystės privalumais.
*
❔„Gyvenimas iš naujo" - tai klausimas: ko netenkame, kai pagaliau nustojame jaustis jauni? Ir ką atrandame?
*
📖Skaitydama šimtą kartų verkiau, šimtą kartų šypsojausi ir juokiausi. O juk per atostogas mes nuolat išgyvename emocijų šūsnis! Todėl šią knygą ir pasirinkau į #istruksuknyga konkursą.
*
✒Šis rašytojas rašo taip, kad kiekvienas pajustų gyvenimo trapumą. Jis visur skleidžia viltį, jog tik griebus jautį už ragų, galima pajusti tikrą gyvenimą ir tyrą džiaugsmą, kad gyveni.
*
✉Tony Parsons turi perskaityti kiekvienas! Šį rašytoją galėčiau šiek tiek sulyginti net su Paulo Coelho. Tačiau Tony rašo lengviau, sklandžiau, yra sukurtas realus siužetas atitinkantis daugelio savijautą, nėra tiek daug filosofinių minčių. Bet abu rašytojai ieško prasmės gyvenime, vertybių aiškumo ir, aišku, tiki meilės energijos galia ilgaamžiškumui!
*
🏖O kokią knygą tu gali priskirti atostogų sričiai? Kokią knygą skaitydamas jautiesi lyg atostogaudamas?
*
👮♂️Džordžui Beiliui 47-eri. Jis yra tėvas, vyras, policininkas. Tai senamadiškas, apkerpėjęs vyrukas, kuriam lemta vėl tapti jaunam.
*
🌪Dėl paveldimos širdies ligos Džordžas pasidaro, kaip policijoj vadinama, kelnių zulintoju, kuriam beveik nereikia kelti kojos iš policijos nuovados, bet kai jo kolega vieną rytą pasiūlo patirti nuotykių - pasivaikyti smulkių nusikaltėlių, Džordžas neatsispiria pagundai ir... prisišaukia nelaimę. Kai akis į akį susiduria su ginkluotu nusikaltėliu, Džordžą ištinka širdies smūgis, kurio jis bijojo jau daugelį metų.
*
♥️Jam persodinama devyniolikmečio širdis - ir gyvenimas tiesiog apvirsta aukštyn kojom.
*
♂️Džordžas - ir vėl energija trykštantis vyras, galintis naudotis jaunystės privalumais.
*
❔„Gyvenimas iš naujo" - tai klausimas: ko netenkame, kai pagaliau nustojame jaustis jauni? Ir ką atrandame?
*
📖Skaitydama šimtą kartų verkiau, šimtą kartų šypsojausi ir juokiausi. O juk per atostogas mes nuolat išgyvename emocijų šūsnis! Todėl šią knygą ir pasirinkau į #istruksuknyga konkursą.
*
✒Šis rašytojas rašo taip, kad kiekvienas pajustų gyvenimo trapumą. Jis visur skleidžia viltį, jog tik griebus jautį už ragų, galima pajusti tikrą gyvenimą ir tyrą džiaugsmą, kad gyveni.
*
✉Tony Parsons turi perskaityti kiekvienas! Šį rašytoją galėčiau šiek tiek sulyginti net su Paulo Coelho. Tačiau Tony rašo lengviau, sklandžiau, yra sukurtas realus siužetas atitinkantis daugelio savijautą, nėra tiek daug filosofinių minčių. Bet abu rašytojai ieško prasmės gyvenime, vertybių aiškumo ir, aišku, tiki meilės energijos galia ilgaamžiškumui!
*
🏖O kokią knygą tu gali priskirti atostogų sričiai? Kokią knygą skaitydamas jautiesi lyg atostogaudamas?
February 6, 2023
Easy read, engaging story, I really got hooked to see how the middle-aged policeman will manage his life after he felt young again because of the young donor's heart being transplanted to him. Somehow the problems (revolting teenage daughter, relationship with the wife) raised in the middle of the book haven't been resolved by some magical discoveries but nevertheless it all ended "happily ever after".
Though I liked the insights about the children or rather parents-kids relationships.
"- Jam dabar toks amžius, kai atrodo, jog yra neprilygstamas. Kai galvoje kirba įvairiausių svajonių. Kaip gera šitaip jaustis, Lara. - Pasižiūrėjau į ją ir nusišypsojau, norėjau, kad ji man pritartų. - Kaip nuostabu šitaip žvelgti į pasaulį. Tikėti ir žinoti, kad jis visas - tavo.
Ji ėmė juoktis.
- Betgi tai nerealu, - tarė. Pasaulis negali būti tavo. Gyvenime juk taip nėra, ar ne?
- Ne, tikrai, taip nėra, - karčiai pritariau. - Netrukus jis ir pats tai supras, tiesa? Ilgai tokiomis mintimis negyvenama. Iki dvidešimties vis manai, kad gali kalnus nuversti, bet vis dar kažko lauki. O artėdamas prie keturiasdešimties pradedi suvokti, kad pasaulis gana sėkmingai suksis ir be tavęs. Nes tada jau būni supančiotas santuokos, mokesčių už namą ir poros vaikų.
<... >
- Norėjau pasakyti, kad ateina laikas, kai staiga suvoki, kad niekada nebebūsi toks, koks svajojai tapti... Netrukus užgriūna bėdos dėl sveikatos, bet tu rimtai į jas nežiūri. Paskui jos pasikartoja dar kartą ir tada jau susirūpini. O kiek vėliau - po dešimties, dvidešimties metų - ir numiršti. Kas atsitiko? Kas čia buvo? A, tai juk pasibaigė tavo gyvenimas, vyruti. <... > Štai kodėl niekad neleisiu, kad kas nors sužlugdytų jo svajones. Nes pats gyvenimas tai netrukus padarys."
Though I liked the insights about the children or rather parents-kids relationships.
"- Jam dabar toks amžius, kai atrodo, jog yra neprilygstamas. Kai galvoje kirba įvairiausių svajonių. Kaip gera šitaip jaustis, Lara. - Pasižiūrėjau į ją ir nusišypsojau, norėjau, kad ji man pritartų. - Kaip nuostabu šitaip žvelgti į pasaulį. Tikėti ir žinoti, kad jis visas - tavo.
Ji ėmė juoktis.
- Betgi tai nerealu, - tarė. Pasaulis negali būti tavo. Gyvenime juk taip nėra, ar ne?
- Ne, tikrai, taip nėra, - karčiai pritariau. - Netrukus jis ir pats tai supras, tiesa? Ilgai tokiomis mintimis negyvenama. Iki dvidešimties vis manai, kad gali kalnus nuversti, bet vis dar kažko lauki. O artėdamas prie keturiasdešimties pradedi suvokti, kad pasaulis gana sėkmingai suksis ir be tavęs. Nes tada jau būni supančiotas santuokos, mokesčių už namą ir poros vaikų.
<... >
- Norėjau pasakyti, kad ateina laikas, kai staiga suvoki, kad niekada nebebūsi toks, koks svajojai tapti... Netrukus užgriūna bėdos dėl sveikatos, bet tu rimtai į jas nežiūri. Paskui jos pasikartoja dar kartą ir tada jau susirūpini. O kiek vėliau - po dešimties, dvidešimties metų - ir numiršti. Kas atsitiko? Kas čia buvo? A, tai juk pasibaigė tavo gyvenimas, vyruti. <... > Štai kodėl niekad neleisiu, kad kas nors sužlugdytų jo svajones. Nes pats gyvenimas tai netrukus padarys."
July 27, 2023
I read this book in three days and while I did enjoy the idea that the plot was revolves around, the writing was really not up to the standard I would have liked. When I read the blurb, I was so excited to read, however, I was disappointed as I found that the story was quite bland, not really holding any substance for the reader to truly appreciate. The characters were insufferable, more so if anyone asked who my favourite character was, I would probably name the most random civilian that walked down the street. George (the main character) was not the narrator you can even grow to love, or even hate because he is very boring and I felt his wife had her reasons for the way she acted, but it was just immature on her part also. The children were written poorly too, having no sort of relatability to any actual teenager because the situations they found themselves in, didn’t even have enough coverage. The scene changed from paragraph to paragraph and a lot of the writing was vague, leaving the reader to wonder what on Earth had just happened and why have we suddenly moved from one day to the next week within a paragraph. I personally wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, however there are a few people who seemed to have enjoyed this book, judging from the reviews. Please don’t take my review to heart too much, and do give it a chance for yourself because I may have disliked it due to my personal preference. Everyone has their own taste and it may be a book fit for some and unfit for others.
July 1, 2017
I haven't read any of his for ages, but was in the mood for something different. Sadly, this wasn't as good as the early books like Man & Boy.
George is a 47 year old policeman with a wife who used to be a dancer, teenage kids, and a partner who's a bully, when he has a heart attack leading him to need a heart transplant. Not initially knowing that his new heart came from a 19 year old criminal, he begins to resent his comfortable life and tries to regain his youth, behaving like such a dick that his wife throws him out.
His daughter turns from nice girl to teen bitch, which his son grows from dorky teen to prematurely middle-aged.
I didn't really enjoy this: the writing is really disjointed, as George jumps from moment to moment. He's not a likeable character, lazy and selfish, stupid and snobby. He doesn't really deserve his second and third chances, and the message is that everyone should just settle with what they have as long as they're not too unhappy. The question of whether George really had "cellular memory syndrome" is left open, which is OK, but the resolution/redemption was very anti-climactic as the story just petered out. 2.5, rounded up as I'm feeling generous.
George is a 47 year old policeman with a wife who used to be a dancer, teenage kids, and a partner who's a bully, when he has a heart attack leading him to need a heart transplant. Not initially knowing that his new heart came from a 19 year old criminal, he begins to resent his comfortable life and tries to regain his youth, behaving like such a dick that his wife throws him out.
His daughter turns from nice girl to teen bitch, which his son grows from dorky teen to prematurely middle-aged.
I didn't really enjoy this: the writing is really disjointed, as George jumps from moment to moment. He's not a likeable character, lazy and selfish, stupid and snobby. He doesn't really deserve his second and third chances, and the message is that everyone should just settle with what they have as long as they're not too unhappy. The question of whether George really had "cellular memory syndrome" is left open, which is OK, but the resolution/redemption was very anti-climactic as the story just petered out. 2.5, rounded up as I'm feeling generous.
January 24, 2021
After George Bailey received a heart transplant, his life changes drastically. From a tough cop who is full of rules and discipline, he ended up being a very laidback and reckless son, husband and father.
While trying to adjust to his new heart and life, he has to deal with the conflicts with his wife, his beloved two teenagers and his parents.
This book touch on the reality of trying to hold to people who are everything to you but at the same time you want to be the new you, can you save the marriage when you and spouse seeing the future in the different perspective, leaving the job that doesnt bring fulfillment to you anymore but at the same time you need the paycheck to pay the mortgage, trying to balance the role as the parents that wanted the best for your kids and have to give them the freedom to choose their own path eventhough you feel they deserves better, dealing with aging parents, etc.
A simple book about acceptance, forgiveness, letting go, starting over, living in the moment, appreciate the little thing in life, etc are the recipe you need to survive and navigate life no matter how crazy life is.
While trying to adjust to his new heart and life, he has to deal with the conflicts with his wife, his beloved two teenagers and his parents.
This book touch on the reality of trying to hold to people who are everything to you but at the same time you want to be the new you, can you save the marriage when you and spouse seeing the future in the different perspective, leaving the job that doesnt bring fulfillment to you anymore but at the same time you need the paycheck to pay the mortgage, trying to balance the role as the parents that wanted the best for your kids and have to give them the freedom to choose their own path eventhough you feel they deserves better, dealing with aging parents, etc.
A simple book about acceptance, forgiveness, letting go, starting over, living in the moment, appreciate the little thing in life, etc are the recipe you need to survive and navigate life no matter how crazy life is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2017
I read this book a while back & now I come to review it, I can find little to say. While I found it reasonable it at the time - well I finished it anyhow - it can't have been that memorable.
So from what I can recollect in the first half of the book, George would seem to be regressing back to being a teenager after receiving a heart transplant from a donor - yes, you've guessed it - who was a 19-year-old boy. Of course at the time George doesn't know this but when he finds out, that seems the end of that & the story from then on just seems to be about a 40-something year-old who has problems with his wife, kids, & parents & is a having a mid-life crisis.
Overall, a passable read but that's about it.
So from what I can recollect in the first half of the book, George would seem to be regressing back to being a teenager after receiving a heart transplant from a donor - yes, you've guessed it - who was a 19-year-old boy. Of course at the time George doesn't know this but when he finds out, that seems the end of that & the story from then on just seems to be about a 40-something year-old who has problems with his wife, kids, & parents & is a having a mid-life crisis.
Overall, a passable read but that's about it.
March 4, 2018
Znaci ovo citajte ako vam bas netko da knjigu, a taj dan nema struje pa ne mozete gledat TV ili napunit mobitel, a nema nikoga oko vas za drustvene igre.
Procitala sam je do kraja samo zato jer mi OKP ne da da pustim knjigu neprocitanu, ali realno sam je mogla odlozit nakon 50 stranica...pri kraju je moozda malo bolje, al svejedno...
Ako je ovo materijal za bestseller onda:
a) sam sretna sto sam se rodila tad kad jesam u HR jer u Americi ocito ljudi jako drukcije percipiraju kvalitetnu i pametnu knjigu
b) steta sto sam se rodila u Hrvatskoj tad kad jesam jer da sam se rodila u Americi i ja bih mozda bila bestseller spisateljica
Procitala sam je do kraja samo zato jer mi OKP ne da da pustim knjigu neprocitanu, ali realno sam je mogla odlozit nakon 50 stranica...pri kraju je moozda malo bolje, al svejedno...
Ako je ovo materijal za bestseller onda:
a) sam sretna sto sam se rodila tad kad jesam u HR jer u Americi ocito ljudi jako drukcije percipiraju kvalitetnu i pametnu knjigu
b) steta sto sam se rodila u Hrvatskoj tad kad jesam jer da sam se rodila u Americi i ja bih mozda bila bestseller spisateljica
October 19, 2025
“Na časovima su nam rekli da je tango osećanje koje igra. Kada ti je srce puno onda ne govoriš nego pevaš. A kada ti je srce prepuno, onda ne pevaš, nego igraš.”
“Oborila je glavu. Volim sećanje na tebe. Volim kakav si nekada bio. Dobar. Snažan. Odgovoran. Podigla je glavu i pažljivo me osmotrila.”
“U početku imaš svu tu bezuslovnu ljubav. Ali, onda se to promeni. Promeni se a da i ne primetiš da se promenilo. Odjednom ti se čini sa je veza iz prošlosti pokidana. Toliko je to konačno. Više ih ni ne poznaješ - kao da su neko drugi, doslovno, druge osobe. Nije da ih ne voliš. Mnogo je gore. Ne poznaješ ih.”
“Oborila je glavu. Volim sećanje na tebe. Volim kakav si nekada bio. Dobar. Snažan. Odgovoran. Podigla je glavu i pažljivo me osmotrila.”
“U početku imaš svu tu bezuslovnu ljubav. Ali, onda se to promeni. Promeni se a da i ne primetiš da se promenilo. Odjednom ti se čini sa je veza iz prošlosti pokidana. Toliko je to konačno. Više ih ni ne poznaješ - kao da su neko drugi, doslovno, druge osobe. Nije da ih ne voliš. Mnogo je gore. Ne poznaješ ih.”
June 7, 2022
Bit late to the Tony Parsons party but this is the first book of his that I have read. It was a bit different and I enjoyed it. I liked the George character but it irritated me that on the back cover it said he has a heart transplant at 42 when, in fact, he was 47. Only minor I know, but I kept thinking it was MY mistake and I had read it wrong! I loved the descriptions and interaction with his kids, his wife and his parents and his buddy Keith.
I have another Tony Parsons ready to read.
I have another Tony Parsons ready to read.
August 12, 2018
Not my usual pick to read.
This story was about a coming of “middle” age and some major life changes and acceptance of change.
Whilst it was written well enough, I found I wasn’t looking forward to reading sessions as the whole thing kind of bored me and I continued to read only with a mind to finishing.
All in all, not a worthwhile read for me.
This story was about a coming of “middle” age and some major life changes and acceptance of change.
Whilst it was written well enough, I found I wasn’t looking forward to reading sessions as the whole thing kind of bored me and I continued to read only with a mind to finishing.
All in all, not a worthwhile read for me.
October 3, 2019
It was readable and easy to read but it wasn't a book i would have chosen to read as it was a book club choice.
I don't really do funny, family type books so this was a bit naah for me. I prefer more gritty story lines.
I read the Murder Bag and enjoyed that one so if i were to read any others by Parsons, i would stick to his thrillers.
I don't really do funny, family type books so this was a bit naah for me. I prefer more gritty story lines.
I read the Murder Bag and enjoyed that one so if i were to read any others by Parsons, i would stick to his thrillers.
July 29, 2021
This book was a bit pointless for me. It could be, that I've read it at the wrong time, when my own life and thoughts were unstable. Good theme, good idea, however very common: how to restart your life after a tragedy (which in this case turns out good) when you feel, that everything changed, that you changed completely. Still, it was a bit lame.
September 22, 2024
I liked the start of this, not least because the 2 children in the book are the same ages as mine (17yo boy, 15yo girl), but the storyline got a bit implausible and the main character unlikeable, such that I didn't really care what happened by the end. Plus the timeline seemed to shift randomly by either days or years so I couldn't tell what was going on
October 23, 2020
After reading 'Stories We Could Tell' recently and not really enjoying it I was pleased to see 'Starting Over' was back to the writing Tony Parsons does best. A good story capturing the relationships between family members, different generations, and people's hopes and dreams.
December 18, 2020
It was good halfway.
Then it feels disjointed on the other half and I dont really understand whats going on for some parts?
Anyway. Not keen on the ending because I just can’t (if i were the wife). But I guess it his prerogative.
Then it feels disjointed on the other half and I dont really understand whats going on for some parts?
Anyway. Not keen on the ending because I just can’t (if i were the wife). But I guess it his prerogative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2022
Only 4* as I reserve 5* for the very greatest classics.
I enjoyed this enormously but I’m always struggling for the right words to describe how Tony’s books make me feel. His depictions of family life and relationships are so very good; so very moving.
I enjoyed this enormously but I’m always struggling for the right words to describe how Tony’s books make me feel. His depictions of family life and relationships are so very good; so very moving.
April 11, 2022
I had high expectations for this book as its Tony Parsons, and he's generally really good.
I can't say I was overly taken with this one.
I understand what the story is supposed to portray, but it was abit bland.
It was alright for something to read, humerus in places but not that gripping.
I can't say I was overly taken with this one.
I understand what the story is supposed to portray, but it was abit bland.
It was alright for something to read, humerus in places but not that gripping.
June 28, 2022
1 star - going from the most original book I've read for ages with the fish one to the other end of the spectrum. Just a bland storyline, one-note characters and not especially amazing writing. Sorry tony!!
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