My Life on a Plate

Some would say Clara (Jabba the) Hutt has achieved "the goal": husband, house and 2.4 children. She is a "smug married." However, there's always a downside and Clara's not-so-perfect life consists of carting her boys to and from school, giving her a chance to see how the truly flawless mothers exist; trying to decipher, after eight years of marriage, whether her mysterious husband actually exercises his bodily functions or not; and, of course, her eccentric family, which consists of a thin, beautiful, insane mother and a string of ex-step-daddies, plus ex-step-siblings. Added to the Clara cocktail are her swinging single friends, the perfect mothers who turn out to be Jezebels in M & S clothing, and the strange Irish dancer who she must interview, renamed by her five year old as "bloody Dunphy."

Hailed as the Bridget Jones of the 21st century, India Knight's first novel My Life on a Plate is a good giggle. If anything, it is the inverse of Bridget Jones since Clara Hutt starts with everything and heads in completely the opposite direction. Funny, warm and full of "does my bum look big in this?" sentiment, Clara ponders the question: "everyone wants to be married--don't they?" --Neena Dutta

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It may work for you - or not? - Rated
It didn't for me, certainly, though it was funny at times, I admit. The lack of dialogues was something I missed from the beginning, and then, I found it irritating how the couple simply didn't do anything to save their marriage (not even sex for god knows how many months?).
This was my first India Knight and didn't make me feel like wanting to read any more :(

Lost count of how many times I have re-read this! - Rated
This book is hilarious! Its the kind of book that actually manages to get me out of a bad mood - I have read it so many times it is falling to pieces. I absolutely love it! Would recommend to anyone!

Oh dear - Rated
I had high hopes for this book. I love India Knight's column in the Sunday Times, even if I don't always agree with her. I was so surprised she created a character like Clara. Clara annoyed me from start to finish and the references to "spastics" and "lezzos" had me cringing. I really hate to give this two stars because I do love her column and her diet book. Maybe her other novel(s) are better.

I almost wet myself laughing... - Rated
I have long thought that India Knight's weekly column in the Sunday Times is one of the best things about my weekend papers, and I really enjoyed 'Don't you want me?' when i read it a couple of years ago. I bought My Life on a Plate with a sense of anticipation, and it definitely didn't disappoint. I finished reading it this morning, having been unable to put it down as it is the funniest book I have read in ages, and it had me in hysterics on just about every other page. India has a sharp wit and a great way with words, and her heroines are relatable and sympathetic. Any mother can identify with the emotions of the lead character Clara, and the dialogue of her two sons strikes a chord they both sound remarkably similiar to my son and his bottom humour. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sarcastic, quick and self deprecating humour, especially if you have kids and spend your whole time wondering how you can manage to do everything required of you on a daily basis. There are many writers out there writing chick lit by numbers but this book is head and shoulders above all of the predictable trash that swamps the supermarket shelves, as it is truly, pant-wettingly funny, as well as poignant.

My life on a Plate revisited - Rated
I've had this book for ages and reread it every so often - but it always struck me as a mystery as to why the perfect husband went off and every one accepted it without arguement - but having read of the spat between India Knight and Julie Burchill where Julie signs off with a comment about India turning another husband gay - suddenly it all makes sense!
I reread the book this week and yes, it all fits - husband beautifully dressed, very attuned to gossip and working on a fashion magazine finally comes out of the closet!