Jeanne Martinet (1) (1958–)

Tess Eliot has just lost her job, ended her multi-year relationship with her boyfriend when he tells her that he has been cheating on her, and she's estranged from her brother over an inheritance that he got and she didn't, and she really needs to make some money. Through a weird series of events, she gets hired to write a book on etiquette for the end of the world, which is needed just in time for 12/21/12, when certain groups of people are expecting the end of the world as we know it as show more prophesied (they think) by the Mayan calendar (it's a whole thing). She sets out to learn as much as she can about the supposed apocalypse, and starts to get pulled into the conspiracy theories against her will. She doesn't forget to write her book, though, with as much humor and good advice as she can think up.

I thought this was a really fun book. There was more of a mystery than I was expecting, which was a bonus. My favorite parts of the book, though, were definitely the chapters in her end of the world etiquette book. They were filled with humor, most of it tongue in cheek, and I found myself looking forward to reading more of them as the book went on. The characters were enjoyable (other than the ones you weren't supposed to like), and I like how the book progressed from start to finish.

In summary, this was a fun, light, quick read, and I enjoyed it very much.

4/5 stars.. show less

I'm not sure I've *ever* laughed so hard while reading a comic book. These stories would probably be funny satire of the romance genre on their own, but paired with vintage romance comic art they're downright hilarious. Highly recommended to anyone who's ever made snarky comments during a romantic comedy.

Sometimes you need a nice, short chick-lit to brighten your day. Something funny and easy to read. I thought that was just what I got, when I decided to read Etiquette for the End of the World. I was wrong!

It has the classic chick-lit-start: Woman has been left by boyfriend, lost her job and is desperate for something to happen. Granted, Tess is a bit older than my usual chick-lit-reads protagonists, but actually it never really shows. She could just as well have been 25. She comes across a show more great opportunity for her to make some money and off we go.

So much in this story seems either irrelevant or coincidental. She just happens to meet a librarian who knows secret stuff and who has a friend who knows more stuff. Jeez, I don’t get why they are a part of the story? She could have come across this secret without introducing more characters that I didn’t care for! Tess ends up in a lot of unrealistic situations which resolves themselves very easily. Seriously, the part about how they got out of the big mansion thingy with the big bad was beyond stupid! Overall the conspiracy theory part was too much and I didn’t care for it. At times the story (well, Tess anyways) was condescending and rude, which, obviously, is never a good thing.

But the story had some good qualities after all. It was somewhat funny. I like the parts about the book - it was funny in a cute way and I would actually have loved to buy that book. Etiquette for the End of the World gets 2 stars for being weirder than I ever thought possible for a chick-lit - but really, read something else. There are plenty of great and funny stories out there! show less

Дали става дума за досадник, който постоянно те кани на кафе и не млъква да се оплаква за проблемите си, за роднина, който се сеща да ти се обади само като му трябват 20 лв. или приятел, на чиято сватба в Аруба не искаш да отидеш, защото с парите предпочиташ да си купиш show more кола...

Има хора, които не могат да отказват различни услуги или покани - дали защото са прекалено срамежливи за да отказват, или защото живеят сложен социален живот, в който такива откази обиждат останалите.

Разбира се, аз не съм имал никога този проблем по няколко причини - социалният ми живот не е сложен и приятелите ми не се сърдят на откази, а може да се каже, че аз също съм прост, така че не ми пука дали някой досадник ще се обиди. За останалите хора тази книга с примери и съвети как да лъжем учтиво, може да е полезна. show less