Book review: Note To Self's protagonist is the anti-Bridget Jones

Despite being 37, unemployed, single and overweight, the main character Anna only briefly devolves into a self-pitying character

Ann Marie McQueen

20 July, 2013

I spent most of Alina Simone's debut novel Note to Self certain I had figured it out.

But how could it be new media-based chick-lit if I liked it? Part of the credit goes to a parade of fresh lines as clever this one, following the end of a relationship that was never made formal: "It would have been like challenging a cloud of mist to a duel. What was there to break?"

Another plus is that this is not a book about landing a man and living happily ever after, even if it seems a bit like it. Despite being 37, unemployed, single and overweight, the protagonist Anna only briefly devolves into a sad, Brooklyn-based Bridget Jones. Instead, in the course of trying to rebound after a layoff and challenge a beastly addiction to the internet, Anna hooks up with an enigmatic, avant-garde filmmaker named Taj and his fame-obsessed crew of insufferables. And that is how she finally figures out where she needs to go and how to get there - even if "there" is not half as much fun as the journey and has nothing to do with a keyboard.

amcqueen@thenational.ae

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank 

While you're here

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

Captain Marvel

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law,  Ben Mendelsohn

4/5 stars