English as a Second Language

by Megan Crane

Book Overview

In this wickedly funny first novel-think Legally Blonde in Oxford-a young New York woman exchanges her corporate job for a year of books, blokes, beers, and new best friends in graduate school in England.

Alexandra Brennan is fed up with her dead end New York City job-and even more fed up of running into her smug ex-boyfriend. So when he crosses the line by telling her that she'll never get into graduate school in the United...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446692867
• ISBN13: 9780446692861
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Wasn't in it for the love story...

I loved this book precisely because it wasn't about finding love. It was the story of Alex Brennan finding out who she was and what she wanted to do with her life. I loved Alex because her personality resonated with me...and because at 26 she's turned her life upside down and hauled her ass across the pond! Her humor and wit is amazing and I found myself unable to put this book down...laughing out loud so many times. I love the development of the friendship with Alex and two other dormmates...so many times I have sat around with my girls and bs'ed like that. I LOVED this book because it wasn't about finding love like other chick lit stories...it was about finding herself. And that is what made this book so incredibly satisfying. Oh, and the funny drunken happenings are pretty hilarious too!! :)

Taking a Chance

English as a Second Language is the perfect example of how a young person's life can change if they take a chance. The story focuses on Alex Brennan, a 26-year-old New York girl, who is sick of her dead-end job. This all changes when she decides to apply for a Master's degree program in England, mainly to prove to an ex-boyfriend that she can do it. When she is accepted, she realizes that this is her chance to get out of the rut she is stuck in and find her place in life. The novel is a light read filled with witty and hilarious dialogue. Since the author, Megan Crane, spent five years in Britain studying at a university, her experiences portray British life and the challenges and stresses of being a student in a foreign country. "The day outside was rainy and cold. Welcome to England I thought. I was still exhausted and stranded in a foreign country, away from everyone I had ever known."(Pg3) The novel's British phrases and diverse characters keep the reader laughing out loud as well as intrigued. Life can be confusing in your twenties and many people can relate to this. I loved this book because I could identify with Alex. We are both struggling to find our place in life and I have always wanted to study in England. Alex's journey is difficult. "But I didn't know where I wanted to go, or what I wanted to do when I got there. I had dreams, but they were vague things with no real substance. My whole life was fill-in-the-blank."(Pg8) Never the less she learned that when she took a chance, her life did change and she found a place where she belonged. "I shoved my hands into my pockets and watched them-the fools and the drunks that God was supposed to watch over with special interest, the ones I knew so well in so many surprising ways. I was one of them, I thought, and grinned."(Pg277) English as a Second Language is perfect for anyone in their twenties confused about where they belong in life. It is also a good book for those who are thinking about studying abroad. When looking for something new and exciting in life, or a change of routine, I recommend reading this book. With the realistic characters and the great sense of humor this book provides, you'll never want to put it down.

English as a Second Language by Megan Crane

I really loved this book! Crane masterfully evokes the nuances of human behavior with enormous wit throughout this hilarious and charming book. Crane does a fantastic job of keeping the reader laughing AND thinking. The book is filled with saucy characters and interesting conversations. I found myself caring deeply for Alex, who, like most of us struggling to find our place in life, finds more strength each time she falls. Crane has a brilliant comic voice and exceptional powers of social observation. I can't wait for her next book!

I laughed out loud

I laughed at loud while reading this book, and I never do that. I mean never. Megan Crane's witty dialogue, sharp characters and smart story are fabulously entertaining from the first word to the last. And this book isn't just about a girl in some desperate search for a boyfriend as the answer to all of life's problems. It's about trying to find yourself and when you finally do (after much trial, tribulation and even embarassment) choosing the right people to share it with. I highly, highly recommend this book!

Loved this sharp, funny book

I enjoyed this book so much, I devoured it on the beach in two short days. Alex's quest to prove her boyfriend wrong by heading abroad to attend grad school had me turning the pages to get to the next funny sentence. Alex is smart but she's not infallible, which is why you like her so much. She's a woman in a foreign country trying to figure out where she belongs - and hoisting a few pints with strange new friends in the process. In my opinion, she belongs on every woman's summer reading list.