Status
Available
Publication
Penguin Books (2005), Edition: Reprint, 305 pages
Description
She's a dazzling independent beauty journalist turned secret agent, and she's got her priorities right on the money: pack the hairdryer first, the nerve agent dispenser later. Her name is Olivia Joules ("as in the unit of kinetic energy") and she's ready to take America by storm with charm, style, and her infamous Overactive Imagination. Could her arch-enemy truly be Pierre Ferramo, he of the hooded eyes, impeccable taste, unimaginable wealth, exotic international homes, and dubious French accent? Could he be a terrorist bent on the destruction of the Western world, or is it just Olivia's imagination investing a naughty playboy with deadly significance?
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Darla
My daughter got this from the library while we were on vacation, and passed it on to me to read before she returned it. She loved it. I wasn't quite as enamored.
I didn't hate it, either. It was a fun read, but didn't have a whole lot of substance to it. I had to roll my eyes at all the Amazon
Anyway, Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination is like a comedy version of the movie Conspiracy Theory. Olivia is a journalist who sees conspiracies and Big Stories everywhere, and finally stumbles on to one, by sheer accident.
My main complaint about the story is that it was too firmly straddling the fence between being a semi-serious James Bond-type story and being an over-the-top Stephanie Plum-type story. If it had leaned more either way, I'd have been much happier with it. Instead, we're asked to believe, for example, that the CIA would recruit her on the spot as an agent because of her overactive imagination and without the support of the entire book being completely over-the-top, things like that just fall flat.
The romance, too, was too wishy-washy. I'd have been happier with it being focused on either less or more, or even left out completely. As it was, I couldn't believe in it, and it felt out of place.
I did, however, love Olivia's "Rules for Living." (#1: "Don't panic." #2: "No one is thinking about you. They're thinking about themselves, just like you.") In fact, I think they made the book for me. Without them, I'd probably have given the book 3 or 3.5 stars. Not just that the rules were present, but what they were, and how Olivia referred to them at times throughout the story.
I didn't hate it, either. It was a fun read, but didn't have a whole lot of substance to it. I had to roll my eyes at all the Amazon
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reviews trashing the book because it mentioned Osama Bin Laden. One of these days, I'll have to write down my theory about things like that.Anyway, Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination is like a comedy version of the movie Conspiracy Theory. Olivia is a journalist who sees conspiracies and Big Stories everywhere, and finally stumbles on to one, by sheer accident.
My main complaint about the story is that it was too firmly straddling the fence between being a semi-serious James Bond-type story and being an over-the-top Stephanie Plum-type story. If it had leaned more either way, I'd have been much happier with it. Instead, we're asked to believe, for example, that the CIA would recruit her on the spot as an agent because of her overactive imagination and without the support of the entire book being completely over-the-top, things like that just fall flat.
The romance, too, was too wishy-washy. I'd have been happier with it being focused on either less or more, or even left out completely. As it was, I couldn't believe in it, and it felt out of place.
I did, however, love Olivia's "Rules for Living." (#1: "Don't panic." #2: "No one is thinking about you. They're thinking about themselves, just like you.") In fact, I think they made the book for me. Without them, I'd probably have given the book 3 or 3.5 stars. Not just that the rules were present, but what they were, and how Olivia referred to them at times throughout the story.
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LibraryThing member leica
A great disappointment...if I didn't have a policy of finishing every book I start, I wouldn't have.
LibraryThing member whitebalcony
As I suspected all along, Bridget Jones was a fluke. Fielding is an abysmal writer who managed a runaway success by combining an Austen classic with a modern writing style.
She was incredibly lucky and would have been well served to retire with her good fortune intact. Unfortunately, she chose to
Without Austen to plagiarize, all Fielding has left is her own poor imagination and lack of ability.. sad, really.
She was incredibly lucky and would have been well served to retire with her good fortune intact. Unfortunately, she chose to
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write another novel.Without Austen to plagiarize, all Fielding has left is her own poor imagination and lack of ability.. sad, really.
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LibraryThing member eas311
I know I sound like a psychopath. But I laughed so much reading this novel. And I want to be her.
LibraryThing member kimiwind
Not even entertaining.
LibraryThing member sarathena1
Surprisingly awful book. I didn't appreciate a lot of the stereotypes that she seemed to lean heavily on in this work.
LibraryThing member reneer
People looking for another Bridget Jones' style book are obviously dissapointed, because this isn't it.
Despite that, while it starts off a bit pretentious, it turns into a wonderfully funny, engaging read.
I'll admit I almost gave up on this book at first, but kept on going and ended up loving it in
Despite that, while it starts off a bit pretentious, it turns into a wonderfully funny, engaging read.
I'll admit I almost gave up on this book at first, but kept on going and ended up loving it in
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the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member shamille
"Ahahah!! AAHHAHAHA!!!" you think. "SHE'S BACK!"
Alas, no, it's not another Bridget Jones (wise decision on Ms. Fielding's part). Olivia Joules is self-assured and smart as a whip, with not even a hint of frump. But, like our friend Bridge, she is a bit loony.
Olivia works as a freelance journalist,
After the explosion of a Nursing Home/Cruise Ship, Olivia begins thinking that maybe Pierre Feramo and his crew are not all that they seem to be. So what does she do? She asks for an extension in Miami to cover another story...
All I can say about this book is "PLEASE, SIR, I WANT SOME MORE" (even though I know a woman wrote it). It's one of those get-lost-in, can't-put-down, type of stories. I literally had to make myself stop reading so I would go to sleep. It was that good.
I really love the writing style, especially the little descriptions of little things. That's a lovely little thing that she does.
The characters are really very... well characteristic of themselves. I mean you get to know them, how they look, how they move, what they'll think of this or that... They were really very well developed. I liked them all, especially Olivia (which is pretty important, you know). She is just so mischievous for a woman around her age (I never really figured out what that is).
The only thing that bugged me about the book was that at the end, a character, Scott, kept calling her "baby". "Ok, baby, you're on" or stuff like that. It was SOOO annoying but maybe Fielding finds that appealing... or it's like some stereotype she has about American men or something.
I would have really loved to see an alternate resolution because I really liked a certain character that didn't make it to a *ahem!* certain end of a certain story.
Anyway, lovely book, lovely people, lovely writing, lovely, lovely, lovey love love.
Alas, no, it's not another Bridget Jones (wise decision on Ms. Fielding's part). Olivia Joules is self-assured and smart as a whip, with not even a hint of frump. But, like our friend Bridge, she is a bit loony.
Olivia works as a freelance journalist,
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and is always getting chastised by her boss for her overactive imagination (locust plague in Africa, etc.). She goes to Miami to cover a product launch and is swept up into the life of Pierre Feramo, who is handsome, rich, good looking, and probably not French.After the explosion of a Nursing Home/Cruise Ship, Olivia begins thinking that maybe Pierre Feramo and his crew are not all that they seem to be. So what does she do? She asks for an extension in Miami to cover another story...
All I can say about this book is "PLEASE, SIR, I WANT SOME MORE" (even though I know a woman wrote it). It's one of those get-lost-in, can't-put-down, type of stories. I literally had to make myself stop reading so I would go to sleep. It was that good.
I really love the writing style, especially the little descriptions of little things. That's a lovely little thing that she does.
The characters are really very... well characteristic of themselves. I mean you get to know them, how they look, how they move, what they'll think of this or that... They were really very well developed. I liked them all, especially Olivia (which is pretty important, you know). She is just so mischievous for a woman around her age (I never really figured out what that is).
The only thing that bugged me about the book was that at the end, a character, Scott, kept calling her "baby". "Ok, baby, you're on" or stuff like that. It was SOOO annoying but maybe Fielding finds that appealing... or it's like some stereotype she has about American men or something.
I would have really loved to see an alternate resolution because I really liked a certain character that didn't make it to a *ahem!* certain end of a certain story.
Anyway, lovely book, lovely people, lovely writing, lovely, lovely, lovey love love.
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
Only one track on the last CD from the library is audible, and so I have abandoned the book. I was able to hear enough to figure out what the big target was and how the love interest goes, so I'm fine with ditching the book. This will give the library the opportunity to try out the 1600.00 CD
Light diversionary read by the author of Bridget Jones.
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descratcher.Light diversionary read by the author of Bridget Jones.
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LibraryThing member mummimamma
This book get an an extra half star because it saved me from being killing people, stuck in an airport waiting for my plane. 36 hours passed and I smelt horribly and felt even worse, luckily I had this book to keep my rage focused everywhere.
If you come by my house you can have it.
If you come by my house you can have it.
LibraryThing member PaperbackPirate
I thought Bridget Jones's Diary, and The Edge of Reason were both vg, so I was expecting this book to rock. Instead...what's the opposite of rock? Pebble? It's chick lit meets spy, only falls far short of Charlie's Angels.
On Wikipedia it says, "In the UK edition, there are comic-strip type pictures
On Wikipedia it says, "In the UK edition, there are comic-strip type pictures
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of Olivia that relate to her espionage activities." That might actually help. Show Less
LibraryThing member trinityM82
Freaking brilliant! Outrageously untrue, action/adventure/romance(just a tinsy bit). Joules is a journalist with the curiosity of a tiger cub and the courage to back it up. SHE"S AWESOME and my new favorite hero. Outstandingly British, stiff upper lip, situation well in hand and all that.
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Absolutely WoNderFUL!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member Prop2gether
This entertaining book from the author of Bridget Jones and her books reminded me somewhat of Greene's Man in Havana--the spy who wasn't a spy but was led/duped/coerced into spying. It was fun and light, and seriously fluffable.
LibraryThing member SeeHeidiRun
Olivia is a journalist-turned-spy who is sent around the world to expose a smokescreen for Al-Qaeda: the entertainment industry. A fun read!
LibraryThing member verenka
Wow, what a hysterical book! Overactive imagination indeed :-)
While I admit it's not a work of great literary merit, I really enjoy it. Once again this proves: I just prefer books that are different.
While I admit it's not a work of great literary merit, I really enjoy it. Once again this proves: I just prefer books that are different.
LibraryThing member kellibee
Not near as good as the Bridget Jones books, this character is still fun, but too far from reality in the situations she finds herself. It was different from what I was expecting.
LibraryThing member Eyre-32
If I book just isn't enjoyable for me, I still try to finish it in hopes that I might find some redeeming quality. Unfortunately, I couldn't make myself read the entire thing. It was just too painful.
LibraryThing member readingrat
At the beginning this book had the feel of a pretty decent cozy mystery but then it started to loose focus.
LibraryThing member jennyolsson
Really funny, exciting and hot, a little bit like a Bond movie but for girls and in book shape. Funny pictures too in the version I read.
LibraryThing member eas311
I love Helen Fielding. This book was pretty cheesy, but also pretty fantastic. I read it on the beach and kept laughing out loud and drawing attention to myself. Oops.
LibraryThing member LNL
Refreshing! Although the characters seem somewhat superficial, the plot is quite thrilling and it gets better and better as we read along! I enjoyed the tricks and the suspence eventhough some of it is predictable. I appreciate Helen Fielding's light style! A good read!
LibraryThing member mirikayla
I guess I forgot to add this when I read it a few years ago. All I remember is that it wasn't anything special and was actually rather racist, so all in all, I wasn't impressed.
LibraryThing member sweetzombieducky
Had to make this one a DNF right around the time she discovered her room was bugged. I just couldn't get into it at all, and it was a sequence of random events happening to this one (somewhat stupid) person and I just didn't care what was going on.
LibraryThing member Eyre32
If I book just isn't enjoyable for me, I still try to finish it in hopes that I might find some redeeming quality. Unfortunately, I couldn't make myself read the entire thing. It was just too painful.
LibraryThing member isabelx
'It's me', she whispered urgently into the receiver.
Olivia, it's the middle of the bloody night!'
'I know, I know. Sorry. But it's very important.'
'OK, what? Don't tell me. You've discovered Miami is a giant hologram designed by aliens? You're getting married to Elton John?'
'No', said Olivia. She
'What? Come on.'
'I think I've found Osama Bin Laden!'
Has multi-lingual freelance journalist Olivia Joules really stumbled upon the notorious terrorist hiding in plain sight as a Hollywood producer, or is she letting her imagination run away with her as usual? A strange mixture of fluff and Al Quaeda terrorism.
Olivia, it's the middle of the bloody night!'
'I know, I know. Sorry. But it's very important.'
'OK, what? Don't tell me. You've discovered Miami is a giant hologram designed by aliens? You're getting married to Elton John?'
'No', said Olivia. She
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began to have second thoughts about asking Kate's advice if she was going to be like this.'What? Come on.'
'I think I've found Osama Bin Laden!'
Has multi-lingual freelance journalist Olivia Joules really stumbled upon the notorious terrorist hiding in plain sight as a Hollywood producer, or is she letting her imagination run away with her as usual? A strange mixture of fluff and Al Quaeda terrorism.
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2004
Physical description
7.96 inches
ISBN
0143035363 / 9780143035367