Confessions of a Nervous Shiksa

by Tracy McArdle

Lights Camera Ultimatum When movie studio publicity V.P. Alexis Manning's fianc -- Jewish bartender/actor David a.k.a. Deke -- goes home with her for a holly jolly Christmas in Vermont with her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416503218
• ISBN13: 9781416503217
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

No, it's NOT another chick book!

A very funny, well written, Hollywood insider account of life and love in LA with only a microwaved buritto at home. It's not a chick book about breaking up when you are 30- something, but rather a true account of being single with a great job, good friends and a lot of questions of what life and love is really about. Women should read this book because it's good and because it might give a new perspective. Men should read this book because it does a great job of getting into the mind of a 30-year old woman. Great job Tracy!

Love-Love-Loved this book

I really enjoyed the way this book was written, and the humor and emotions put into it! It felt more like reality than fiction! I highly recommend others to read as well as enjoy this book!

life imitates art

In this case, the movies help Alexis understand her life -- and eventually get on with it. Confessions of a Nervous Shiksa is an impressive first novel from a very talented new author. Ms. McArdle has an knack for creating memorable characters and recalling poignant movies scenes that help the reader understand her protagonist's (Alexis's) process of "disengagement." Each chapter begins with a brief description from a modern movie classic, including Beaches, Annie Hall, and others. Although I rarely read chic lit, I found Shiksa to be a funny and fascinating glimpse of an insider's experience behind the scenes in Hollywood.

Wonderful, poignant and funny

As a guy, I was a little nervous about reading this, you know, chick books are not usually my thing. However, I was asked to the book launch and managed to get an early copy, and I have to tell you the book blew me away. The book captures brilliantly Hollywood and all its craziness yet at the same time manages to deliver wonderful characters and hilarious insights about work, life, religion and of course movies. Go out and get a copy - you won't regret it.

fine chick lit tale

In Hollywood, publicity vice president Alexis "Lexy" Manning works 24/7 promoting her studio's movies and its stars. Lexy could not have a more suited job for herself as she loves the movies adulating footnotes from her favorite pictures in discussions with her friends. Lexy is almost engaged to Jewish bartender David Rothstein who uses the name of Deke Rothrock as a wannabe actor. She takes him home to spend a Yankee Christmas with her family in Vermont that shakes him to his circumcised core because he feels so out of place. Afterward, David makes religious demands on Lexy to convert to Judaism so they can raise their children Jewish. She refuses and they break up. It helps that she is attracted to a director she just met, but it hurts as it gives her time to worry about her ailing cat and sick sister. Lexy sees no happy ending as the reels of her life play out. Though readers might question Lexy's choices and there is the inevitable lists (though some like the schedules fit her job), she seems like a genuine person living a stressed out lifestyle turned even more nerve-racking by David's demands after three years together. Simply put Lexy makes this chick lit tale worth reading as she spends money on herself, uses help when she needs to, and euphorically drops cinema references that this movie buff (don't ask how I squeeze time in for a flick) and her even greater movie buffed spouse enjoyed. Junk food junkie Lexy struggles at work and at home while seeking the next popular hit, which readers will hope is CONFESSIONS OF A NERVOUS SHIKSA. Harriet Klausner