Been reading this book by Jane Green. "Straight Talking".

Some parts i found excellent are being put up for visual enjoyment.

"... Daniel? You want to know about Daniel? All i can tell you is this is typical of Daniel. A smooth-talking lawyer who's pleasant looking, charming company, and a total shit to Mel. They've been together for five years, but he won't marry her until she's changed. He wants her to lose weight, to wear better clothes. In short, to be more like us.

And shit does he flirt. I've started to dread seeing him, because when Mel's back is turned he'll sidle up and whisper that he's always fancied me, that maybe, when i'm feeling lonely, i should give him a call.

And it's not just me. He's done it to Emma as well. He probably wants to do it to Andy, but i think she scares him. But what can you do? What can you say when your friend's boyfriend is flirting, and since none of us have taken him up on his crappy offer, how do you know whether he's all mouth and no trousers? Think about it, what would you do?

Maybe it doesn't matter, maybe it's the fact that he's saying it at all, but Mel's such a good person, so genuine, and the three of us have agreed not to tell her, we just want her to finish it, to get out, to get on with her life.

Because a woman will always blame the other woman. She never thinks her man could have made the first move, or he's simply a bastard and she should kick him out. A woman will always assume it's the woman, even when that woman happens to be her friend, even when that woman would do nothing, and i mean nothing, to hurt her.

I can see what would happen if we told Mel. She'd be shocked, silent, but then she'd pull herself together and thank us very calmly for telling her. And we'd never hear from her again. If we phoned her she'd be cool but distant, and she wouldn't kick Daniel out, she'd believe his protestations that it was us, that we'd encouraged him, that he was only joking.

And then, eventually, she'd find a new group of friends, new meat for him to hunt, and so the cycle would continue."


-----

"... 'I called you and you didn't pick up the phone. Why not?'

'Jesus Christ, woman, it's four a.m. and you're quizzing me like i'm guilty of something, although heaven knows what. I heard the phone ringing but i didn't pick it up because i was working to deadline. You of all people know what it's like when you're too busy to chat, and i knew it was you and it would just distract me.'

Actually i don't know what it's like, because i've always thought that people make time for things they want to do. When someone says sorry i haven't called, I've been too busy, it's bollocks. Who hasn't got time to pick up the phone and say a quick hello, a sorry-i-can't-chat-right-now-but-i'm-thinking-of-you kind of call?"


-----

"...'Yeah, i know. Sorry, i didn't mean that.' I didn't mean to bring Simon into the conversation, i try and forget about Simon, and most of the time i do fine, just fine. But that phone call threw me, it really did.

You gradually get over the pain. I doesn't go away, not for a long time, but it becomes easier to live with. One morning you wake up and he's not the first thing on your mind. And then a few months down the line you realise you've made it through half the day without thinking of him.

Sometimes it takes months, sometimes years, but eventually you reach a point when you only think about them occasionally. You manage to do this because you don't see them, you don't hear about them, you try not to think about them.

And then you bump into them walking down the street, or someone unexpected mentions their name, or the fuckers ring in to your television programme, and the memories come flooding back. But memories also become less painful in time, and i can talk about Simon now without really feeling anyting. But i'd rather not. If you know what i mean.


-----

"...'I think subcounsciously it's what i think i deserve. It's what i know, family equals betrayal. My father betrayed me and my mother, so i wait for my boyfriends to do the same thing. If they're not betraying me by being unfaithful, I'll find another reason.'

'And as a child you felt that you weren't good enough to hold your father, hmmm?'

'Yes. And as an adult i feel i'm not good enough to hold a man. Even the times when i have had relationships with men who are faithful, who do appear to love me, i can't trust it. I introduce them to my friends who are, i think, prettier than me, and i sit back and watch, watch them chatting, being friendly, and in my head i convince myself they're flirting.'"


------

That's about it. =)