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The Girl On The Page
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
11 posts | 6 read | 7 to read
Two women, two great betrayals, one path to redemption. A punchy, powerful and page-turning novel about the redemptive power of great literature, from industry insider, John Purcell. Amy Winston is a hard-drinking, bed-hopping, hot-shot young book editor on a downward spiral. Having made her name and fortune by turning an average thriller writer into a Lee Child, Amy is given the unenviable task of steering literary great Helen Owen back to publication. When Amy knocks on the door of their beautiful townhouse in north west London, Helen and her husband, the novelist Malcolm Taylor, are conducting a silent war of attrition. The townhouse was paid for with the enormous seven figure advance Helen was given for the novel she wrote to end fifty years of making ends meets on critical acclaim alone. The novel Malcolm thinks unworthy of her. The novel Helen has yet to deliver. The novel Amy has come to collect. Amy has never faced a challenge like this one. Helen and Malcolm are brilliant, complicated writers who unsettle Amy into asking questions of herself - questions about what she values, her principles, whether she has integrity, whether she is authentic. Before she knows it, answering these questions becomes a matter of life or death. From ultimate book industry insider, John Purcell, comes a literary page-turner, a ferocious and fast-paced novel that cuts to the core of what it means to balance ambition and integrity, and the redemptive power of great literature. 'A slick, sharp novel about books and relationships, drenched in delicious insider detail from the book industry. Impossible not to enjoy.' - Matt Haig, international bestselling author of Notes on a Nervous Planet and How to Stop Time 'Fizzy, ferocious, and ice-pick sharp, packed with wit and heart -- think The Devil Wears Prada by way of Bret Easton Ellis. Gulp it down. Or savor it slowly. Just read it.' - AJ Finn, author of international bestseller The Woman in the Window 'Hilarious and heartbreaking ... I know people are going to enjoy this book as much as I did.' - Christian White, bestselling author of The Nowhere Child 'So genuine, rich with insider info. Super read.' - Candice Fox, international bestselling author of Redemption Point 'Fast-paced, clever, funny, seriously thought and talk-provoking.' - Dervla McTiernan, bestselling author of The Ruin 'Like getting on a fast-moving train or rocket ... you cannot and don't want to get off, but must follow every dynamic, insatiable, brilliant character right to the stunning end.' - Caroline Overington, bestselling author of The One Who Got Away and The Ones You Trust 'In The Girl on the Page, John Purcell triumphs with a scalpel in one hand and his heart in the other. It is a gripping, dark comedy of a novel which eviscerates the cynicism of contemporary publishing while uttering a cri du coeur for what is happening to writers and readers this century. Through this dark comedy - I squealed with laughter, page after page - flash questions about cultural life that Purcell asks but leaves us to ponder.' Blanche d'Alpuget 'A juicy page turner that takes a scalpel to the literary world, written with deep insider intel and a gleeful sense of mischief, The Girl on the Page is a wickedly clever, razor-sharp satire of lust, betrayal and ambition.' Caroline Baum
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KarenUK
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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Today‘s #alphastack is brought to you by the #LetterG 💕📚
Including the tagged book that the lovely @JennyM sent me 💕

JennyM That was an interesting book!!! 🤭🤭🤭 Another glorious stack 📚 4y
CarolynM Echoing @JennyM Interesting... 4y
JennyM @CarolynM @karenuk we need a blushing emoji for this book I think!!! 4y
See All 6 Comments
CarolynM @JennyM Maybe extreme eyebrow raising too😂 4y
JennyM @CarolynM lol! 🤣😂🤣 4y
KarenUK @JennyM @carolynm Definitely! 😂😂 4y
57 likes6 comments
review
AngeG
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
Pickpick

Totally loved this book, I didn't want it to end xx

blurb
KarenUK
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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I love this! At the end of this novel (about publishing and writers)... there are reading lists from each of the fictional characters! Really fun and a first for me..... 💕📚📚📚😊

Crazeedi Cool!!❤ 5y
LiteraryinPA What a clever idea! 5y
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
KarenUK
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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Pickpick

An odd one, but definitely a pick for me. Tonally its a bit all over the place. It‘s a dark comedy about London publishing, there are some truly great characters (an aging married couple of genius writers), some sharp commentary on art vs commerce, and then a main character who resembles a Jackie Collins heroine (ie. she‘s brilliant, gorgeous and has tons of sex!)
But I couldn‘t put it down.
So thank you @JennyM for putting this in my hands 💕😘

rather_be_reading stacked! 5y
JennyM So glad you enjoyed it! It‘s very popular over here. 5y
61 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
KarenUK
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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#nextup This one, that the lovely @JennyM sent me..... I just love this cover! Getting started on the way home from a weekend away.... #carreading 🤓

JennyM I can‘t wait to hear what you think!!! Hope you had a good break x 😘 5y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
KarenUK
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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My hubby has had a rough few months with his health, so we are taking a few days away this weekend to a fancy hotel for a break and relax...
Deciding on what books to take is obviously the most important part of packing! Think I‘ve decided on these 3, plus a loaded kindle of course!

AlaMich I hope you both have a lovely weekend! 5y
DivineDiana Wishing you both a restorative getaway! 💗❤️ 5y
saresmoore Best wishes for a rejuvenating trip! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Hope you both have a relaxing weekend. 5y
KarenUK @AlaMich @DivineDiana @saresmoore @erzascarletbookgasm Thanks so much! I‘m so looking forward to it.... 💕 5y
51 likes5 comments
blurb
KarenUK
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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#AprilTBR
AKA a plan that I may or may not stick to!

Top row are for book clubs ....
Sweetbitter a double dip for #booked2019 and #pop19 challenges....
And the last 2 were gifts from lovely kind & generous Littens....💕

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LittleMummyMe
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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I've just put this audio book on reserve...
Reviews of the book seem to be love it or hate it...
I guess I'll soon find out what I think.

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JennyM
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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#TimBitTunes

This book is definitely about #ThatGirl! And I‘m going to hijack this prompt to do an impromptu giveaway 😊

Amy is a beautiful, hard drinking book editor, and the story gives us a snarky look into the publishing world. BUT....there is so.much.sex! And I actually chickened out of giving this copy to my colleague because of it. So #MyBlushes are your gain!

Open to all - tag me before Saturday and I‘ll add your name into the hat

Cinfhen That‘s hilarious 😂 Love the hashtag 🙌🏻 6y
Cinfhen I‘ll take a shot at this one....thanks 💜 6y
JennyM @Cinfhen Yey...it‘s good, just a bit 🙊. @CarolynM will back me up on it. And there was no way I was giving to someone at work 😆 6y
See All 21 Comments
Cinfhen Waiting to hear @CarolynM thoughts 😉😂😂 6y
CarolynM @Cinfhen It's an entertaining look at the publishing industry but the central character is something else. She has a lot of sex, it's not romantic, or even erotic, it's yuk! It made the character unbelievable which kind of spoilt the story for me. 6y
Cinfhen Hmmmm @CarolynM not sure if that would turn me off too!! I think it might 6y
JennyM @Cinfhen no one else seems to want it...so you may be the lucky recipient 😆 It‘s on the best seller list over here in Aus. But Carolyn is right. It‘s a good story, but it was very graphic in a kinda unnecessary way. 6y
Cinfhen It‘s only 5:30 am in the States...I have a feeling things might change 😂😂💕😘 6y
WanderingBookaneer Tag you as in repost and tag? 6y
JennyM @WanderingBookaneer anyway 😊 I‘ll put you in the hat 🎩😘 6y
KarenUK This book sounds great! @JennyM 👍 6y
TheKidUpstairs Not a fan of unnecessarily graphic sex in my books. But I hope it goes to someone who'll enjoy it! 6y
cokersam This book as been a source of motivation to me and I see myself differently in the aspect of success. It‘s a book everybody needs to read.

Amazing book for every reader, visit this link, you will love and thank me later https://okadabooks.com/book/about/you_can_the_linda_ikeji_experience/25486

6y
cokersam @TheKidUpstairs This book as been a source of motivation to me and I see myself differently in the aspect of success. It‘s a book everybody needs to read.

Amazing book for every reader, visit this link, you will love and thank me later https://okadabooks.com/book/about/you_can_the_linda_ikeji_experience/25486

6y
cokersam @TheKidUpstairs This book as been a source of motivation to me and I see myself differently in the aspect of success. It‘s a book everybody needs to read.

Amazing book for every reader, visit this link, you will love and thank me later https://okadabooks.com/book/about/you_can_the_linda_ikeji_experience/25486

6y
cokersam @TheKidUpstairs This book as been a source of motivation to me and I see myself differently in the aspect of success. It‘s a book everybody needs to read.

Amazing book for every reader, visit this link, you will love and thank me later https://okadabooks.com/book/about/you_can_the_linda_ikeji_experience/25486

6y
cokersam @KarenUK This book as been a source of motivation to me and I see myself differently in the aspect of success. It‘s a book everybody needs to read.

Amazing book for every reader, visit this link, you will love and thank me later https://okadabooks.com/book/about/you_can_the_linda_ikeji_experience/25486

6y
cokersam @CarolynM This book as been a source of motivation to me and I see myself differently in the aspect of success. It‘s a book everybody needs to read.

Amazing book for every reader, visit this link, you will love and thank me later https://okadabooks.com/book/about/you_can_the_linda_ikeji_experience/25486

6y
JennyM @TheKidUpstairs lol...it doesn‘t look like many people do either 😊 6y
JennyM KarenUK my lucky hat adjudicators (my kids) tell me you are the lucky winner. When you get chance, email me your address details and I will post off to you. I hope you enjoy it 😘 (edited) 6y
KarenUK Awww thanks so much @JennyM ! So excited! Will send you my address today 💕💕💕 6y
56 likes21 comments
review
CarolynM
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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Pickpick

I'm not quite sure what to make of this. I enjoyed the literary references, the insights into the publishing world and the debate about literature vs popular fiction. The story itself was interesting and held my attention. But the central character, the "girl" of the title, made me uncomfortable. Maybe I was missing the satire or something but she felt a bit too much like some sort of male author's fantasy. What did you think @JennyM ? #ozfiction

JennyM I enjoyed it for the same reasons as you, but I did not expect there to be so much sex!!! I actually bought a copy for a colleague before I had read it, and I chickened out giving it to her because it was so graphic. The ‘girl‘ was certainly an interesting character. (edited) 6y
JennyM And yes, she was definitely a full on male author‘s fantasy! 6y
CarolynM @JennyM I think I would have chickened out too. I don't know if I'm just old and out of touch, but I find it hard to believe that people really behave that way. (edited) 6y
JennyM @CarolynM no one I know behaves like she did! 6y
58 likes4 comments
blurb
JennyM
The Girl On The Page | John Purcell
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#WinterWonderland

I might not know #50WordsForSnow, but Amy the book editor in my #currentlyreading might.

‘A dark comedy...which eviscerates the cynicism of contemporary publishing while uttering a cri de Coeur for what is happening to writers and readers this century‘

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

TrishB Is it just the cover that is like that!? 6y
JennyM @TrishB yep...I wouldn‘t do that to a book, I promise! Especially a library book 📖 6y
TrishB Phew.... 6y
Cinfhen Love that cover!!! I know blasphemy 6y
JennyM @Cinfhen it‘s pretty cool, and it‘s starting off to be a good read! 6y
71 likes2 stack adds5 comments