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Turning Thirty | 
 enlarge | Author: Mike Gayle
Publisher: Flame
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £6.98 (100%)
New (31) Used (410) Collectible (5) from £0.01
Rating:  83 reviews
Sales Rank: 125024
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 0340767944
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780340767948
ASIN: 0340767944
Publication Date: February 1, 2001
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: almost like new
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Mike Gayle's previous novels My Legendary Girlfriend and Mr Commitment have already wittily chronicled living and loving among the twentysomethings at the end of the 20th century. As time marches on, Gayle's latest novel Turning Thirty deals with what happens when his characters reach that most dreaded of moments--the big three-o. Matt Beckford is reaching that time of life. At the age of 29 he thinks he has answered those two crucial questions you ask yourself as a teenager: "What am I going to do with my life?" and "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" Living as a computer expert in New York with the lovely Elaine, Matt thinks he's cracked life. But then both he and Elaine suddenly realise that their relationship isn't working. They split up amicably, realising that "biology is telling us there's no point in crying over spilt milk", and Matt heads back to his friends and parents in Birmingham. As his 30th birthday looms, Matt meets Ginny Pascoe, an old flame, or more accurately "a girl who was also a friend who I sometimes snogged", and things get more complicated as he realises that he's falling for Ginny--again. The transatlantic love triangle that develops between Matt, Ginny and Elaine is funny and refreshing, and lacks the usual angst you would expect from such a situation. As Matt enjoys the nostalgia of going out with old friends and loves, he also realises he needs to sort out his life, as 30 beckons. Turning Thirty is another sharp, funny and astute offering from Gayle, that won't disappoint his growing army of fans. (This review refers to the hardcover edition of this title.) --Jerry Brotton
Amazon.co.uk Review
Mike Gayle's previous novels My Legendary Girlfriend and Mr Commitment have already wittily chronicled living and loving amongst the twentysomethings at the end of the 20th century. As time marches on, Gayle's latest novel Turning Thirty deals with what happens when his characters reach that most dreaded of moments-- the big three-o. Matt Beckford is reaching that time of life. At the age of 29 he thinks he has answered those two crucial questions you ask yourself as a teenager: "What am I going to do with my life?" and "Will I ever get a girlfriend?" Living as a computer expert in New York with the lovely Elaine, Matt thinks he's cracked life. But then both he and Elaine suddenly realise that their relationship isn't working. They split up amicably, realising that "biology is telling us there's no point in crying over spilt milk", and Matt heads back to his friends and parents in Birmingham. As his thirtieth birthday looms, Matt meets Ginny Pascoe, an old flame, or more accurately "a girl who was also a friend who I sometimes snogged", and things get more complicated as he realises that he's falling for Ginny--again. The transatlantic love triangle that develops between Matt, Ginny and Elaine is funny and refreshing, and lacks the usual angst you would expect from such a situation. As Matt enjoys the nostalgia of going out with old friends and loves, he also realises he needs to sort out his life, as 30 beckons. Turning Thirty is another sharp, funny and astute offering from Gayle, that won't disappoint his growing army of fans. --Jerry Brotton
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| Customer Reviews: Read 78 more reviews...
 Its sad to admit but its true! May 24, 2008
aceadrian (Cumbria)
New to Mike Gayle I had no preconceptions about this book and have come out the other end raring to go on more of his work.
Im not a million miles from thirty myself, but thats not the reason i was reading it - despite the impression that casual observers of the cover might get that this is some kind of self help title! It keeps striking home with little snippets of reality all the way through, moments where you can think - ive been there, im there now or possibly the worst, im becoming that now! The narrative flows wonderfully and is intersperesed by 'breathers' in this case email transcripts between two characters - I found myself really looking forwards to them.
Overall a great story that can scare a youngun, and made anyone around or past 30 grin to themselves in quiet contemplation!
 30 is a State of Mind January 28, 2008
Sam (Reading, Berkshire)
Matt believes he has it all with a great job in New York and a live-in girlfriend who he thinks will be the one. Not the one for life perhaps, but certainly the one that will be with him when he turns 30 in a few short months. Matt's life plan has always been to be settled down by 30, but this plan slips when his girlfriend leaves him and he decides to return to Blighty. With 3 months until his new job starts in Australia, Matt finds himself 29 years old and living with his parents. To keep himself amused he decides to rekindle old friendships with his school pals. Will Matt be able to find someone to spend his 30th with and will he ever manage to get his life together?
`Turning Thirty' is another quintessential lad lit book from Mike Gayle. The entire book is incredibly laid back and has an effortless feel to it. This means that it is an easy and pleasant read, but it never does anything to inspire the reader or make it stand out from the pack. Matt is a likable enough character, although like in many of this type of book he thinks far too much rather than getting on with life. I do enjoy this type of novel on occasion as something different, however, even though the plot of `Turning Thirty' is meant to resonate with me I found it rarely did. A nice enough read for a couple of nights, but nothing to write home about.
 Terrible January 5, 2008
Mr. S. J. Cafferty (Stockport, England)
Worst book I have ever read by quite a margin, stuck with it to see if it improved it didn't just got worse.
 A fine piece of contemporary fiction reflecting adulthood December 6, 2007
P. DATTA (Stockton on Tees, Teesside)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Turning Thirty" by Mike Gayle is a well written piece of contemporary fiction about life after reaching the special milestone.
The novel follows the life of Mike, a software computer programmer, who is soon to reach the milestone age. The novel not only looks forward to the future, but contemplates a great deal on the character's past in question. We learn a great deal about the character, who has experienced a failed relationship and now has to ponder life after 30, which includes a stable career and a successful relationship. The reunion with old buddies is a great way of brushing everything under the carpet and relieve the fond memories of the childhood. Does it lead to rekindling old romance? This is the general outline of the novel.
"Turning Thirty" is a beautifully narrated novel with a witty and powerfully written style to entice the reader to the story. Mike Gayle specialist topics of relationships and thirty-something are well tacked in the novel. The novel is really a fine piece of literacy prose, to reflect the pivotal moments of adulthood. The novel is nicely plotted and written, which makes Mike Gayle's novels, as in this case illustrates a sheer delight to read. On the basis of few novels written by the author, I will devote an entire month to his books.
Don't try this at home May 20, 2007
Alan Bright (London. UK)
Too many rough edges and too many smooth plot lines (does every have a great time at mass reunions?) for it to compare with the more realistic writing of Mr Hornby.
The novel does demonstrate starkly show the downside of this modern invention of 'relationships. No-one quite knows what they are; when they start; when they end;and what the rights and responsibilities are.
People feel unable to 'commit' to other people in their twenties because they can go on having sex without being tied down by children. The sad result of more non-marital cohabitation, as this story shows, is that more people end up living alone. Sustaining any subsequent marriage is made more difficult by the memories of previous cohabitations - at least, that's what the stats show.
Hey kids, don't copy the people in this book.
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