Reviews for Addition

• Sweet and quirky romance

  External review by: Julia Flyte | Jun 28, 2008

  Grace has a type of OCD which means that she is obsessed with counting and measuring her world. Numbers and routines dictate her life. For example, the number of poppyseeds on her cake determine how many bites she must take to eat it - between 20 and 30 is optimal. She shops in multiples of 10 and when she discovers one day in the supermarket that she has only 9 bananas, she swipes one from the shopper behind her. Which is how she meets Seamus.
  
  I thought the subject matter of this book might make it a sombre read, but it's not at all. Grace is a witty narrator and the books tears along - I easily read it in a day. The story is about her relationship with Seamus and how they come to terms with her condition. In many ways it's a celebration of the way that we are all unique. It's a sweet, quirky, warm little book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's hard to believe that this is Toni Jordan's first novel. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. (view in context)

• 'There's safety in numbers.'

  External review by: Snapdragon | Jun 25, 2008

  Grace Lisa Vandenburg has a form of obsessive compulsive order that means she uses numbers and counting to make sense of the world; `'without it the world would be too big and too changeable. An endless void. I'd be lost all the time. I'd be overwhelmed.' Then she meets Seamus and as the two begin to form a relationship he persuades Grace to try therapy and drugs to try and reduce her counting habit. What follows is Grace's attempt to stay true to herself whilst still having a relationship, and resisting the doctor's attempts to make her `Closer to average.'
  
  This really is an amazing book, funny and well-written, as well as dealing with quandaries that you will recognise. How much should we change in order to accommodate someone else? I loved it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
  (view in context)

• Love it!

  External review by: angelsdrinktea | Jul 13, 2008

  Buy this book! It is funny, thought provoking and fast-paced. We've all got our strange ways, and Grace has more than most, but she's self aware and witty with it. I'm not a Richard and Judy fan so I was pleasantly surprised when I got into the story. Enjoy! (view in context)

• Funny quick read

  External review by: Boof | Jul 10, 2008

  I liked this book but unfortunately I couln't rave about it. The idea for the book is original and very funny at times but yet I did find myself rushing to get to the end so I could move on to another book.
  
  The story is of Grace, a 35 year old "counter" - she counts the bristles on her toothbrush - 1768, she counts the poppy seeds on her daily orange cake (which then determins how many bites it must take her to eat it), and she has strict routines, down to the very second, that never vary - until she meats Seamus.
  
  The character of Grace is easy to warm to as she has a great sense of humour and has an array of great one liners. All in all, this is quite a sweet book but not one that grabbed me enough to either rave about or want to read again. (view in context)

• Abnormally normal...

  External review by: LittleReader | Jul 2, 2008

  So much more than a romance, 'Addition' explores with sardonic wit the quirky world of OCD.
  I loved Grace Vandenburg from the minute I met her and as for Seamus, he was so delicious I could have eaten him. His utter unfailing acceptance of Grace, from the minute she steals his banana, is instant and completely magical to read. And Grace's acceptance of him seems amazing to comprehend given the strict order of her life.
  Devoured in two sittings, I think the best feature of this novel is that it forces you to explore your own feelings on what's 'normal' - how we should behave, how we should think, how we should fit into society as a valid human being. Ultimately, I was drawn to the conclusion that we are who we are, with all our foibles and idiosyncrasies and it's this, and not attempts to conform, that make us unique and wonderful.
  Easily the most thought-provoking book I've read this year so far... (view in context)