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Adèle Lang
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Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber: The Katya Livingston Chronicles Hardcover – June 4 2002

by Adele Lang (Author)
3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 59 ratings
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After weasel-eyed tax inspectors question her work-related claims, Katya Livingston is forced to keep a financial diary. As well as documenting the cruel and parsimonious ways of her ad agency boss, Katya waxes lyrical about putting up with loser friends, mortal enemies, and thoroughly bad restaurants. She also throws in a completely candid account of her love life, just in case some of it is tax deductible. What begins as a private account of expenses rapidly becomes, through Katya's chronic delusions of grandeur, a matter of public record: first as a tawdry gossip column, then as a salacious book, and finally as a Hollywood B-movie.

Bitingly written with wit and style reminiscent of Candace Bushnell, Adèle Lang's novel is a cutting, bitchy, hilarious take on the young-single-British-woman genre.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thomas Dunne Books
  4. Publication date
    June 4 2002
  5. Dimensions
    13.56 x 1.99 x 23.62 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0312288115
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0312288112
  8. See all details
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Product description

From Amazon

It's really not a bad idea. Adele Lang joins the throng of post-Bridget Jones novelists with Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber, a fictional diary by Katya Livingstone, an advertising copywriter-turned-journalist who is, in short, a nasty piece of work. Katya has never met a friend she didn't stab in the back, a boss she didn't take advantage of, or a man whose net worth she didn't appraise in five seconds flat. Most of Ms. Jones's offspring are dear, dewy, put-upon creatures. Sure, they crack wise, but mostly they seem to mope around hoping for Mr. Right to happen upon them. The idea of a vile anti-heroine out to screw the world before it screws her has a certain appeal. Unfortunately, Lang's reach has exceeded her grasp, and the result is far from heavenly. The book veers wildly in tone. We never know quite how we're supposed to feel about Katya: Should we despise her? Admire her for her chutzpah? Or just shut the book in frustration? Meanwhile, sloppy grammar and unfunny jokes topple this tenuous house of cards. --Claire Dederer

From Publishers Weekly

A single, saucy British woman delivers her narcissistic rants in diary form (sound familiar?) in Adele Lang's Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber. Katya Livingston is a vain, nasty advertising copywriter who lands a gig producing a gossip column for a London tabloid - really just an outlet to crow about her prolific intake of alcohol and the search for "bonkable bachelors." The column leads to a book deal and even a brush with B-movie stardom as Katya rails against vegans, foreigners and the poorly dressed. What this sendup of the tired Bridget genre lacks in originality is made up for in sheer bitchiness.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Dunne Books (June 4 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312288115
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312288112
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.36 kg
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.56 x 1.99 x 23.62 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 59 ratings

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Adèle Lang

Adèle Lang

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Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5
59 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars Unrelenting and Unrepenting!
Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2002
Maybe it was easier for me to love this book because I never read Bridget Jones, and everyone seems to compare the two.
Katya Livingston is over the top! Mean, lazy, spiteful, and mercenary. She never lets up. I laughed out loud--a lot!
The book chronicles Katya's journey from overpaid copywriter to overpaid gossip columnist to overpaid tell-all book author to unemployed homeless person, and back to overpaid TV writer and ultimately, star of a Hollywood B movie. Behind her is a path of destruction, and no one is safe: not her friends, not her family, not even small furry animals.
Realistic? Nah. Not meant to be. Though I have to admit some chastity-belt nonsense went too far, this is *meant* to be outlandish.
It does take a while to fall into the rhythm of the book, to realize that Katya won't be redeeming herself anytime soon, and the laughs will be continuous. I kept trying to think of the word that describes this kind of humor. There's sarcasm and irony in it, but neither is quite right. Dry? Droll? Absurd? I'm still not sure, but it's *not* goofy or obvious humor. Maybe I should just say it's hilarious!
The reader, Josephine Bailey, nailed this audiobook performance. Her deadpan delivery was perfect for this preposterous tale. I don't think I would've enjoyed reading this book on the page as much as I did hearing it in her wonderful English accent.
If you're ready for something different, get this audiobook, sit back, and enjoy the wicked, wild ride!
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Chocolate Chip Cookie
1.0 out of 5 stars HORRIBLE! A total waste of time & money
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2002
Ugh! I read the whole thing because I kept thinking that there just had to be something redeeming about the book at some point to make it worthwhile. Unfortunately it went nowhere. There is no coherent plot, and the character, Katya, never becomes human in the sense that she never at any point gains any depth greater than the depth (or lack thereof) that she exhibits in her first few entries. She is utterly shallow not just in her values, which are meant to be catty and amusing, but also in the lack of an explanation to help us understand why Katya is as she is. As such I found it impossible to feel attached to her or to the action of the book. As I said, I kept reading waiting for some sort of epiphany which never came. I'm sure it was fun to write, but without a relatable character or a plot, it was a waste to read.
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Mini
5.0 out of 5 stars The reigning diva of anti-heroines!
Reviewed in Canada on July 4, 2002
I loved reading this book! Katya Livingstone is an anti-heroine that you would love to hate. She chronicles her life on a day to day basis in a tabloid newspaper. She is so deluded and cruel! The readers laugh and marvel at her wit as Katya backstabs her way into Hollywood -- where a low-budget movie about her life will be filmed. There are various memorable moments. I especially liked the language the author used. I suspect that most of Katya's experiences were either lies or exaggerations of the actual experiences -- the author did this brilliantly.
The only flaw I found in this gem was that Lang's writing style was similar to Helen Fielding's in Bridget Jones's Diary. This, of course, led to comparisons to the aforementioned novel. There was no need to copy Fielding's style -- whether or not it was intentional. Other than that, this is one of the best dark comedies I have read this year and I highly recommend it!
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Dustin Merton
3.0 out of 5 stars great brainless fun
Reviewed in Canada on May 29, 2003
ok i have to admit that this book would tend to cater to only women but i think guys can see just as much humor it as women would. the title and the cover are what caught my eye of this hilarious novel. it is like a totally whacked out version of the bridget jones' diary. this is the definition of a beach read or summer fun read, why, because you do not have to think about anything with this book all you have to do is sit back and laugh. i can see women reading this book and think of a person that reminds them of katya livingston, and i can also see men reading this book and it validating our belief that women are kinda crazy. either i feel that it is worth a persons time. especially since a person could read this book in two day, it goes that fast. or just read a little everyday and just pop in to see what the crazy woman is doing on any particular day. however, do not go into this novel expecting to learn anything from it, it is not that kind of novel, it is for those who want to escape for a little while into the world of a person who is completely insane and self deluded. so all i ahve to say is go off and read this book in good humor.
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Dianna Setterfield
4.0 out of 5 stars Sarcastic and fun!
Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2002
Kelly Ripa did a good thing by choosing Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber as one of her book club picks -- now all of America (and beyond) knows about the evil, selfish, irresponsible Katya Livingston -- and I think my life is somehow better for it...
This book is written in diary form and spans an entire year in the life of Katya Livingston, quite possibly the most self-centered, conceited, full-of-bull character I've come across in a long time. But these qualities that, in a real person, would make you despise her, only serve to make you love her once you are assured this book is fiction. Reading Katya's story was so much fun -- trying to see how she could top herself was almost like a game. Poisoning small animals, blatantly making fun of her friends and others who are less fortunate, and knowing without any doubt all men want her are just three things on her long repertoire list. Each page houses every bad quality you can think of -- and frankly, that's all the fun.
Adele Lang has done an excellent job creating a character readers will love to hate. Katya is quite a breath of fresh air -- so refreshingly honest and frank. This gal does not beat around the bush on anything! I will most definitely read the next offering of Adele's. I'm thinking a Katya Livingston Part Two is in order!
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Top reviews from other countries

Mr M G Halliday
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the shallow pithy and for the sake of itself ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
Aprihensive at first, as this is not my usual choice of read, but found I could'nt put it down. Love the shallow pithy and for the sake of itself snoberatic self oppinionated style of Katya's bitchy thought process, and indeed had me in stiches of laghter. A must for anyone missing "girl talk", Great for a literary break, easy to digest.
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Charhlez
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
Better then the movie. As a guy reading this book I wish I could find a woman like this, My Ex, well she didn't agree. >.<
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Chocolate Chip Cookie
1.0 out of 5 stars HORRIBLE! A total waste of time & money
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2002
Verified Purchase
Ugh! I read the whole thing because I kept thinking that there just had to be something redeeming about the book at some point to make it worthwhile. Unfortunately it went nowhere. There is no coherent plot, and the character, Katya, never becomes human in the sense that she never at any point gains any depth greater than the depth (or lack thereof) that she exhibits in her first few entries. She is utterly shallow not just in her values, which are meant to be catty and amusing, but also in the lack of an explanation to help us understand why Katya is as she is. As such I found it impossible to feel attached to her or to the action of the book. As I said, I kept reading waiting for some sort of epiphany which never came. I'm sure it was fun to write, but without a relatable character or a plot, it was a waste to read.
3 people found this helpful
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Marcy L. Thompson
3.0 out of 5 stars surprisingly enjoyable, but not worth keeping....
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2002
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I liked this book. I enjoyed hating the narrator and I loved the ways in which she got her come-uppance over and over again, and never seemed to learn from it. Adele Lang managed something interesting by keeping Katya in character throughout the entire book. It was refreshing to read a book that did not have a predictable ending, and where the bad guys were not redeemed.
On the other hand, this book is a one-trick pony. There is exactly one thing going on in it, and if it had been even one page longer, I expect I would have gotten tired of it. Moreover, I found I had no desire ever to read it again. Since I was in Manila when I read it, I declined to offer it space in my suitcase on the way home.
If you like this kind of thing, then you will like this book. It's done extremely well here. However, it's all taste and no substance. Which may be the point, I suppose. Still, I was ultimately disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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Faedorah Jones
1.0 out of 5 stars Only because there's nothing lower than 1 star
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2002
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This is one of the most [boring book] I ever tried to read. I couldn't take any more than the first 25 pages. I would like to set it on fire...that would be about the only thing that would make this nasty little piece of work interesting. I regret spending any money on this book. It's not good enough to give away...they should pay people to take it.
4 people found this helpful
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