Just lately, after enduring disappointments by the writings of some vastly successful authors in the mass-market genre, I found myself in need of refreshment, a change, something quirky and original, a treat for the serious reader. That truly much-appreciated treat came in the form of the perversely enjoyable A Life Lived Ridiculously by Dr. Annabelle R. Charbit.

In short, A Life Lived Ridiculously is about Maxine, a girl with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who falls in love with a sociopath, Sam, a smooth-talking charmer with sufficient incurable diseases to eliminate a small village and living a life so grave that it makes a Greek tragedy feel as depthless as a prime-time soap opera.

Nevertheless, Maxine, against the well meant, but futile advice of friends and family, follows her twisted instincts and welcomes Sam as her salvation, and while that scenario is already a warrant for a delectable read, Charbit blends unexpected insights, twists, and thoughts that could only spawn from the obsessive compulsive mind of the main character, Maxine.

Charbit has a strikingly skillful hand with words, and her razor sharp and charmingly offbeat insights and descriptions are intriguing. A Life Lived Ridiculously is one of those books that one may open at any page to get a feel of writing style and story line, and Charbit’s intelligently satirical style draws the reader immediately into Maxine’s life with the urge to learn more.

And yes, A Life Lived Ridiculously is not for the narrow-minded, conservative, or easily shocked reader, but it represents a refreshing change of pace from the mass-market genre, a novel that is unquestionably worth a read and a re-read.

About Dr. Annabelle R. Charbit

Annabelle grew up in London, UK, and has been writing since 2006, when her comedy play, Sound Advice, was performed by CP Theatre Productions in London, UK.

In 2007, she was published in the London Paper and in the British Neuroscience Association’s Summer Bulletin.

In 2010 she wrote for TheFrisky.com, an online magazine who commissioned her after noticing her blog, Crazy in a Crazy World.

Annabelle holds a PhD in Neuroscience from University College London and has been researching migraine headache at UCSF in San Francisco, about which she has published in scientific journals.

A Life Lived Ridiculously is Annabelle's first novel.

For more information on Dr. Annabelle R. Charbit, her novel, and how to pre-order the book, log on to http://ridiculouslife.net/.