Rating: 
Summary: How Times Change
Review: Yet more recognition (richly deserved) is accorded to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" by this contemporary British knock-off. Besides using P&P's plot, "Bridget Jones's Diary" is almost a first novel by a woman (actually a second novel) and it also follows Austen's semi-epistolary style by using the form of a diary (vs. e-mail in "You've Got Mail").The principal change is that the woman in Elizabeth's dramatic role (now named Bridget) has incorporated the behavior (should I say the character?) of Elizabeth's younger sister, Lydia. Elizabeth-Lydia is still the heroine, so the mother -- Lydia's grown-up image in P&P -- takes Lydia's accustomed place in the story's dramatic crisis. Elizabeth's new look could be either a brilliant commentary on -- or an unconscious portrayal of -- our times, I'm not sure which. Does the novelist mean to imply that, as goes the language, so goes the character? Even though the loss of stature in our heroine is somewhat saddening, Bridget-Elizabeth-Lydia still earns the reader's compassion, as she should according to Jane Austen (per Elizabeth's commentary in P&P on her father's treatment of her mother). And "Bridget Jones's Diary" is very funny. NB: While the novel's reference is to P&P -- a very classy classic, the Bridget Jones film resorts to generic clichés from melodramas and even action movies. I guess to be commercially viable a movie must essentially be violins and fistfights, with the title it's released under serving to attract ticket buyers but not to influence the content. Thus, the film fits the novel in Bridget Jones's case about as well as in the "Bonfire of the Vanities" fiasco (i.e., not very well).
Rating: 
Summary: Story of 30-Something Simpleton
Review: This book was pretty good, but I can't say it really lived up to all of the media commotion. The story of a British 30-something woman, who believes that life would be perfect (or at least bearable) if she could stop smoking, limit her alcohol consumption level drastically, find a boyfriend who was not an emotional 'nit'-witt, and lose seven pounds. Each entry starts with a list of Bridget's progress or failure to accomplish on these levels. The book is rather funny as it takes us through her emotional roller-coaster of bad boyfriends, stiff boyfriends, young boyfriends, and every other combination of male hormones imaginable, while contemplating the benefits of remaining a spinster and becoming a 'Smug Married' and even the possibility that she may be pregnant. We hear about her mother's hilarious exploits as the adulterous girlfriend of a Portuguese smuggler. We also get a glimpse of Bridget's private dislike of a body that is bulkier than she might prefer. The benefits to this book are that it is quite normal. We meet a woman who has a job, has friends, and has a dating life. She gets drunk, has sexual relationships, and has insecurities about her appearance--all of these things happening within a moderate degree and not blooming into dangerous, consuming obsessions. She gets embarrassed has superficial crises and then moves on. It is a light and humorous read--although tedious in parts--about the life of a woman who is determined to have it all, but will not cause great tragedy to get it. On the other hand, there is a negative aspect to this book which is rather disconcerting. Is this all that a person in her thirties can amount to? There is a part of Bridget which really does just seem like an overgrown teenager, still obsessed with boys, shopping, and weight. Is this the way a typical adult should be acting? Part of you will say no, part of you will say yes. But overall this is a good read, which is simply meant to be taken lightly.
Rating: 
Summary: Best book i have read in a long time
Review: This book was exellent.Cant wait to read the sequel.I wish she would have talked about her grandmother more.She was one of the best characters is the book.
Rating:
Summary: A real page turner!
Review: Although I don't read many books, I was captivated by this one. From the first page I was laughing, and as I read more I laughed harder. Some might say that this is a woman's type of book, but I know men, which have read this and found it very funny, and true to life. The events which occur are unpredicted but still funny. This is a really good book and the 2nd book in the series is just as funny. This book is a prime example of Helen Fielding's best work as a brilliant author. On the whole I'd give this book 5 stars due to it's realistic and humorous take on life.
Rating:
Summary: A fun, anytime read.
Review: Upon picking up this book, I was amazed at the bluntness of Bridget Jones' thoughts and expressions! The girl doesn't mix and match her words! I love the style it's written in,a dairy format always gives a novel a personal feel. If you're looking for a fun, straight-up read, this book satisfies without being deeply profound. (Thank God, we have way to many of those on the bookshelves, so much for a 'profound' novelty!)
Rating:
Summary: Lost in Self-Observation
Review: Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding, Lost in Self-Observation Well, it's funny at times. Bridget is a self observing single thirty something. If she wouldn't be self observing, we would have no diary of course, but this degree of self observation is sick. I think it comes from a lack of interests. Indeed Bridget shows no sign at all of an interest in anything but her own situation. It looks to me that that is exactly the reason for her situation. Once I found out that the diary starts every day with the amount of cigarettes and units of fat consumed, so after thow diary days, I found myself skipping this daily introduction for the rest of the book. What is definitely unrealistic is that Bridget messes up almost everything she does (work, cooking, dating, stop smoking, lose weight) but is able to write a detailed diary for a year. Everything is recorded minutely, but nothing about writing the diary itself. The book seems to be a Pride an Prejudice parody. The fact that there is a not very positive reference to Hugh Grant's affair with a prostitute as daily news in the book is doubly funny. He played in Pride an Prejudice and in the Bridget Jones movie. But I'll go and see the movie (parody of parody?) to find out how they cast such a thing and compare it to my own imagination when reading the book. Gets a 2 for okay. Peter Sels
Rating:
Summary: A bit boring
Review: Well, I have to say that while reading this book I was a bit bored and I couldn't wait to finish it so I'd be over with it. Of course, at some points it was funny, but not hilarious. Also, the way she talks sometimes is a bit confusing. Basically, it's about Bridget Jone's, a 30-year-old singleton in England. She has 4 most important new years resolutions. They are 1)lose 7 pounds 2)don't drink 3)don't smoke 4) get a boyfriend. I wouldn't read it again, but if you want to, than you should because some people liked it a lot.
Rating: 
Summary: (v.g)
Review: Bridget is quirky, neurotic and v. funny! Oh - and slightly obsessive. Chuh I love Helen Fielding's style of writing. (v. clever) Bridget seems to be a v. real girl with troubles most of us can relate to. I'm a married (however, not smug) and I can still relate to Bridget because I am also somewhat neurotic and obsessive. (Should I have admitted that?) Huh I keep a journal myself and have often gone back to see what I was up to earlier. (v. interesting and sometimes v. sad!) One of the best things about Bridget is the way she bounces back from disappointments. (I'm envious) I have yet to see the movie, but I am eager to because I can totally see Renee Zellwiger as Bridget! Looking forward! I recommend this book if you are looking for some light and interesting reading and some laughs too!
Rating:
Summary: GOOD, BUT NOT WORTHY OF MASS CELEBRATION
Review: Bridget Jones is fun, light, sometimes silly, sometimes over-blown, off track as much as it is on, repetitive in ways that one who hasn't read it couldn't possibly understand, but also loveable enough that you just can't help but smile at the end of it and feel satisfied with what you've read. It's not a great book and it's not a bad book. It's not a great character and it's not a bad character. It's just cute, weird, and stylized in a way that isn't quite obscene. Those who hate the book are heartless and those who absolutely love it are overly forgiving. My suggestion would be to take it for what it is, forget it when it's over, and move on with life. But try it. It's definitely worth a read. Also, the Renee Zellweger movie is a good deal superior, so it may even be worth watching that first so that you don't let the book spoil it for you.
Rating: 
Summary: PLEASE!
Review: Perhaps I am not as open minded to the behaviours of single woman. But this can't be true, I think, since I am one of these "single women". I read this years ago, before the hype of the movie, etc. And I was thoroughly disgusted with Bridget's behaviour and priorities. Is this how society views us unmarried women? I hope maybe this is not really true. Please tell me so!! Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
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