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Women's Fiction
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $10.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Love being a singleton!
Review: Bridget Jones is back with full force in "Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason", along with Tom, Shazz, Jude and of course, Mark Darcy. Giving us more insightful views to this Singleton's mind. She explores even more into the depths of her neurotic-ness and tells us of her frantic diary. Possibly even more entertaining than the first diary, which I enjoyed immensely... Helen Fielding writes with much gusto and female understanding that every woman is bound to relate to. And who wouldn't fall in love with Mark Darcy... perhaps even a notch sexier than the original version. Loved the new adventures that Bridget got herself into in this book. Edge of Reason isn't just for women, you know! This time, conveniently featured are international escapades including tropical islands, drugs and even prison!! Oh, and there is this bit about a personalized live bullet that causes quite a scare! And, I was happy to read that Bridget somewhat achieves her goal of "inner poise" at one point... although, she seemed to have landed right back in square one at the beginning of the new year. Loved being with Bridget for two years in a row... hope Helen will give us some more anecdotes of Bridget and her friends! Oh... and Rebecca deserved what she got, finally!! Love happy endings for Bridget and her friends! The sequel is longer than the first but seemed twice as short... can't seem to get enough of Bridget. Can't wait to see how Colin Firth is going to play a modern version of himself in the movie!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Unrealistic
Review: I didn't care much for this book. I love the first movie, and was excited to read the book. However, all the library had was this one, but I figured I'd be fine since I knew the story and most of the characters from the movie. That was fine, I knew what was going on, and I enjoyed the writing style, but I found myself angry at this book more than I found myself enjoying it.

The main flaw with this book is that it is completely unrealistic. I didn't think it would be a problem, but I couldn't connect with any of the characters because their situations were so farfetched. Another thing that made me dislike the book was the way Mark and Bridget "broke up" at the beginning of the book. There wasn't any communication so they just stopped seeing each other? Based on my impression of their characters, I would have thought that they could have at least talked to each other. Obviously neither wanted to break up, so the way it happened just seem silly to me. And not in a haha sort of way.

Most of the book I found too farfetched and just unfunny. What I liked about the first movie was that Bridget was an average girl with relationship problems who found herself often in situations women could relate to. She's a sort of Everywoman. But here I couldn't imagine a lot of the things that happened actually happening. It was too much. This could have been fine if the story was funny enough, but for the most part I just found the characters annoying. I didn't like the plot with her parents and Wellington, the Thailand bit was too much, and Rebecca was too stereotyped and annoying that I just couldn't stand her even being in the story.

So why, then, the three stars? I blame a lot of my dislike for this book in the fact that I read it all in one sitting. It's a lot to take. But the fact I did read it all in one sitting must prove something. It's compelling, even if most of the time I was annoyed. I didn't read the first, which would have made this one more enjoyable, so I think that had some effect on why I didn't enjoy the story. Also, this book does have some unforgettable characters and moments. When I'm not completely annoyed and want to smack Bridget and all her friends in the face, I'm laughing my ass off. Kind of funny the way I've reacted to this book. It's completely unrealistic and annoying, but it is funny and compelling, anyway.

Also, the last star is for the Colin Firth interview. Hilarious. Although I thought she got the interview all too easily, in an of itself it was just too funny. Mainly because in that situation, if I had even be able to speak, I would have asked the exact same questions. My only question is, if Mark Darcy is based off of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, why is he never in a wet shirt in the book? Since of course I picture Mark as Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy (in slightly more modern clothes), I think that would have been nice.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You gotta love Bridget
Review: I just finished the book last night. The life of Bridget Jones is a silly mix of roadblocks that she puts up for herself. She finally has a boyfriend (Mark Darcy). She has gotten away from her old boss (Daniel Clever) and has a legitimate job as a tv reporter for Sit Up! England. In typical Bridget style, her life starts to unravel. She notices, with help from her friends, that Mark has a new collegue in his law office who is a long legged beautiful woman named Rebecca. Bridget is sure, by watching the 2 of them that Mark no longer loves her and is with Rebecca. The same thing that most women would think. She decides that she has to move on. Included in this, is try to stop smoking (not successful), throwing away her self help books and having work done on her flat. Her friend suggests this guy (Gary) who turns out to be a complete flake and psycho. During all of this, she is still thinks about Mark, but also fantasizes about Prince William and Colin Firth. Now for those who don't know this, Colin Firth is the actor that plays Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones's movies. As a work assignment, Bridget has to go to Thailand. She brings one of her girlfriends with her as company. The entire trip is a disaster. A man they had met on the plane gives them a gift that has cocaine in it. So Bridget ends up in a Thai prison. She is released eventually. Gary, after leaving her out of money and with a hole in her flat, sends her a bullet, not sure why, but anyway Mark sees it and decides that Bridget should stay at his house in one of the guestrooms. One night she can't sleep so she walks down to the kitchen and nearly scares the hell out of Mark who is coming up the stairs back to his room. She tells him she loves him and he says he feels the same. It is a sort of happily ever after, but not like it is shown in the movie. I recently saw the movie and could see parts of the book in it, but there are also parts that didn't make it or won't there. Buy it. Its fun and a break from reality.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So wonderful
Review: I just had to re-read this before watching the movie. Last time I read it I bought a ticket to London. I might just have to do the same again. One of the best characters of all time

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Much better than the first book
Review: I read the first book a week before The Edge of Reason so both are fresh in my mind. I found the second book more of a page turner. I was laughing out loud in bed on Sunday morning while reading the Colin Firth interview! I also saw the movie and naturally, the movie leaves out and changes many of the scenes in the book. I loved the movie, but it is a rare treat to read a book that makes you laugh out loud.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Male Perspective.
Review: I really enjoyed reading BRIDGET JONES. It was funny, slightly quirky, and full of British charm. The book is a modern take on Jane Austen's classic novel and is thoroughly successful at what it does. I enjoyed it so much I was delighted to hear that a sequel had been penned, BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON. I've owned the book for over a year, but with the new movie arriving in theatres, I wanted to make sure I finally read the book. When I read the first page, I was excited to read the further adventures of Bridget Jones.

I was quite disappointed. The first few sections of the book start out alright (however, unlike BRIDGET JONES, BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON isn't divided up according to a monthly calendar). At first Bridget seems to be the same old Bridget that everyone came to love and adore. Then the characters stop acting like they are supposed to act. We all know that Bridget is kind of a basketcase and slightly neurotic, but does anyone really believe that even Bridget could be dumb enough to dump someone like Mark Darcy over the things she ends up dumping him for? Sure there would be fights, arguments, and disagreements, even with someone as remarkable as Mark Darcy. However, no one would actually dump him they way Bridget ends up doing. It's completely out of character, unrealistic, and unnatural. However, Bridget isn't the only one who starts acting crazy. Her friend Tom ends up moving to the United States (he must have a pretty penny to be able to do that), Bridget's Mum has brought an exotic foreigner home to England to visit for awhile, Bridget's Dad is sent to a rehabilitation home, and on it goes. It's as though Bridget and everyone in her world are all suffering from a midlife crisis at the same time (well, except Mark Darcy). Yes, people have midlife crises, and sometimes bad things happen all at once all around us, but not like they do with Bridget. Things get even more bizarre when Bridget goes to Thailand and gets arrested for drug smuggling. It's like a warped version of the limbo--how far can we go.

BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON isn't a terrible book, but it's not a terribly good one either. The story has some good writing and there are memorable moments in the plot. Still, it's just not the same Bridget. Until the last fourth of the book Bridget doesn't grow at all and instead regresses. She makes some improvements just before leaving for Thailand, but by that time she's fallen so far, just about any decision could look like an improvement. Whereas the original BRIDGET JONES was witty, humorous, charming, realistic, and believable, BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON just isn't reasonable. It should have been entitled BRIDGET JONES: BEYOND THE EDGE OF REASON instead.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Why didn't they base the film on this?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Review: I saw the movie first and hated it so much, I nearly didn't read this brilliant piece of comedy.
A screamingly funny and honest look at the insecurities that plague most women and self-help books that sabotage our lives, the funniest bits in this book center around the relationships between Bridget and her friends.
some of the higest points: the break-up emergency team (complete with wine, icecream and a tape of Pride and Prejudice), the insecurites of her married friend, Magda, and the way her single friends misinterpret her disomfort as smugness and the emergency phone sessions between Bridget, her friends and Mark's recently divorced friend.
The thing about Bridget Jones is that she isn't fat. She just thinks she is. She relies so heavily on the "wisdom" of self-help books that she's nearly guaranteed to always think less of herself.

Even if you hated the movie, read this book. You won't be dissappointed!


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful Feel Good "Light" Reading
Review: I was thrilled with this sequel. I love the style in which Fielding writes; it gives the reader a real since of what life is actually like through Bridget's eyes and leaves out all of the "fancy fluff" that can be tedious. Once I began reading this book I could not put it down until 4 hours later when I realized it was 3am! It is so much fun to read and the ending leaves you feeling all warm and happy. We have all been in "Bridget Situations" and I'm sure we can all totally relate to her daily life. It is wondefully witty and, in Bridget's drunken terms "blurdy hurd terput down!"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Fabulous Sequel
Review: If possible, "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" is even funnier than the original book.

The book opens with Bridget settled into happy domesticity with Mark Darcy....not! Her insecurities have not left her and they wreak havoc on her life. She's panicked Mark will leave her for the lovely Rebecca, she's uncomfortable that he folds his underwear at night, she's struggling on the job...and this all leads to the inevitable break-up with Mark.

I don't want to ruin the many twists and turns of the plots. Suffice to say, her adventures (and those of her friends Shazzer and Jude and of her parents) are even more laugh out loud funny the ones in the original. And all throughout the book, Bridget never loses her sense of vulnerability and her decency. She is a true heroine (or anti-heroine perhaps).

This book differs from the new movie. So even if you've seen that, you're still in for some surprises.

I highly recommend this book to Bridget lovers everywhere.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: what a surprise to find such a great sequel!
Review: oh geez this was a *great* book. have had it for nearly two months now and have read it more times than i care to admit. have recruited every last person i know to read both bridget jones diary and now, the edge of reason. what an amazing surprise to actually find an author who can not only write a fantastic novel, but a fabulous follow-up... am planning upon reading 'cause celeb' by same author when i've a moment's peace. i hate to admit it, but i - and so many of my friends - just absolutely related to bridget's plight... naturally, i know where germany is, but i sure as hell can still rattle off calories for even the most inane and odd foodstuffs, as well as get totally lost in the conflicting advice of weird love-life problems. oddly enough, the boyfriend and i both enormously enjoyed this book as we read it aloud on a road trip, sometimes even having to stop our routine to laugh without dignity at the well unfolding story. every last page is wholly well composed. there can be only one... erm, two... erm, bridget jones. accept no substitute.


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