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Summary: 3 Irish women search for happiness
Review: Keyes takes us into the lives of 3 modern Dublin women and their search for eternal happiness. She writes some of the best chick-lit that's being published, and this is a goodie to add to the genre's bookshelves. These three women work for Colleen, a trendy women's magazine. One is a chronic worrier, one is a tyrant, and one is too domestic for words. Stir them up and put a Prada bag in the middle of the table, and watch them turn into children squabbling over who gets the Gucci wallet.
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Summary: Another good read
Review: This is a story about how nice girls DO finish first sometimes. As always, Keyes' characters are engaging and their 20/30-something misadventures always entertaining. A great beach read.
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Summary: Hilarious, Charming, Poignant and Wonderful
Review: Sometimes a person is lucky enough to pick up a book about which he or she knows nothing, and find a heretofore unknown treasure. Such was the case with the delightful "Sushi for Beginners," Marian Keyes' hilarious but deeper-than-it-seems tale about thirty-somethings in modern Dublin.The main character of sorts (although there are really several) is Ashling, the type of person who carries band-aids, headache remedy, sewing kits, and just about everything else in her handbag, and is good at dispensing same to anyone who needs it. "Little Miss Fix-It" (as she is snidely called by her pompous boss) is in need of a new job when the book opens, and finds it in the editorial offices of a proposed new Irish woman's magazine, Colleen. Colleen's staff is an assorted crew of truly funny people--and for those of us who actually have worked on a magazine, only too true! The editor-in-chief is the formidable and horrible Lisa, who prides herself on being rotten to her employees and upon having no friends whatsoever. She has a sterling journalistic reputation in London, but considers this Dublin assignment too beneath her to stand. Nevertheless, she gives it her witchy all...backed up by the disheveled but sexy boss Jack, whose equally sexy girlfriend Mai shows up from time to time to have loud, screaming fights with him--complete with snarling bites (good thing Ashling as band-aids in her purse)! There is a supporting cast of characters, both men and women, who are in equal parts selfish, self-centered, sad, needy, and--with very few exceptions--loveable. Despite the humor, there is a true story beneath--a story of ordinary people trying to make their way in life with a bit of love thrown in to sooth the loneliness. In some ways, the reader is reminded of "Sex and the City"--with an Irish twist. This is a perfect book to make one laugh and even cry while waiting for spring to arrive and the flowers to bloom. Try it!
Rating: 
Summary: Literature for Beginners
Review: I have never read one of Keyes's books, and would likley not do so after reading "Sushi for Beginners." The story was unimaginative and very predictable, and the characters one-dimensional. It wasn't until I was almost through with this book that I actually began to care in the slightest about a couple of the characters. In addition, the narrative was riddled with tired and often silly cliches (ie, comparing the fluidity of someone's dancing to a sack full of puppies!), and the dialogue was uninteresting. Would not reccomend,unless you're looking for a sleep aid!
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Summary: A Cut Above Chick Lit
Review: I thought this was a pretty good book. We see the lives of 3 women, Lisa, a determned workaholic with nor personal life- Ashling, the woman who wants to fix everything, and Clodagh, the beautiful Mother who wants whatever she doesn't have. Lisa is sent by her publishing company to start a magazine in Ireland. Ashling is hired as her assistant, and Clodagh is Ashling's oldest friend. For four months we are treated to a glimpse into their day to day lives, and the story focuses more on Lisa and Ashling. I though this was a little better than some of the "chick lit" books I read recently. I like seeing how each character views things differently, and how their view shapes what they will do with their life. I thought the plot was good, and fairly original. The dialogue was snappy and realistic, and had me laughing and cringing at the same time. I thought that the character behavior traits were explained in good form- throughout the story little details about the characters background come into play. We are not hit over the head with these revelations, but are served them up slowly. I like to understand shy a character acts in a certain way, and I think the author does extremely well. My biggest problem in this book is the reliance on brand names, but I realize in a book about a women's magazine, these mentionings are inevitable.
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Summary: Another winner in the British Chick Lit Catagory
Review: I loved this story about the start of a magazine called Colleen. The story follows 2 different women who are working on the magazine. It is a bit of a romance story but more of a fiction work with a bit of romance throw in. All of the characters are real and very well developed (in the style of a Shopalolic series books, focusing on more than one character here though) You follow Ashling and how she deals with her new "fabulous job" on the magazine as well as her dating life. You also meet her friend Clogagh who plays a large part in the story as it progresses. At the same time you are following Lisa Edwards who thought her fab new job would be in New York and not the end of the earth in Ireland. How will Lisa deal with her gorgeous new boss (though taken), the break up of her marriage and pulling together a new magazine with NO, I repeat NO budget or staff? If you like the Shopaholic or Bridget Jones Series or anything else by Keyes you will enjoy this one.
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Summary: Talk about falling flat on your face...
Review: I am so glad to see other people disliked this book. Normally, I loved Keyes' work as much as the next person, but not only was this book flater than a manhole cover, Keyes' attempt to somewhat mimic Helen Fielding's style was absolutely disastorous. My only hope is that Keyes' thought that this style would attract more readers, but my advice is to stick with the Walsh sisters. The old adage rings true- 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' Unfortunally for Keyes, this absolutely hideous novel has completely undermined all of her writings for me, and has made me quite hesitant to pick up anything new by her (should she dare to write it). I really do hate to see such a sarcastic and humorous writer go by the wayside, but fellow readers be warned, a rebound from this book for Keyes would be astounding and a modern miracle at best, and a brave attempt to save face at worst.
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Summary: Borrow it from the library
Review: This book was alright...definitely wasn't the best I've read. This was actually the first Marian Keyes that I've read. The only interesting story/plotline in my opinion was the one that revolved around Ashling. Lisa was too annoying and Clodagh was someone you hated more and more. I recommend this to people 14 years or older because of a lot of swearing and some sexual content.
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Summary: I love Marian Keyes!
Review: I was so happy to have a new Marian Keyes book to read! Her ability to create characters that you can relate to and fall in love with is unparalleled. It is a nice, fun book, and you really get to know the people in the book. Not her best novel, but it was good to have her back on my nightstand!
Rating:
Summary: Eh...
Review: I would not recommend this book if it is your first one by Keyes.
Keyes is a scream, an absolute sarcastic scream. I usually love her because of her wacky outlook on things. Her books are hysterical, but at the core of them they take on very serious issues (drug use, alcoholism, depression, difficult childhoods), which I think is why Keyes is so successful in the realm of chick lit. She's the perfect blend of humor and seriousness.
I have read everything that she has written so far, and have to admit that I was a little disappointed with Sushi for Beginners. This book is not one of her best ones, and after reading her latest paperback (Angels) I guess I expected more.
In this book her characters come off flat and whiny. Lisa and Ashling are trying to get a new Irish womens magazine off the ground, and the basic premise of the book revolves around their trials. Clodaugh, the other woman, is a friend of Ashlings who is terribly unhappy with her marriage and kid filled life.
More than once I found myself wondering what the point of the story was. Keyes is a good writer, and the story isn't bad or anything, its just a little flatter than a lot of what she has written before. Her characters usually start off as either depressed or silly people who evolve throughout the book to become better, deeper, self fufilled ones who learn about themselves and what is really important in life. Lisa and Ashling get there eventually, but with two chapters left in the book it was too late. Only a teeny bit of true Keyes tried to shine through at the very end. And while I did laugh out loud a few times, Keyes trademark humor is overall missing from this book.
I'm not sure why this is. To me, her best books have been those that involve the Walsch sisters (Watermelon, Rachel's Holiday, and Angels), so maybe that blend of family humor is what shows Keyes at her best, maybe its what her books need. Because this one and "Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married" are both not Keyes' best at all.
So read one of the Walsch sister books or "Last Chance Saloon" before "Sushi for Beginners".
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