Rating: Summary: Jane Austen meets the TV show "Friends"! Review: Having read Rachel's Holiday, Marian Keyes's latest book, I thought I should definitely read one of her earlier novels. I had been looking for a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy to read and Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married did not disappoint. What great novel! This book shouldn't be compared to Bridget Jones -- it shines its own light. Lucy Sullivan has received the news of a lifetime: a psychic has predicted that she will be married within a year. The problem is that she has no idea to whom. Who is the lucky man? No one knows. Of course, the search for Mr. Sullivan will take some interesting and rough turns, for Lucy isn't exactly a girl with very high dating standards. This is a great novel. The story is very reminiscent to a Jane Austen novel -- it has that heroine-looking-for-love-in-all-the-wrong-places-but-wouldn't-notice-the-true-love-of-her-life-if-it-hit-her-in-the-head love theme. I loved it. Also, it's like a more intelligent version of the TV sitcom Friends. I loved the neurotic characters. Lucy's roommates -- Karen, the bossy and high maintenance one and Charlotte, the ditsy and naive one -- are hilarious! As are Daniel (he seemed adorable), Megan and Meredia. I laughed so much with this one. In fact, I was given some puzzled looks on the train on my way to work. My only complaint is Keyes's obvious need to stereotype races. Oh, and having read Rachel's Holiday, I have detected a pattern in Keyes's writing -- a pattern that I cannot discuss for it might spoil the plot. Funny, charming, and as resistible as it is addicting, Lucy Sullivan should be on every woman's reading list. That is if you're in the mood for good British humor.
Rating: Summary: An Entertaining Romantic Comedy Review: If you are looking for a charming romantic comedy, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married is the novel for you. This novel is the classic romantic comedy in that the reader can pretty much figure out who the right guy is for Lucy, our heroine, but she seems to somehow always miss it until about three-quarters through the book. The book is full of amusing characters who will remind you of people you have met and Lucy is a realistic, if flawed, character. She always seems to fall for the wrong man and is blind to the reasons why he is wrong. I know some reviewers here have said that she was too wimpy, or needed a backbone, but I have known a lot of women, who in their early twenties were just like that. While Lucy Sullivan is not as laugh out loud funny as Watermelon, it is still a well-done romantic comedy with a narrative that doesn't fall apart. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something light and enjoyable.
Rating: Summary: Stop measuring every Brit author to "Bridget Jones"! Review: "Lucy Sullivan" was fun. Although her decision making process is, at some times, tedious, I think it's a realistic portrayl of a lot of twenty-something women today. If you're pouting because she didn't make the decisions you would have, or angry with her for making bad choices, get over it. Repeat after me..."IT'S JUST A NOVEL!!!". I, too, expect some substance for my reading dollar (or pound, depending where you are), but if the book can capture me within the first few pages, I'm sold. And "Lucy" had me hooked from page 2. Marian Keyes has a wonderfully creative sense of humor. Her description of Mrs. Nolan's neighborhood was hilarious. Lucy irritated me by going back to Gus over and over and always excusing his obvious faults, but then again, I know about 3 women myself who are exactly like that (ugh), so, this novel is based on some realistic character types. People who whine about how this is "trying to be like Bridget Jones" are nuts- these are people who loved Bridget so much, they're aching for another novel exactly like it to fill what they think is some British novel canyon-like void. I, too, devoured "Bridget Jones" in an afternoon, and quickly read it's sequel, "The Edge of Reason". If you want more Bridget, write Helen Fielding and tell her to get on the ball. Get off Marian Keyes' back already!
Rating: Summary: who cares about Briget Jones this is Lucy Sullivan! Review: To these people who are comparing Lucy Sullivan to Briget Jones - GET A LIFE! I enjoy authors for their own individual works. Fielding is not Keyes - Their life experiences are different. I enjoyed this book immensely. For awhile there I got frustrated with some of the back and forth, trite dialogue, but patience is a virtue. You get a big payback when you stick in there. I enjoyed this book so much that I went back and reread certain sections to relive the experiences of their unfolding. This is not a guy book by my standards. I am a woman and I found this book written tantalizingly for me and my gender. To the individual who took offense at the play on words, "Filipino...etc" - Get A Life! You can't wear your ethnicity on your sleeve. Can't you recognize a clever play on words when you read it. I bet you didn't mind the Irish, Scottish and Australian jokes. Please don't let a little humor cloud your mind. By the way, I am a member of at least two minority groups. Enjoy! Don't analyze. Reading is for pleasure. I also feel that reviews shouldn't give away the whole essence of the plot. Don't ruin it for others.
Rating: Summary: If You Want Something Different Review: I have to be up front and say that there are some lags in the story where the plot seems to have slowed down a bit. But the rest of the book is so good that I think it more than makes up for it. This book is not for everyone; it's definitely not "politically correct" in any sense, and it's not a traditional love story. But it is fresh and insightful and Marian Keyes has quite a way with words. She manages to be laugh out loud funny and poignantly sad in the same sentences. She handles painful truths like alcoholism and self-destructive behavior with an endearing main character, Lucy, who must face the things she least wants to in herself and those around her. Despite the heavier undertones, the writing is consistently entertaining and Lucy does find a "happy ending". If you want something refreshingly different, this might very well be it.
Rating: Summary: High and low due to page 262 Review: I previously read this author's work and was not that impressed. Her debut novel WATERMELON was a feeble attempt at being a hip and happening writer. But I thought she had promise. I was impressed at the vast improvement of the quality of her writing until I reached page 262 of the paperback edition of LUCY SULLIVAN IS GETTING MARRIED. The main character Lucy and her friend Daniel are sharing careless banter with each other on the way to see her mother. " Or sorry for calling me an uncultured philistine?" Daniel says to Lucy. "Palestine," says Lucy. "Filipino," he countered. This is offensive to all Palestines and Filipinos. How dare she imply that these ethnic backgrounds are uncultured. Palestines speak their native tongue and English as well as another one or two (maybe more) languages. Filipinos speak their native tongue as well as English and Spanish and a mulitude of languages. Was that not a Filipino who won a Tony Award as best lead actress for Miss Saigon? Check out your doctor referral list and count how many are not Palestines the next time you go to the hospital.How can these people be "uncultured" ? Is it because some of these people take jobs as housekeepers and nannies in London and the world over? Given poor economic standards in their countries and wanting to make a better living via positions of lowly employment, one cannot fault these people for this and assume them to be "uncultured" . I am sure this is where this author with a law degree who lived in London and moved back to Ireland after 10 years gathered her justification to insult two entire nationalities. I wrote this review in hopes that the author of this book will realize that you can't use these words and not expect to be called to defend them. But if any reader wants to read this book feel free to read it. I just wanted to warn others that it may not be the hilarious tale it is proclaimed to be after page 262. I did enjoy this book until I read this particular page. This book would have been "charming" to me without the racial insults.
Rating: Summary: Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married opinion: Review: I loved this book. I was in a melancholy type mood when I bought it, and just needed a nice easy read. This book delivered that and gave me a few laughs in addition. I love to read, but don't always have the time, but glad I did for this book. Just picked up Watermelon, and I'm currently reading it.
Rating: Summary: Seriously Disappointed Review: After having read the Bridget Jones series, this book came as a total waste of time to me. Keyes lacks the sense of humor and keen sense of observation and description Fielding has. Not only that, Keyes is verbose. It takes her forever to explain how Lucy feels about someone, or is nervous about a first date, or angry...things most folks could easily relate to without didactic page following page. With Fielding's characters, you can immediately picture them without really having a description; plus, you start caring about them. With this book, you have plenty of description, but you get no feeling of relating. Most characters are superficial (e.g. Jed, Tom, Hetty, Megan, among others), don't add much to the story, don't warrant the detail in which they are described, but somehow Keyes feels they have to be there (note the usage of the gay-male-good-friend character, straight out of Fielding). The book lacks the ups and downs Fielding's books have, the excitement that makes you want to turn the pages. The author actually spoils the whole fun by having Lucy repeat at the beginning of the book (and throughout) so many times that she is not (or should not be) attracted to Daniel, how she doesn't understand why so many women fussing over him, etc. etc. that that gives away the end of story right there! From the other reviews, I gather that Watermelon was a much better book, but after this experience, I doubt I will look it up.
Rating: Summary: Awesome beach read! Review: Are you looking for a great book to read at the beach? I suggest Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married. This book is funny, smart, witty, and well written. Helen Fielding is great, but so is Marian Keyes. Give it a whirl, you'll thank me for it!
Rating: Summary: A Bridget Jones Knock-Off Review: Although engaging at times, Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married is nothing more than a poorly veiled take-off on the wonderful Bridget Jones' Diary. Keyes didn't even bother to change her characters' names from those originated by Helen Fielding. The annoying Lucy and pious Daniel deserve each other.
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