Bridget Jones's Diary

Rating:
Summary: fantastically brilliant novel...far exceeded my expectations
Review: After hearing mixed commentary about Bridget Jones's Diary...I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I was amazed at how realistically she portrayed life of your average, ordinary "singleton" (with a wonderful biting humour). I spent the entire afternoon laughing to myself and after four hours I realised I had finished and wound up wondering what was to become of my heroine.

Rating:
Summary: Give me a break!
Review: That the word feminism is used in association with this book is insulting to all us feminists. Some of us are actually 30-something professional, single women who are happy about their station in life.

This book does, however, perfectly illustrate the sad state of "feminism" in England. I was there last November and there was actually a newspaper article about whether or not women should be allowed to be the boss of men at work! Disgraceful.

I would say that based on this book and my own experiences in England, that women there have a long, long way to go.

Rating:
Summary: great fun!
Review: This book had me laughing out loud. I particularly enjoyed the "dinner party from hell" with the blue soup - you should always try out new recipes in private before serving them to your friends! As an ex-Singleton who lived in London I could relate to some of what Bridget went through, though my life was dull in comparison. (I am now happily married, though I hope not Smuggly so.) Bridget displays remarkable resiliance - despite her many disasters, she always bounces back, hopeful that things can only get better. Happily, her faith is eventually rewarded. This book had several parallels with Pride & Prejudice - perhaps that is part of the reason why I enjoyed it so much.

Rating:
Summary: Far funnier and more ironic than I expected.
Review: I was rather dubious about reading this book from all the things I had read about it. How interesting can someone's obsession with counting calories and dating be? But I was strongly encouraged to get it by a friend so I did, and POW! I read it in practically one evening and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished.

It is a very funny look at one late 20th Century single English woman's life, but her experiences will ring bells with everyone. Even if you are not Bridget Jones you know someone who is.

The story itself is also very good. The episodes are larger than life and farcical (I laughed out loud while I was reading it) but they are always somehow believable within the context of Bridget's life. Most important, you get involved with Bridget and care about what happens to her. The whole book is like having a series of long phone calls with a good friend.

Rating:
Summary: Like eating an entire bag of Cheetos....
Review: ..you regret it every time! Heavy reliance on ethnic stereotypes (the oversexed Latin lover -- please!). My analysis is: "nutritional content, zero; fat content, gazillion cals. Ugh. Resolve to do better!"

Rating:
Summary: absolutely fabulous
Review: When I first read Bridget Jones Diary a year ago, I wanted to ask Helen Fieding is she wrote it just for me. One of the best comic novels I've read in years. Bridget Jones captures the fun and turmoil of single thirtysomething life. Another reader compared it to Nick Horby's Hi-Fidelity-which is right on target. I wish I could go out for a drink with Bridget and Holly Godlightly! Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: One of the funniest and BEST books ever!
Review: This is one of the funniest books I have ever read! I could relate with everything that Bridget said, even though I am not a "Singleton" nor "Thirty-something", I think any one could relate to all of Bridget's hardships. I became so involved with the book that I would race home just to read it, because Bridget became just a freind whom I needed to talk to all of the time. Now that I read the book, I heard a movie is in the making, I can't wait to see if my vision of Bridget will be like everyone else's! EVERY ONE IN THE WORLD SHOULD READ BRIDGEt JONES'S DIARY!

Rating:
Summary: OTT funny
Review: I just thought this book "OTT" funny. Over the top for non-brits. Bridget manages to capture the strange mix in women of trying to be all things and still being a teen ager filled with angst at the core. All of us at one time or another feel like Bridget or have felt like her. What a joy to read-I know it made my day!

Rating:
Summary: Funny! Funny! Funny!
Review: This book is a book that many females can relate to. It is not only hilarious, but the "crises" are ones that many have most likley struggled with before. Good read when you need a deep breath from " Crime and Punishment" sort of books! V. good!

Rating:
Summary: Funny on one level . . .
Review: . . . but extremely depressing on another. While I found the novel entertaining, and laughed out loud at some of Bridget's observations, I couldn't help but become depressed at the obvious sense of identity so many women have with Bridget Jones. As a few others have pointed out, her obsessions are sadly shallow when she seems to have the potential for so much more. I can't imagine what a horror it must be to go through life constantly cataloging minute fluctuations in your weight, and counting every calorie you consume -- not to mention being totally destroyed by any remotely negative sign from a male object of desire. I'm a 27-year-old single woman, and I don't live my life this way. I'm horrified to discover that so many women apparently do. In the end BJD is, as I said, extremely depressing -- because Bridget is ultimately deeply needy and completely dependent on male attention for her self-worth. Yuck!