Bridget Jones's Diary

Rating:
Summary: Speedy and funny but clearly not for everyone
Review: I feel bad for the folks who saw this book as vapid, predictable and without "literary value." I didn't want to like this book either, being overeducated in English lit myself. But I managed to throw my pretentions to the wind after a few pages and just enjoyed myself. Sometimes "literary value" is overrated. This book is really truly hilarious for what it is -- a speedy, breezy book that I read in four hours (with a hangover) and laughed loudly at least a dozen times. That alone was worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: Is Bridget too un-PC for the States?
Review: As a London-based 29-year-old singleton, Bridget Jones is of course my bible. All my friends and I wondered how the book would be received by America. The funniest thing we noticed about the American edition was the cover. In Britain, the front cover features a woman in profile gripping a glass of wine and a cigarette. In America, no nicoteine and no alcohol in evidence on the cover! Is Bridget too un-PC for the States?

Rating:
Summary: A fluffy, but hilariously entertaining read
Review: This book is outrageously funny because the single woman of the 90's who does not take herself too seriously will identify to some extent with Ms. Jones. Despite its weakness of plot and shortage of literary value, the book is great fun to read. All I'm waiting for now is a book to be written from the perspective of a Mr. Jones which will poke fun at the neurocisms of the contemporary male psyche as well.

Rating:
Summary: bridget, get over yourself
Review: I find it disturbing that so many people seem to "identify" with Bridget's life. If you're neurotic, insecure, self-centered and nasty then it really is no wonder you can't find a mate. Trees are far too valuable to be wasted on this nonsense.

Rating:
Summary: Finally! A book that lives up to the hype!
Review: Bridget Jones rocks! It's the funniest book I've read in a while, and when she's talking about feeling like the odd woman out at parties being a "Singleton" I nodded my head-understanding how she felt. The only thing that worked my nerves was she called 131 pounds "fat" but that's so minor. A great read.

Rating:
Summary: Adrian Mole has nothing to worry about
Review: The attraction of Bridget Jones's Diary is evident in its name: it's a diary, a private book that social custom decrees should be safe from prying eyes. This novel's premise appeals to the voyeur in all of us. However, I can't find it the scream that so many of its fans do. After so many pages, Jones's wittering on about her weight climbing a pound or two or her smoking 20 as opposed to 7 cigarettes was merely annoying and pathetic. This impression was the author's intention, hopefully, but the joke wears thin. Preferable are Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole diaries for sheer comedy and greater insight into human nature. Read Bridget Jones's diary, if you must, but only a copy from your local public library. I don't believe it's worth the $24 price to buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Wait until paperback
Review: I just couldn't relate to Bridget very much until she switched jobs 1/2 way through the book. Then it held my attention but I never felt like I couldn't put it down. It wasn't as funny as I hoped but it's still worth a read. Be prepared: If you don't know British customs or names, you might be a little lost at times.

Rating:
Summary: Bridget Jones, Everywoman
Review: Every woman that reads this book will be left wondering, "How did Helen Fielding get a hold of my diary?!"

Rating:
Summary: Didn't live up to its press unfortunately
Review: Such a disappointment. I thought, at first, that the reason this book was not funny to me was because "it lost something in the translation". Or, maybe because I'm a "smug married". I did like the diary format and even though I am far from being in my 30's, I enjoyed some of Bridgit's experiences (alas, few and far between). This is a good "beach reading book" since it is quick and easy to follow but unfortunately doesn't have much substance. I don't have much contact with 30-something females of today, but I surely hope they are not like Bridgit!

Rating:
Summary: A mirror to all single women with a sense of humour
Review: Reading this book was like looking in the mirror, even if Bridget is more honest about her alcohol intake and her calories than I am. She does all the things we supposedly bright, intelligent, career-minded, smart girls do, including having an affair with Mr. Wrong and promising herself she will do better in the morning. The only reason that I do not give this book 5 stars is the "happy" end. Why is finding Mr. Right the solution to everything? I'd have preferred Bridget to buy her own house and have a 19-year old hunky student rent a room there. (by the way, the same applies to 'does my bum look big in this' by Arrabella Weir)