Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Let's talk about: Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding


This book has been recommended to me so many times that I had to give it a try. 
And I was... disapointed. 

Bridget Jones' Diary gives us a year in the life of Bridget in which she has stated she wants to "reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1.5 inches, visit the gym three times a week not to just buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult, and learn to program the VCR". 
Most chapters begin with her weight (because she apparently weighs herself multiple times a day), how many cigerettes she has smoked, and how much alcohol she has consumed among other things. 
Most of the book seems to center around those three things along with her troubles in romance. 
If she didn't write her weight or the fact that her friends tell her she doesn't look as good when she is at her lowest goal weight, you would imagine her as a chubby girl. 
(The movie makes a big deal of that as well)
And yet she seems like a normal sized woman that is just obsessed with being thinner than she is.

This book is lauded as being hilarious. While there were many moments that made me laugh, I didn't think the book as a whole was that funny. 
Nor did I find it easy to sympathize with the character. 

I found her to be shallow and kind of annoying to be honest. 
I didn't really understand why Darcy would have been interested in her to begin with because there was never really a point in the story when I thought Bridget was great. 

I understand that in diary form we are only getting her thoughts about herself and that may be very different from what others would think of her but I still didn't really like her. 

It was a pretty quick read and wasn't the worst book I have ever read so I gave it two stars on Goodreads. 
I must say it is not one I will read again nor will I be reading the sequel.

*Have you read this book? 
*If so, do you agree or disagree?

6 comments:

Donna said...

Haven't read it, and now I don't plan to! I think I've heard that it was loosely based on Pride & Prejudice, is that true?

Cheryl said...

Yes. I think it is supposed to be.

But honestly the only thing I saw that was similar was the fact that the main guy was named Darcy and was a little stand offish. (and played by Colin Firth in the movie)

Bridget is definitely no Elizabeth.

The Kings said...

Nope. And it sounds like I have not missed anything!

Cheryl said...

You know, this is just my opinion but I don't think you are.
There are so many people that LOVE it so it might just be me.

I will review the movie eventually as well.

Seth and Julie said...

As I read this blog, I realize I am not up to snuff on my British actors/actresses and media, but books I can hang with, and I agree with you. I didn't get Bridget Jones. I read it about 15 years ago. so I have thought about giving it another chance to see what I missed, but there are too many other things to read and I have just never been motivated to give it a second chance.

Cheryl said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I really expected a lot from it based on the reviews it gets.
And even now, after having read it, I am still constantly hearing people say it is one of their favorites. Makes me wonder if I missed something.