Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

7 reviews

jeanwatts's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I loved and hated this book equally. I’ve never seen the movie but plan to after this reading simply because….well. It’s funny. It a funny book. You feel like Bridget (if you are a white woman in a western culture). And I immediately related to a lot of what she thinks and feels and how she overreacts or underreacts. For being written in the 90s…it hold up

But that’s also why I hate it. It holds up. A woman who constantly stresses about her weight, finding a man, being a better career woman, not getting drunk, being poised and graceful and good and attractive….why is this what stands the test of time? Why is a woman who writes “123 lbs., thigh circumference 18 inches (honestly, what is the bloody point) … negative thoughts: approx. 445 per hour, positive thoughts 0” funny? Why is her planning a perfect birthday by the hour just for us to read it go horribly wrong funny? 

It makes me wonder what keeps women in this repetitive mindset focused on weight and jobs and men? And why do we obsess and then go the opposite and promise to stop only to go back again? The fact that this book is still relatable is an issue. Also the fact is: it’s relatable to straight, white, middle class, cis women. So for it to be the “female experience” is wrong.

At the same time….it’s….funny. And I enjoyed a lot of it. 

It’s hard to balance my love and hate for this book. I will not say any more on the matter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming

Moderate: Eating disorder and Dysphoria

sci_cloudy's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Having seen the movie first, I was surprised at how neurotic Bridget really is - and with that mother it is quite understandable. While I did laugh, I also found the book slightly depressing due to the abysmal way romantic relationships are portrayed in all cases (not just Bridget). They are a stark contrast to the friendships portrayed. Maybe that is the idea? I think Bridget is a caricature of every one of us. We all have moments of doubt, wish we were in some way 'better' and projecting our ideal into people we don't really know. Bridget does just that, which is why we can all relate and like her - even though she ist not really likable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Dysphoria

ophycore's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Dysphoria and Sexual harassment

Minor: Rape, Classism, and Pregnancy

Some very insensitive mentions of rape. Calories / Weight mentioned on most pages. Lots of smoking / mentioned on most pages.

sophiemundy13's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

Loved the films, enjoyed the book. Dated in places, like current affairs, but funny with hindsight. Not a big fan of the fatphobia/her obsession with her weight and calorie intake, but def a reflection of the time it was written 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Dysphoria

Minor: Suicide, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

theodore_logan's review against another edition

funny lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

mark darcy 🫶🫶🫶

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Misogyny and Fatphobia

beeboofighter's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I was surprised how little Bridget weigh and how big of a problem it was presented in the film. It was a fun listen. The atmosphere of the 00s with landlines and missed calls is something else.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dysphoria and Eating disorder

jesspages's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book definitely didn't age well

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Body shaming, and Alcohol