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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Marian Keyes' second collection of shorts - from the witty little brain-fluff articles, to tales of travel, and some short story fiction including some of the Mammy Walsh agony aunt letters.
I don't read much chick lit, but I do have time for Marian Keyes. Not only was she one of the first, but she is intelligent, funny and her stories are not happy-happy ridiculous. Yes, you'll probably get a happy ending, but there are real life traumas and problems in these stories. Keyes herself has "lived" and hasn't always had it easy, which gives her insight (not saying in order to be a good author you have to live through hell personally of course).
I enjoy her little tales of her own life the most. There is the very frank and honest account of her own alcoholism and climb back out - and she's a sucess story, because from out of all that started her writing career. I loved the tale of when she needed a new passport in a couple of days' time and her experiences of the Irish embassy in London. I rather liked the story of the jilted woman left with about 30 odd shoes.
On the other side, the travels in Africa - Ethiopia specifically - for charity work were eye opening. And the charity work with Russian orphanages was just heart breaking.
The first few, focusing on fashion and all that felt a little dated. But then this compilation came out in 2005, so in consideration, most of these are kicking on 20 years of age now (incidentally, how on earth can Marian Keyes now be kicking on 60????) and I wasn't a massive fan. But then with compliations it always is a mixed bag. You love some, you don't some.
I don't read much chick lit, but I do have time for Marian Keyes. Not only was she one of the first, but she is intelligent, funny and her stories are not happy-happy ridiculous. Yes, you'll probably get a happy ending, but there are real life traumas and problems in these stories. Keyes herself has "lived" and hasn't always had it easy, which gives her insight (not saying in order to be a good author you have to live through hell personally of course).
I enjoy her little tales of her own life the most. There is the very frank and honest account of her own alcoholism and climb back out - and she's a sucess story, because from out of all that started her writing career. I loved the tale of when she needed a new passport in a couple of days' time and her experiences of the Irish embassy in London. I rather liked the story of the jilted woman left with about 30 odd shoes.
On the other side, the travels in Africa - Ethiopia specifically - for charity work were eye opening. And the charity work with Russian orphanages was just heart breaking.
The first few, focusing on fashion and all that felt a little dated. But then this compilation came out in 2005, so in consideration, most of these are kicking on 20 years of age now (incidentally, how on earth can Marian Keyes now be kicking on 60????) and I wasn't a massive fan. But then with compliations it always is a mixed bag. You love some, you don't some.
Some great essays, odd short stories and intriguing glimpses of Marian Keyes real life.
I kept this book in my foster cats room and read it off and on. Hannah and Addison enjoyed it immensely and are now Marian Keyes fans. :)
I kept this book in my foster cats room and read it off and on. Hannah and Addison enjoyed it immensely and are now Marian Keyes fans. :)
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I really enjoy Marian's short stories.
Always so funny, emotional & heartwarming.
Always so funny, emotional & heartwarming.
Marian Keyes is a well-loved Irish author know for books like "Watermelon" and "No Dress Rehearsal". This was a great compilation of her pieces done fo the Irish Press on a multitude of topics. From her quirky family to her typically British husband, it takes the reader no time to assimilate into Marian's life.
Coming off of a week in Ireland, this was the perfect book to read on the flight home as I prepared to assimilate back into my real life, as Keyes pointed-out the many imperfections in the lifestyle of the "Celtic Tiger" nation. I was worried that the stories wouldn't relate to someone in their 20's, but for the most part, I was motivated to keep reading, even if only for the slang!
Coming off of a week in Ireland, this was the perfect book to read on the flight home as I prepared to assimilate back into my real life, as Keyes pointed-out the many imperfections in the lifestyle of the "Celtic Tiger" nation. I was worried that the stories wouldn't relate to someone in their 20's, but for the most part, I was motivated to keep reading, even if only for the slang!
"Further under the duvet" is essentially the same as "Under the duvet" and as such I enjoyed it. I liked to read all those short accounts about Marian's obsession with Make-up, handbags and shoes, about Himself and her terrifying perfect family.
That is the good part of the book, the bonus section consisting of her short story writing, well, I have to agree there with Marian’s own observation that she’s not much of a short story writer. She misses proper build up and structure, and the punch-line is delivered at a point where I was way past caring (or in the case of her shoe story didn’t really get it at all).
What’s more, I didn’t like even one of her characters. They are all bad mannered, snarky people with a designer label obsession that have set out to make life harder on everybody else.
I guess fans of her novels will embrace the bonus part, me, I did not so much.
That is the good part of the book, the bonus section consisting of her short story writing, well, I have to agree there with Marian’s own observation that she’s not much of a short story writer. She misses proper build up and structure, and the punch-line is delivered at a point where I was way past caring (or in the case of her shoe story didn’t really get it at all).
What’s more, I didn’t like even one of her characters. They are all bad mannered, snarky people with a designer label obsession that have set out to make life harder on everybody else.
I guess fans of her novels will embrace the bonus part, me, I did not so much.