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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
JUNE
An Exceptionally Bad Okay Book
Weight:? (I don’t know, I haven’t been weighed since I was in a paediatric waiting room), Alcohol Units: 0 (I’d rather die than experience an “acidic hangover” where vomiting is very likely), Cigarettes: 0 (God, I’m awfully boring, aren’t I?), Calories:? (Counted calories is so dated, like this book), Positive thoughts: 3.5/5 (g.)
12.10 p.m. After an intense exam season, this was the book I needed. Light-hearted. Flirtatious. Funny. Plotless. Reminded me of the witty English women I often encounter, particularly the sarcastic Literature teachers I’ll miss after leaving sixth form. Not as clever as some reviews suggest, the jokes were typical of an English thirty-something self-deprecating Singleton, which, at least, rendered Bridget familiar. The familiarity of her character is where I draw most of her likability from.
12.30 p.m. An informal homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Fielding’s characterisation was somewhat on par with Jane Austen. She effectively writes characters that you absolutely detest (Daniel Cleaver, whose “fuckwittage” is irredeemable, despite a young Hugh Grant playing him in my mind) as well as swoon-worthy ones that have you giggling at every interaction with the protagonist. I mean, a handsome and quiet lawyer named Mark Darcy, come on. I felt more or less the same reading Pride and Prejudice whenever Elizabeth and Darcy interact.
1.10 p.m. The way that Fielding created chemistry between characters felt real, honing in on what I would describe classic English banter built on by sarcastic quips and minor insults.
2 p.m. Now comes the matter of timelessness. In some respects, Bridget Jones’s Diary is timeless as she struggles with her role as a working woman, low self-esteem, body image, and the deconstruction of her no-longer idyllic nuclear family. Fielding depicts the honest conflict between age-old patriarchal views embedded into women’s sensibilities and this newfound liberation in how Bridget views herself and the women around her- which many feminists struggle with today.
Personally, it was rather outdated. Bridget’s remarks on ethnic cultures were borderline uncomfortable; Daniel’s comments on her skirt were entirely inappropriate (I understand that this was done intentionally to create an unlikable character but the male-centric Bridget does not seem to recognise this); and the hyper-focused, totally unrealistic attitude towards her weight (though this was normal for the 90s where the “nothing taste as skinny feels” attitude was strife).
While some reviews praise the “timelessness” of Bridget Jones's Diary, I reckon it’s a result of its time. The outdated features overshadow its potential modernity, but it still retains its value as it serves as a satirical capsule of the English woman’s sensibility from the 90s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very silly
Reminds me about all the insane obsessing over weight I did as a teenager (gross), conflating it with beauty and value, so glad to be over that, and sad to think that people still do that
Yep definitely a book of it’s time
Now I feel like watching the movie
Reminds me about all the insane obsessing over weight I did as a teenager (gross), conflating it with beauty and value, so glad to be over that, and sad to think that people still do that
Yep definitely a book of it’s time
Now I feel like watching the movie
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pretty much what I expected, having seen the movies before reading the book. The one tidbit that delighted me was that both Hugh Grant and Colin Firth were mentioned by name in the novel. Bridget even goes on and on comparing HER Mr. Darcy with the BBC Pride and Prejudice Mr. Darcy. I just loved that they ended up casting Colin Firth for both versions of Mr. Darcy.
I didn't think the book was as brilliant or clever as many reviews gave it credit for. Maybe some of the British humor just went over my head.
I didn't think the book was as brilliant or clever as many reviews gave it credit for. Maybe some of the British humor just went over my head.
Oh I loved coming back to these two after the first honeymoon book.
Liz Ava Raahosh had such a good connection and relationship. I can feel the depth of the connection and love even in this short novella.
It’s also much more if a honeymoon book than the first one.
Very sweet and romantic and sexy.
Liz Ava Raahosh had such a good connection and relationship. I can feel the depth of the connection and love even in this short novella.
It’s also much more if a honeymoon book than the first one.
Very sweet and romantic and sexy.