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A review by katykelly
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
5.0
A short 6 audio discs, this was a 'comfort' read, one I've read before, seen the film of many times, and just fancied something a little seasonal between some heavier reads.
I enjoyed this hugely, just as much as on previous reads, and reading it as an audiobook worked very well. The narrator is a wonderful Bridget and the diary format translates well to audio
Bridget's diary over the course of a year as the thirty-something charts her search for true love is roughly based on my favourite book (the only other book I re-read each year) - Pride and Prejudice. I loved listening out for the similarities in plot and character. I'd forgotten that the stuck-up reindeer-jumper wearing Mr Darcy she meets over Christmas then disappears for a significant proportion of the book while other romantic entanglements and Singleton life (and calorie counting) take over.
While I absolutely HATE the smoking, drinking and food obsessions, I can ignore those for the vulnerable naivety of the adorably optimism of Ms Jones.
I know the film so well that it's almost a surprise when key scenes change or don't appear at all in the source novel, but I really enjoyed a trip back to Bridget's parents wobbly marriage, her 'urban family' of friends (better developed in the film I thought) and the toxic but hot relationship involving Daniel 'the slime' Cleaver.
The subplot involving her mum's boyfriend and how this turns out, I found I'd completely forgotten, so the ending took me by surprise, and though it ends well, I found I missed the film's final scenes.
That's what comes of being more familiar with the filmed versions of books than their source material though, but as this is itself a re-interpretation of an Austen novel, it's fair to say that changes are going to happen and decisions are made for a reason.
Loved my re-read. Will definitely want to listen to this again, and am currently trying to find books 2 and 3 on CD as well.
I enjoyed this hugely, just as much as on previous reads, and reading it as an audiobook worked very well. The narrator is a wonderful Bridget and the diary format translates well to audio
Bridget's diary over the course of a year as the thirty-something charts her search for true love is roughly based on my favourite book (the only other book I re-read each year) - Pride and Prejudice. I loved listening out for the similarities in plot and character. I'd forgotten that the stuck-up reindeer-jumper wearing Mr Darcy she meets over Christmas then disappears for a significant proportion of the book while other romantic entanglements and Singleton life (and calorie counting) take over.
While I absolutely HATE the smoking, drinking and food obsessions, I can ignore those for the vulnerable naivety of the adorably optimism of Ms Jones.
I know the film so well that it's almost a surprise when key scenes change or don't appear at all in the source novel, but I really enjoyed a trip back to Bridget's parents wobbly marriage, her 'urban family' of friends (better developed in the film I thought) and the toxic but hot relationship involving Daniel 'the slime' Cleaver.
The subplot involving her mum's boyfriend and how this turns out, I found I'd completely forgotten, so the ending took me by surprise, and though it ends well, I found I missed the film's final scenes.
That's what comes of being more familiar with the filmed versions of books than their source material though, but as this is itself a re-interpretation of an Austen novel, it's fair to say that changes are going to happen and decisions are made for a reason.
Loved my re-read. Will definitely want to listen to this again, and am currently trying to find books 2 and 3 on CD as well.