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Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jone's Diary by Helen Fielding
Bridget Jone’s Diary by Helen Fielding

The books I have gone through lately have dealt with serious stuff, so I needed something lighter to read for the holidays. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding came out a few months ago, and I thought it would be a good time to go through the whole series again.

For those of you who have been hiding under a rock for the last 20 years and haven’t read the book or seen the movie, Bridget Jones’s Diary is the story of a single woman in her thirties in London, England. This is a hilarious book about failed relationships and unsuccessful attempts at losing weight. It is also a sharp critique of modern society where  women have to have a husband, children, a house in the suburbs and a fulfilling job to be considered a success. While the story feels a bit dated (no cell phones!), the issues are still very much what a single woman would experience nowadays. In addition, Bridget Jones is a lovable character because she is not perfect,  and she makes mistakes. As a result, we identify with her and understand her struggles.

Bridget Jones’s Diary has paved the way for many romantic comedies and TV series (Sex and the City anyone?), and I am really grateful for the laughs and tears it has brought on.

To read the review for the second book in the series: Bridget Jones, the Edge of Reason

Fun facts about the book and the author:

  • Bridget Jones’s Diary  is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
  • The book is made up of the columns Helen Fielding wrote anonymously for The Independent starting in October 1995.
  • Helen Fielding is friends with Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr. Bean).
  • The author has never married.

If you liked this book you might also like:

Diary of a Mad Bride by Laura Wolf
Diary of a Mad Bride by Laura Wolf
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger