Bridget Jones's Diary: A Novel

it was a gift.....

This book officially falls into the same category for me as Pretty Little Liars: silly fluff that I normally would not read, but for some reason I just cannot put my finger on, it intrigues me.But, it started out almost as a book I was going to abandon, because she about drove me crazy at the start (and, frankly, through the whole book) with her updates and moanings and groanings about her weight. And while I am not looking to start any debate about weight issues with my review, I do feel that when you are around 120-130 pounds, you don't have much to complain about as far as being fat goes. UNLESS you have COMPLETELY bought into society's view on things. And, let's face it...at the time this book came out (1996), society was pretty much into thin, thin, thin. It is not like now, 19 years later where people are starting to be a bit more accepting of all body types...especially recognizing the effect that the media has on girls and women.But, the more I got into the book, the more the soap opera feel of the book took hold, and I just became hooked. Now, I am not one to watch soap operas except on those rare occasions that I for some reason get hooked into one. BUT, I do like a good drama, and sometimes one needs a bit of fluff. Especially when one reads a lot of dark mysteries and whatnot like I do all the time. Sometimes it is nice to read about problems like Bridget's that have to do with men, and being single, family rather than people being murdered and creepers around every corner.To be honest, this is a series that I have been terribly interested in for ages. Probably for a decade or more. I just never made the time for the book or the movie. And now that I have, I have to admit that I am kind of glad that I did. Even though I am not totally gushing about the book, and I did watch part of the movie yesterday (no, my rating is not AT ALL based on the movie...just on the book), and the movie, of course, deviates from the book wildly. It was kind of fun to read after awhile, and I enjoyed settling down at the end of the day with a book that wasn't going to scare the pants off of me. Because while I do love that adrenaline rush, sometimes it is better to just relax.

I loved watching the movie version of this book, and I enjoyed how the characters were varied, but recognisable. The book, however, is far more raunchy, and goes into a really dark place towards the end. There are scenes I can recall from the movie showing up in the book (or vice versa really), and by and large the general thrust of the story still follows pretty closely. However, there are details that you can't quite show in the movie that show up in the book that fill in the blanks. The movie presents Bridget and Daniel's initial relationship as a whirlwind romance, whereas in the book, it paints a much sadder picture. Bridget clearly wants /something/ out of it, and Daniel is interested in either a hook up, or watching TV. He can barely hold a conversation with Bridget, and the guy has all the romance of a teenage boy. It makes their relationship all the more depressing, but also fleshes it out way more clearly when we figure out that Daniel's been with that other woman all along. It makes more /sense/ for that Daniel to do what he did.Same goes for Mark. In the movie, it seems like all of a sudden there's this switch that flips, where Mark and Bridget are into each other. In the book, you see that cat and mouse game carry through, which makes their eventual getting together make way more sense. It's a series of they tried to get together, but either circumstances, Natasha, or International embezzlement and fraud would get in the way of that magic happening. It wasn't some snooty prince come down off his high horse to fraternise with the commoners. It was more of a slow burn that had been building throughout the story, with a much more satisfying conclusion.If you like the movie (or even if you didn't like the movie), definitely give the book a read. It's very enjoyable.

Just had a really difficult time getting into this one. I’m not sure if it was the actual writing or the style in which the book is written but I found it to be very boring.

I didn't find this book "hilarious" and I didn't "split a gut laughing", but I got quite a few smiles and even more chuckles out of it. Just about every page had something cute or witty on it, which I found really enjoyable. I could definitely relate to Bridget & her eternal quests for happiness and a botfriend. Since there are so many reviews on this book explaining what it is about, I thought I'd write a few of my favorite lines from the book: "I realize it has become too easy to find a diet to fit in with whatever you happen to feel like eating and that diets are not there to be picked and mixed but picked and stuck to, which is exactly what I shall begin to do once I've eaten this chocolate croissant." "Maybe Dad will appear hanging upside down outside the window dressed as a Morris dancer, crash in and start hitting Mum over the head with a sheep's bladder; or suddenly fall facedown out of the airing cupboard with a plastic knife stuck in his back. The only thing which can possibly get everything back on course is a Bloody Mary. It's nearly afternoon after all." "...just had cigarette, but no-smoking day does not start officially until I have gotten dressed." "...so all I've got to do is find someone or something to have power over and then...oh G*d, I haven't even got power over my own hair." "Twenty-two hours, four pizzas, one Indian takeaway, three packets of cigarettes and three bottles of champagne later, Daniel is still here. I am in love. I am also now between one and all of the following...a) back on thirty a day...b) engaged ... c) stupid... d) pregnant." Some of these quotes were taken out of context, but I still thought they were cute. All in all, this is a very entertaining book, well worth the read...and it's a quick read, too, and makes for a fun weekend escape from reality.

Bridget Jones is funny and honest book and I think that it doesn’t matter at which stage in your life you read it, everyone can kind of relate to a certain extent. I, in particularly, could see my own struggles sometimes toward the old mentality that in your 30s you gotta be in a long lasting relationship and start to think about having kids cause the clock it ticking.. I know now things in society are getting better so there isn’t as much pressure as before, but it still gets annoying sometimes to be asked 😂 I could as well relate to her struggles in accepting her body, I think everyone has been at that stage in life where you are comparing yourself to other women and wish you could loose wight or have higher cheekbones or have better hair etc.. been there done that, then hopefully growing up you start loving yourself and accepting all your flows, but let’s be real social media aren’t helping women in accepting their self images. This book is real and I loved it.For sure the book goes more in depth in Bridget’s life compared to the movie so If you have watched it but not read the book, I would suggest you do cause you will have lots to think about, I can assure you!I’m certainly looking forward to read the next books in the series.

I really did not like this book. If i wanted to read about someone feeling sorry for themselves and constantly worrying about their weight, their love life or their diet, I'd read facebook. Someone needs to pick Bridget up, give her a shake and tell her to stop fussing over things and enjoy life. Maybe then she's be a bit happier

This an account of a year in the life of a young (30+) woman looking for a man she can love and trust. She is also worried about her weight, complexion and allied matters; and equally important, about her parents whose marriage is breaking down.The events described invite comments such as Hilarious, Exaggerated, Ridiculous, Outrageous and Exhausting.One event which made me smile was when Bridget is being quizzed for a post as Commentator on some whacky TV show. It concerns some celebrity English actor who had been arrested for having oral sex with a prostitute in a car parked up somewhere in Hollywood Hills; "Why?" said her interviewer, "Why, three months later, is he still with his equally famous English girlfriend. How did he get away with it?" "Any suggestions Bridget?"Bridget hesitated and said "Perhaps someone swallowed the evidence?". "Brilliant" said the interviewer and laughed out loud.I myself never saw the Film but I do remember the lead actress being interviewed by Parkinson, who confronted the audience with a clip from the film in which Bridget is shown in bed with her boyfriend when the phone rings. "Oh! its you Mum". The Film differs somewhat from the Book but the script was also written by the Helen Fielding.The Book is a "Must Read" and the Film is a "Must Watch".

Still funny,still a bit cringey at times and a perfect little snapshot of a specific time. One of those books where the film adaptation was so perfectly cast that you visualize all of the actors as you read it. Still bemused by nation's obsession with that tv version of Pride and Prejudice!

I had resisted buying this book for a long time due to the 'chick flick' film that came out a few years ago. Finally I downloaded it to my Kindle. I was more than pleasantly surprised - the book is really, really good. I love the way she catalogues her day (ciggies, calories, screatch cards, times dialled 1471 etc). The writing is very honest and very believable in the way it is delivered. As you read it you find that we all have a bit of 'Bridget' in our personalities and our lives. I found myself laughing out load in some parts - I loved the way she managed to find anything to do to avoid working (ringing friends, painting nails) or the morning panic where she has to go through several pairs of tight until she finds one with holes that will be hidden...