Bridget Jones's Diary, The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding

Don't think I've ever had this feeling of loving and hating (at the same time) any book I've read before this one. I love some of the story, and the idea, formatting, humor, characters (some, but especially Bridget). I hated the some of the ridiculously outrageous events. Some of them were really just nonsense.

And the most irritating thing is that the major upset (Bridget, Mark...together, or not?) could've so easily been resolved had she just asked a few simple but direct questions (and ignored her jealous friends). She comes out with plenty of silly and stupid things, why not something that actually makes sense?

Yes, "ITS A BOOK!"...sure..and any sensibility and logic would've made this more a pamphlet. And I guess it's the conflict (ridiculous or not) and the time waiting for the good part to finally happen (yes I peeked at the end because I couldn't stand it) that make this what it is. Loved. Hated. Ridiculous. Amazing. Fun. Amusing. (oooh....will there be a part 3? hope so!)

One tip she could've really benefited from straight away is "do not listen to rubbish from friends" because really, they were just jealous. They ruined everything. Somehow she didn't realize this. (yesyes, fiction, book, not real, ahem..)

Definitely rode the emotional roller coaster throughout much of this book. Though perhaps not in the (assumed) expected way. More along the lines of frustration and the writing of unlikely circumstances (think the author had just watched the movie Brokedown Palace during her writing and needed something to throw in) and too much time spent with filler-rubbish.

I really hope the second movie cleans up some of the cluttered, unnecessary parts as it did with the first transition. The (first) movie at least made "Bridget" really likeable: fun, ditzy, quirky, sweet, funny; unlike the book, which makes her seem really gullible and without the ability to function on her own (which contradicts the fact that she actually does, but I often wondered how going by the daily diary entries). Can't wait to see the 2nd movie. (can't wait to buy my dvd copy either and watch them one after the other!)

If the author does decide to write a third installment of this wonderful series, I really hope she ignores at least some of the headlines (tabloid or otherwise) and perhaps tries to incorporate a little less of the "ridiculous" and a lot more of whatever it was that made the first book so great.

Can't even put my finger on what it was specifically. But I know what it
"wasn't"....if you know what I mean. I don't think it really was any one thing.

More a combination of things: actually-possible (and likely) events (definitely important), and misunderstandings (and other interesting and relatable situations), and humor, and a real, likeable character that goes through the hurts and wants of finding "the one." Something all Singletons (and Smug Marrieds) can relate to. (leave the ridiculous for something else please!)