"It struck me as pretty ridiculous to be called Mr. Darcy and to stand on your own looking snooty at a party. It's like being called Heathcliff and insisting on spending the entire evening in the garden, shouting "Cathy" and banging your head against a tree."
Keeping my promise of a weekly review, this week is dedicated to the queen of chick lit: Bridget Jones. I have read Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding time and time again (as you can probably tell - my dog-eared copy is starting to look a bit sorry for itself) and it brings me to tears of laughter every time. Although I hold the film in almost equally high esteem, the book is firmly cemented among my favourite reads for oh so many reasons.
For one thing, Bridget is so relatable and so endearing that it's hard not to love her. I don't think any girl could read this book and not have at least one moment where they laugh to themselves and think, 'I've done that!' OK, maybe not frantically shimmying up fireman's pole on national news, but I think we can all shudder at the thought of some hideous dating blunder or shameful work mishap from some occasion or another, am I right?
Secondly, it's such an easy read! I think you'll notice from my previous Perks of Being a Wallflower review that I've got a bit of a thing for epistolary novels. Letters, diaries, you name it, I probably love it. And Bridget Jones' Diary is exactly what it says on the tin; a series of diary entries that cover a year of her life, only instead of being private, hers has kindly been published for us all to read. I've had nightmares about similar scenarios. It's a good job she's fictional, otherwise she would have probably gone into eternal hiding years ago. And I love the calorie counts and such with mini commentaries that accompany each section. Always good for a giggle.
Also, I know that it sounds weirdly patriotic, I don't mean it to, but I love that it's British! For me, the English humour is what makes it wonderful. I somehow find it a lot more endearing that she misses an interview with a top barrister because she is buying a cigarettes and a Lion Bar, than I would if she missed out on meeting Honey Boo Boo because she'd run out of Junior Mints. Sorry to any Americans reading this, I've got nothing against Honey Boo Boo, but you know it as well as I do, Bridget Jones wouldn't be Bridget Jones without her tiny London flat filled with imaginary Alsatians, poised to eat her face when she dies alone, Mark Darcy's stereotypically British inability to communicate feelings and her mother's busy-bodying ways. All the talk of pubs, Blind Date and tarts and vicars parties is a huge part of the charm for me.
Finally, I love me a bit of Mark Darcy! Admittedly, his dodgy Christmas jumpers, and his bumbling, awkward poshness might not be everyone's cup of tea, but whatever your type may be, I think we'd all love to be told that we are very much liked, just the way we are, no? Ugh, why are all the good ones fictional?
An oldie but a goodie, Bridget has gotten me through some dark times. Whenever I'm having a glum day, I grab myself a good slab of chocolate, pick this up and find myself feeling better in moments. Sure, it's not ground breaking. It doesn't send any life changing messages. It's just about a single girl trying to survive dating in London with her dignity intact (albeit slightly battered). But it is the most feel good book I have ever read, and I guarantee it will put a smile on your face. Sadly, I have never read the second book, although I would like to, and I'm more than a little sceptical about the prospect of a third instalment being in the pipeline (always leave them wanting more Helen, surely someone told you that), but I adore this book. As far as I'm concerned, Bridget Jones will always have a place in my heart, and on my bookshelf.
Have you read this book too? What are your favourite things about it? Let me know.
S.
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