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Fans of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary will recall that at the end of that sly and funny version of Pride and Prejudice, singleton heroine Bridget landed her Mr. Darcy at last--Mark Darcy, that is. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason picks up four weeks later, and already the honeymoon is over. In addition to discovering that the man of her dreams votes conservative, left-leaning Bridget is also feeling just a mite uncomfortable with the realities of sharing bed and board with another person:
V. complicated actually having man in house as cannot freely spend requisite amount of time in bathroom or turn into gas chamber as conscious of other person late for work, desperate for pee etc.; also disturbed by Mark folding up underpants at night, rendering it strangely embarrassing now simply to keep all own clothes in pile on floor.
But all of these problems pale to insignificance with the arrival on the scene of Rebecca, a beautiful, man-hunting arch-nemesis with "thighs like a baby giraffe" and absolutely no girlfriend code of ethics when it comes to poaching another woman's man. Before long, Rebecca's manipulations, Bridget's own insecurities, and a string of misunderstandings (starting with a naked Filipino boy in Mark Darcy's bed and ending with a suggestive valentine from Bridget's dry cleaner) result in "128 lbs. (good), alcohol units 0 (excellent), cigarettes 5 (a pleasant, healthy number), no. times driven past Mark Darcy's house 2 (v.g.), no. of times looked up Mark Darcy's name in phone book to prove still exists 18 (v.g.), 1471 calls 12 (better), no. of phone calls from Mark 0 (tragic).
Fortunately, Bridget has plenty of other problems to distract her. Her mother has returned from a trip to Kenya with a young Masai in tow--to her father's consternation; her best friends Jude, Shazzer, and Tom are all trapped in dating hell themselves; her apartment is in shambles thanks to a dotty carpenter; an unreliable ex-boyfriend has just reentered her life; and now someone is sending Bridget death threats--could it be Mark Darcy? If Bridget Jones's Diary was a modern riff on Pride and Prejudice, its sequel borrows several themes and devices (not to mention a section heading) from another Austen novel, Persuasion. And as in Austen's fiction, here the journey is the destination. A happy ending for Bridget and her pals is a foregone conclusion; how they get there, however, will have you on the edge of your chair--if you haven't already fallen off of it laughing. --Alix Wilber
From Library Journal
This sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary actually has more of a plot than the original, though Bridget is still the dumb, ditzy journalist wannabe in search of a real relationship. If she seems dumber and ditzier here, it's not necessarily a drawback: she has some of the same charm as Anita Loo's Lorelei in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The novel is not just diary format, though the breakdown here is not just daily but, annoyingly, often minute by minute; inexplicably, Fielding has decided to drop subjects and begin sentencews with verbs (e.g., "Is relief..."). Nevertheless, the sidesplitting humor is still present, particularly in a hysterical interview with actor Colin Firth, who plays Mr. Darcy in the BBC-TV version of Pride and Prejudice. The interview is printed unedited in the Independent (and in the novel), when Briget fails to turn in her article in time. It begins with the incisive "What is your favorite color?" (blue) and "What is your favorite pudding?" (creme brulee). Fans will adore this. For popular fiction collections. [Literary Guild main selection.]-Francine Fialkoff, "Library Journal. --Francine Fialkoff, "Library Journal" Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
130 lbs. (gaah!), alcohol units 7 (entranced by book, and therefore not accountable for actions), cigarettes 0 (hurrah!), calories 1500 (v.g.), no. of times found self mooning over Colin Firth 42 (tragic)
11 a.m. Traveling with Mum from New York to Virginia and in desperate need of entertainment. Must busy self. Idleness only leaves time to contemplate terrifying slide into obesity (Why? Why?). Search plastic bag quickly tearing itself into shreds for relief (blurry wimpy plastic), found Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and began to read. Refreshing change from self-help books, as actually might help.
Noon Stopped for gas. Laughing hysterically now (v.g. as laughing burns calories) and wondering at the comic genius of Helen Fie--Gaaaaah! Was Mum getting back into car. Would recommend to everyone (Reading book, not getting back into car).
3 p.m. Feel very comfortable with self after reading about Bridget Jones. Life can't possibly be as bad (v.g.). Not better or worse than the first, simply a well written continuation. Hurrah for Helen Fielding! Bridge's travel misadventures might be pushing it a little, but the further connection to Austen is bloody marvelous, this one paralelling Persuasion. The old Bridge is back!
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Fans of Bridget Jones diary will not be disappointed by this hilarious sequel. Helen Fielding has done it again. She has crafted an entertaining and truly funny novel that is sure to entertain all but the most grumpy of readers. Where as most comic novels I read make me think their jokes are very clever, Fieldings jokes make me think they are clever and I am amazed at how creative she can be. This sort of humor is probably very difficult to sustain, but Fielding is a master. Bridget is a slightly silly person, a bit on the unrealistic side, but I suppose diaries (as this is) may include ones ultimate unrealistic fantasies (like being rescued by Colin Firth or Prince William). While Bridget is on the edge of reason, her on-again off-again boyfriend is the voice of reason and the perfect comic foil. Her friends are as wacky as she is and their antics are sure to amuse as are Bridget's comments about everyone and everything around her. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is solid entertainment and certainly worth reading. I seriously could not put it down after the first 50 pages. Enjoy.
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I liked Bridget Jones's Diary, but I LOVED this one. The first was fun, but this one was laugh out loud funny. I enjoyed the movie of the first book more, actually, than I liked the book. I am so happy that I read this one instead of seeing the movie. If you have seen the movie version, don't be dissuaded. Read the book. The book is completely different and far superior. I only suggest that before you read this, you rent the A&E version of "Pride and Prejudice." Unless you are a P&P fan, much of the humor will be lost to you. If you haven't seen P&P, be prepared to enjoy one of the greatest works of fiction ever written.
Helen Fielding has done it again in this clever sequel that chronicles the life of Bridget Jones. This is a MUST READ sequel! But do not read it unless you have read the first book.
This series is in my top ten of best books for women to read. It is all that a sequel should be, but not boring.
If you have seen the movie but not read the book, the two are entirely different! The movie took license with the plot, and I enjoyed them both equally.
The chaotic Bridget Jones has every reason to be happy - she finally has the boyfriend of her dreams, Mark Darcy. However, Bridget wouldn't be Bridget if she didn't manage to screw up things with her insecurity issues, driving everyone at "the edge of reason."
I loved the original Bridget Jones novel by Helen Fielding - there was something new and refreshing about it. The sequel "Bridget Jones - The Edge Of Reason" can't hold a candle to the first book though. It surely has its funny moments (especially Bridget's vacation in Thailand), yet I found myself being more annoyed than amused by Bridget's smoking, drinking, weight, and relationship problems which she often comments with either "hurrah" or "gaaah." For me, the book was more of a "gaaah" experience.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Not half-bad but not exceptionally great either, May 29, 2006
First off...if you are thinking of purchasing this book because you saw the first, or more to the point, the *second* Bridget Jones movie, stop right there. While it's typical for an adaptation of a book to the big screen to take creative liberties, Helen Fielding's second Bridget-book is nothinggg like the second movie. Period.
I first saw the original Bridget Jones movie, then read the book was was fairly disappointed by the extreme erraticness Bridget displayed in the book that was cut down for the big screen. Afterwards I watched the second movie, fell asleep about 3/4 of the way in, and felt bad for Renee Zewelleger for having to sing Madonna with a tampon as her microphone. I recently settled down the read the second book, and re-watch the second movie and they are extremely different!
Essentially in both cases the book picks up a month to a month and a half after Bridget Jones and her leading man from the previous book end up together. She is blissfully happy, but at teh same time extremely paranoid, judgemental, and constantly seeking the advice of her romance-handicapped friends.
Eventually Bridget and said man break up, under a series of accusations and misunderstandings, and most importantly, fears. The big difference here between the movie and the book is in the film, Bridget breaks up with her guy under vague suspicion he is having an affair with a co-worker, Rebecca, who ends up being a lesbian that fancies Bridget. In the book however, Rebecca really is trying to seperate Bridget and her fella, and more or less successfully does so.
The rest of the story from there follows Bridget's depression, subsequent attempts to cheer herself up, and a couple of 'major' events including her best friend getting married, an interview with Colin Firth, and a trip to Thailand. Didn't see those first two in the film? That's because they never happened in the movie version. As well, the role of the 'other' man in Bridget's life, who shall also remain nameless, takes on a MUCH smaller role in the book than in the film - but that one you can chalk up to star power quota.
All in all the second book is an improvement over the film, unlike the slightly disappointing first novel in comparison to the movie. If you like the writing of Helen Fielding you'll be pleased to find it still entertaining, slightly easier to read, and as wacky as the first book. I found much of the story bogged down with weird sub-plots and Bridget's complete psychoticness at times, but it was certainly better than the first book, and second film.
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based on 470 reviews.
Saturday, April 22, April 22, 2000
Average book with funny moments, November 6, 2006
