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Bodice Rippers Book Reviews: Helen Fielding
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding
Read by Tracy in 2007
Tracy recommends for a great holiday read
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination is the follow up to the hugely successful Bridget Jones' Diary. In this book we see a new heroine who by day is a beauty journalist but who lets her imagination run riot leading her to suspect that a Hollywood film producer is an al-Qaeda operative which obviously isn't wrong as she is also courted by MI6 and soon ends up foiling a huge terrorist attack. There are huge differences between Olivia and Bridget which is meant to keep the storylines separate, however, I couldn't stop comparing the two. Even though Olivia is skinny and beautiful she still has the klutz factor that Bridget had. However, it is a lively book with plenty of action to keep you entertained whilst out by the pool.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
Read by Natalie 2005 and Tracy 2006
Natalie and Tracy recommend this as a good, but not as good a follow up to her diary!
This is the follow up to Bridget Jones' Diary and tells the after story, what happens after Bridget has found Mr Right. Everyone knows this is going to be Mr Darcy, but that doesn't mean Daniel Cleaver is out of the picture. This book is entertaining, but not quite as good as the first. The trip to Thailand and subsequent time in jail just isn't quite plausible, even for chick-lit! Still it is good fun and worth a read. This has also been made into a movie, and like the book, isn't quite as good as its predecessor. Still it's great escapism and that's really all it's meant to be!
Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding
Read by Natalie and Tracy 2005
Natalie and Tracy recommends this as a hilarious insight into single life - I love British humour!
This is the diary of Bridget Jones, a single girl in Britain looking for Mr Right. On the one hand is sexy Daniel Cleaver her boss at the publishing company and on the other is Mark Darcy, the slightly weird family friend. Told obviously in diary format, this tells of Bridget's journey as she tries to work out which of these men is the right one for her. Joined by 3 friends, this is a hilarious escape into single life in the UK.
The movie version is equally hilarious and showcases a brilliant Renee Zellwegger who is fantastic as a Brit - rumour has it, Hugh Grant didn't even realise she was American, her accent was that good. Tracy definitely does not agree with Natalie's take of the movie and thought it was terrible, including the acting, and was extremely disappointed they varied so much away from the theme and structure of the book.