Bridget Jones - Part I: Introducing Helen Fielding

Helen Fielding

The famous author of Bridget Jones Series was born in February 19th 1958 in Yorkshire. She studied English at St Anne’s College, Oxford. Interested in acting and being part of a revue she met the best British comedian Rowan Atkinson and one of my favourites screenwriters/directors Richard Curtis in 1978 and started a friendship. In the following year, she began to work at BBC as a regional researcher. In 1985, Helen became a producer on a live satellite broadcast from Sudan for Comic Relief. Many facts of her life before 1990 are really fantastic, showing a woman with passion for discovering new things.

From 1990 to 1999, she worked as a journalist for important newspapers including The Sunday Times, The Independent and The Telegraph. In 1995, her job at The Independent was the best choice she had ever made, there she had a column about single life that was the first step to write Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996). Although the well-known book of Helen Fielding is Bridget Jones’s Diary, the first book of her novelist career was Cause Celeb (1994). This brief bio of Helen was just to show a little bit of her track and a preparation for the next posts.

Helen Fielding’s Books:

(1996)

(1994)

(1999)

(2013)

(2004)

Charlotte Street

Book: Charlotte Street

Author: Danny Wallace

Publisher: Ebury Press

Year: 2012

Rate: 4,5

The Plot:

It is a story of Jason Priestley (not the actor), an ex-teacher who starts writing as a new career for a newspaper. One day, he helps a girl who was taking a cab, but he keeps with her disposable camera, accidently. Jason wants to find her not just for giving the disposable camera back, but because he thinks she is the one.

For your own safe:

Before you read it you must have three characters in mind: the disposable camera, the girl and Charlotte Street. Yes, I consider disposable camera and Charlotte Street as characters, truly. Danny Wallace was brilliant when he chose a random encounter to show how Jason is living his life, his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, his friendship with Dev and lots of ordinary happenings in a human being’s life.

My Thoughts:

Maybe some people could not consider Charlotte Street as Chick Lit. It is acceptable because first of all, the main character is not a woman, neither the author. However, Jason’s feelings and experience are so closed to many female characters that we usual read in Chick Lit. Then I will take a risk, because I reckon the story belongs to the genre.

Few days before reading Charlotte Street, I read reviews and asked others readers what they thought about the book. For my surprise, I had two different points of view: first group considered not a good story because the main plot was too confused; the second one thought was amazed as the author describes London as scenery and guides the whole story. It is a Love and Hate dichotomy for sure. My decision was to read and decide what 50/50 I am part of.

I confess that in the beginning it was areally confused text, however I didn’t stop reading I wanted to find a reason of all messy thing. I believe I did: the main character is confused, too many conflicts, so maybe it was on purpose. It seems the characters are real.

In the end of the book, I realized I am part of the group that loves Charlotte Street!

Danny's site: http://dannywallace.com/

See you next time,

Inessa Silva

Family Affair

                                                    

Book: Family Affair

Author: Debbie Macomber

Publisher: Avon Books

Year: 2012

Rate: 5 (of 5)

The Plot:

Lacey Lancaster is a divorced woman, full of being betrayed by men. Her ex-husband cheated her, her boss doesn’t promote her, even considers the whole effort that she has made to be the best worker at Sullivan’s Decorations and in the end he always forgets to raise her salary. Very disappointed with life, she decides not to have a relationship so soon, or better, never more.

Lonely, she buys a cat called Cleo. Cleo becomes her passion, her close friend. Jeanne is her Lacey’s best friend, a woman who encourages her to face Mr Sullivan and get a promotion.

The action begins when Dog, Jack’s cat, falls in love with Cleo. Jack is the noisy Lacey’s neighbour who is always arguing with his girlfriend. Everything that involves Cleo, involves Lacey for sure.

My Thoughts:

Simple, sincere, kindness… A fairy tale, we could say that!

There aren’t too many conflicts to solve like in others Chick Lit books, but the main character catches the attention and it’s hard to stop reading. The story is so confortable that we could wonder whether wouldn’t be a book for holidays. Or days that we had a stressful day and want a minute of peace inside our mind at last.

Yeah… Exactly, a book for holidays! The best label we could put in it.

If you have already read this book and want to leave a comment, it would be great. If you haven't, please tell us whether you would like to read. 

Changing information and opinion are priceless!

Debbie's website: http://www.debbiemacomber.com/

Happy Women's Day!!!!!

See you soon...

Inessa Silva

Take a Look At Me Now

Book: Take A Look At Me Now

Author: Miranda Dickinson 

Publisher: Avon

Year: 2013

Rate (1 to 5): 4,5

The Plot:

Nell Sullivan, the main character, is the newest unemployed woman of the city. Desperately, without a job, an unsolved relationship with her boyfriend and almost a homeless, she needs something to cheer her up. Suddenly, comes to her mind eight weeks trip to San Francisco. And her adventures begin…

My Opinion:

San Francisco and London are the two scenarios of the story. Yes, the two of them are important places for Nell, each one in its particular way. It is simply brilliant as the author Miranda Dickinson describes both of them. The feeling of being there, sometimes living there as well is so frequent that reader can experience an interesting movement all over the story.

The only thing I am going to say without spoiler is: when I read the synopses I thought San Francisco was the spot on focus, but Miranda shows that San Francisco is the first step to achieve 
Nell’s goal! San Francisco is the beginning of an amazing journey.

Almost every book I read or watched has good points and bad points. This one is not different. The first time I heard about the book, it had even been come out.  Conclusion: My curiosity and expectation was incredible high.

Sincerely, Take a look at me now has more positive sides than negative ones. The plot is outstanding, well-written, keeps reader’s attention all the time. Actually it’s hard to put the book on the shelf to do something else. To analyse a book, I like to study how the characters are built and developed because I believe (as a new writer) that a well-built character can save a story. Miranda has done it perfectly, no mistake at this part. The development of the book is exciting and motivates you to keep reading. Other fabulous view that author offers to readers is to go deep inside Nell’s emotions while the story is being told. Miranda investigates all fears and dreams of a 32 year-old woman truly.

Bad points exist as well. For example: the places descriptions are fantastic, otherwise, the author overdoes some times becoming unreal. Even though those events are not good, they don’t destroy the charming atmosphere. Other negative side is the way the story ends. It seems it had to end quickly. I reckon it doesn’t deserve an end like this; everything was happening smooth, nice, calm, quite a fairy tale, it wasn’t fair to end in a boring way. Perhaps I didn’t get the real meaning of whole trajectory. Please, if someone has a better explain or opinion, I will be glad to hear it.

Anyway, the book is worth to be read for sure! All Nell’s experiences make you think about your life, your dreams, your plans, your career and what yare you plans to accomplish them.

I can’t deny I want eagerly to read all Miranda Dickinson’s books.

Miranda's site: http://miranda-dickinson.com/

Have a great day/night J

Inessa Silva