[.ca] Olivia Joules (ISBN 0670033332)

Where is the spunk ?!?!:
Compared to Bridget Jones, Olivia Joules fails to entertain and bewitch the reader on so many levels. Might not be a fair comparison, but still.... The story is highly unbelievable, to the point of SciFi movies, and that is what passes for entertainment. I believe Ms. Fielding can do much, much better. I definitely wouldn't recommend this book

Morton C and nearly no kissing scenes:
I can't tell you how glad I was that the kissing scenes were limited. I enjoyed reading this book. All of a sudden all sorts of thrillers are popping up. If you like this one, with strong women characters I recommend.... Da Vinci Code and The Fifth Internationale. Thanks again Helen for such super books. Elizabeth

Helen Fielding and the Underwhelming Offering:
I am a huge Bridget Jones fan mainly because Helen Fielding has such a great sense of humour. She also has a uncanny knack for pinpointing the hidden fears many women have running through their minds at some point (though, thankfully, most of us are not quite as neurotic). Now Fielding presents us with a new heroine, and on paper, it all looks great. A witty heroine as well as a fast-paced adventure plot? What could be cooler than a female spy? Sadly, I really felt this novel was just a hollow echo of Fielding's previous offerings. Sure Olivia is more composed and less of a spazz than Bridget, but Bridge made those qualities (or lack thereof) endearing. Bridget is not exactly someone we strive to be, but I still empathised with her more than Olivia, who just rang false and never seemed fully conceived to me. Somehow, Fielding has all the parts right, but the result is underwhelming. I personally did not enjoy the terrorism plot, which seemed tawdry and like a poor attempt to cash in on an ever-present global threat. As well, I found the twists very predictable, and I'm not really one of those readers that thinks ahead... at least not if the story's good enough to utterly enrapture me. Again, I'm not sure how, but this book seems trite and was very unsatisfying. I would recommend borrowing this from a friend or at least waiting for it in paperback. It's not worth a hardcover printing. I would have given this a 2.5 star rating if I could have.

Better than Brigid:
I'm afraid I must disagree with other esteemed readers. I loved Olivia more than I loved Brigid--and I liked her quite a bit. The book might be titled "Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination," but it's Fielding's overactive imagination that makes this book sing. It might not be WAR AND PEACE, but this book is exactly what this generation of young women need--an independent woman who is sucessful BECAUSE she is a woman--and sexy--not in spite of it. But most importantly, Olivia plays by her own rules--and wins. Hurrah for Olivia and Helen!

Below Your Intelligence:
Journalist Olivia Joules (formerly Rachel Pixley) believes that Osama Bin Laden is masquerading as a millionaire French playboy. Oh yes, this book is tacky, Hollywood-style drivel that is neither thrilling nor funny. (...). I don't approve of that racial stereotyping. This book is surely below your intelligence - after all, it's below mine. (D)