[.ca] Bridget Jones's Diary (ISBN 0670880728)

From Amazon.com:
In the course of the year recorded in Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget confides her hopes, her dreams, and her monstrously fluctuating poundage, not to mention her consumption of 5277 cigarettes and "Fat units 3457 (approx.) (hideous in every way)." In 365 days, she gains 74 pounds. On the other hand, she loses 72! There is also the unspoken New Year's resolution--the quest for the right man. Alas, here Bridget goes severely off course when she has an affair with her charming cad of a boss. But who would be without their e-mail flirtation focused on a short black skirt? The boss even contends that it is so short as to be nonexistent. At the beginning of Helen Fielding's exceptionally funny second novel, the thirtyish publishing puffette is suffering from postholiday stress syndrome but determined to find Inner Peace and poise. Bridget will, for instance, "get up straight away when wake up in mornings." Now if only she can survive the party her mother has tricked her into--a suburban fest full of "Smug Marrieds" professing concern for her and her fellow "Singletons"--she'll have made a good start. As far as she's concerned, "We wouldn't rush up to them and roar, 'How's your marriage going? Still having sex?'" This is only the first of many disgraces Bridget will suffer in her year of performance anxiety (at work and at play, though less often in bed) and living through other people's "emotional fuckwittage." Her twin-set-wearing suburban mother, for instance, suddenly becomes a chat-show hostess and unrepentant adulteress, while our heroine herself spends half the time overdosing on Chardonnay and feeling like "a tragic freak." Bridget Jones's Diary began as a column in the London Independent and struck a chord with readers of all sexes and sizes. In strokes simultaneously broad and subtle, Helen Fielding reveals the lighter side of despair, self-doubt, and obsession, and also satirizes everything from self-help books (they don't sound half as sensible to Bridget when she's sober) to feng shui, Cosmopolitan-style. She is the Nancy Mitford of the 1990s, and it's impossible not to root for her endearing heroine. On the other hand, one can only hope that Bridget will continue to screw up and tell us all about it for years and books to come. --Kerry Fried

Giggle fest:
A must read for every woman!!!!! This book tells the truth about what every woman goes through during long periods of being single. All the drinking, smoking, calories counting, and lusting, is what makes this book truly like a diary. This is one book you will not want to put down once you've started it. Bridget Jones is a British woman turning 30 and still single. She not the brightest crayon in the box, and not the prettiest either, making it a lot easier to relate to character. This is not a white knight story, no unrealistic things happen to her. Everything that happens to her can happen to anyone on a day-to-day base. And never in this book does Bridget play cat and mouse with a man Although this book will not tease you intellectually, it will most certainly entertain you. If you loved the movie the book is one step up. Helen Fieldings is pure genius when it comes to describing the horrors woman put themselves through daily. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to laugh. Anyone who likes the old love story with a twisted will enjoy this book immensely, it pride and prejudice meets Alice and wonderland.

so funny, even if you consider yourself above it all:
The best part of this audio book is the delivery of narrator Barbara Rosenblatt. She is so hilarious and really delineates the persona of each person with their very own sensibilty and character. I really enjoy a narrator who can portray both sexes well, letting the listener believe the characters are real. The basic sense of the book is not seen in diary form(which is essential to all note/list makers of the neurotic world), but, the narration breathes a new dimension into their lives regardless of any hopes of wanting certain aspects left to the imagination. It makes all the episodes come through with impact and teeny victory every time she blunders, what we all hope for when looking back at humiliating events! Highly recommend this for listeners.

How I started to love reading again!:
Having previously been a literature snob (nothing written in the last 50 years please) I was delighted to discover Bridget. It is a hillarious, can't put it down, must read it over & over again type of a book. Much better than the movie. The Shopaholic books are amusing, but cannot compare to Bridget. This book will start you writing cryptic emails to your friends, discussing alcohol units and weight. As good as the hype. I've loaned out far too many copies that have never returned. Will gladly buy it again!

Giggle fest:
A must read for every woman!!!!! This book tells the truth about what every woman goes through during long periods of being single. All the drinking, smoking, calories counting, and lusting, is what makes this book truly like a diary. This is one book you will not want to put down once you've started it. Bridget Jones is a British woman turning 30 and still single. She not the brightest crayon in the box, and not the prettiest either, making it a lot easier to relate to character. This is not a white knight story, no unrealistic things happen to her. Everything that happens to her can happen to anyone on a day-to-day base. And never in this book does Bridget play cat and mouse with a man Although this book will not tease you intellectually, it will most certainly entertain you. If you loved the movie the book is one step up. Helen Fieldings is pure genius when it comes to describing the horrors woman put themselves through daily. I would recommend this book to anyone willing to laugh. Anyone who likes the old love story with a twisted will enjoy this book immensely, it pride and prejudice meets Alice and wonderland.

"cigarettes 0 (v.g.), calories 4825 (oh dear)":
This delightful book, written in diary form, follows a hectic and very funny year in the life of Ms Bridget Jones, 30-something English Singleton. Bridget obsesses constantly about her weight and unmarried state, and as the year begins, she also obsesses about her playboy boss, Daniel Cleaver. They flirt madly and have an on-again, off-again relationship, but he is a commitment-phobe (and a bounder!). All through the year, Bridget's flighty mother, Pam, tries to pair her up with successful barrister, Mark Darcy, but Bridget will have none of it. As the year comes to a close, however, Pam's legal woes bring Mark to the rescue, and the diary ends on a happy note. Every page is filled with situations and emotions that all women who have dated, dreamed, been disappointed, and found solace in ice cream will find utterly hilarious. Bridget's descriptions of daily exasperation, desperation, and moments of sheer bliss make her very likeable and real. The short diary entries make this book perfect for reading when you just have a few minutes, although you'll find it hard to put down, and may find yourself laughing out loud (a lot).