Thursday 10 January
Weight: 867 lbs (due to entire Chipotle burrito bol still sitting in belly), cigarettes 0 (as don’t smoke), alcohol units 1 (responsible glass of red wine, for heart), calories 1557 (if Chipotle nutrition calculator can be trusted)
Have just finished reading Bridget Jones’s Diary: The Edge of Reason, aka BJD 2: THE DARCY STRIKES BACK. Still working out feelings re: sequel, as original was pure perfection, part of identity, Pride & Prejudice-related (so obviously superior to almost all other works of fiction), etc. Am having trouble reckoning feelings for this novel, as trainwreck of a movie is hanging over head in manner of pinata filled with poo or old, stinky cheeses.
Seriously?
Shall not dwell on turd of a movie, however, flawed as it is, because love the lovely book! Like Bridget Jones’s Diary, sequel is based on Jane Austen novel, this time Persuasion. Had not read Persuasion until several years ago and ended up liking just as much (if not more? blasphemy!) as P&P. Naturally, Persuasion suffers from clear lack of Darcy, however Wentworth equally swoon-worthy, also Anne Elliot is obvious patron saint of Singletons everywhere, having been declared old spinster at virginal age of 27.
Our little Bridget is still struggling with job, money, romance, family (overbearing mother, drunken father), blah dee blah LIFE in usual ridiculous and fun manner. All old friends characters are back, including urban family (Jude, Shazzer, Tom), Marrieds (Smug and Otherwise), insane boss Richard Finch, delightful mess Daniel Cleaver, and of course Mark Darcy, with whom Bridget is now deeply in love. New characters join Bridget’s world in form of odious Rebecca, a jellyfish (aka frenemy) on the prowl for Bridget’s boyfriend, and friend Magda’s adorable moppets, created to make Bridget look alternately crazy and competent.
Do wish that book had not included any romantic turmoil for Bridget and Mark Darcy, however realize that there would have been conspicuous lack of plot otherwise. Could not even bring self to get worked up over ridiculousness of certain plotlines (Thai prison, hole in side of flat, stinky fish left in purse for weeks, what-have-you) because of love for all things Bridget and Darcy, also because of equally important happy ending (spoilers)! Suppose am typical girl that way, heart going all aflutter at any mention of Jones-Darcy reconciliation, evidence of Darcy-still-in-love, etc.
Recommend this book for all who enjoyed Bridget Jones’s Diary, or like well-done chick lit (still hate that hateful phrase, should stop using immediately) in general. Especially worth reading for special treat in sequel (as all sequels must one-up original) in form of Colin Firth (aka THE Mr. Darcy) being interviewed by Bridget Jones, which unfolds exactly as one would expect.
In short, sequel is v.g.
Cannonball Read V 
Wonderful review. Even more fun to read it as an entry in Rorschach’s journal from WATCHMEN.
Ummmmmmmmmm
Hrrrn.
Love this! Except you didn’t mention about how they’re making a third BJ movie and how awful that is.
I didn’t know this was was a reworking of Persuasion. Now I feel like I need to go re-read a bunch of shit.
That’s because in my universe a third BJ movie is not happening.
I don’t know if it’s quite as specific as the P&P/BJD connection but there are definitely important elements pulled from Persuasion. Which reminded me of how much I loved Persuasion, so I might have to reread for CBR.
This review is a delight. Thank you.
Will now be heading off for a reread of both this and Persuasion. Had no idea, and am looking forward to figuring out the links.
I can’t remember who told me about the connection, or how I heard about it. I actually had to look it up before I posted my review to make sure I wasn’t making it all up. Hee.
I also prefer Persuasion to Pride and Prejudice, it’s my favorite of hers. If you reread Persuasion, you might want to take a look at Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of Women before hand/at the same time, and see how Jane Austen’s characters, especially the ridiculously superficial ones from the beginning could be seen as exactly the type of people Wollstonecraft refers to when she asks if we really want uneducated women raising children . . . I had to write a paper on the two, but you can definitely see where the two women share opinions, and where Austen may have read Wollstonecraft.
Ooh, you know, I’m almost positive I had to read that in one of my classes in college, but as that was 10 years ago, I don’t remember much about it. And that was years before I read Persuasion, so I’ll definitely pick it up before my Persuasion reread. Thank you!
This review is nothing short of magnificent. KUDOS!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Is this the one where Bridget interviews Colin Firth?
It is! It’s so magical.
Awesome review! I laughed, I cried, I remembered how much I love this and Persuasion… more things on the reading list 🙂
Thank you!
Persuasion is definitely next on my list…and I’m sort of ridiculously excited about it. Hee.
Brilliant review! I completely read it in Bridget’s voice too. And what’s this about a third movie?! Say it ain’t so!
Thanks so much! I can’t remember if the third movie is definite or just rumored (or somewhere in between) but I think it’ll have something to do with Bridget having a baby?