The great thing about this book is that it completely preserved the tone, voice, characterizations, and humor of the first Bridget Jones book. It is easy to read but not dumbed-down. In fact, the nearly telegraphic style makes the reader work just a bit harder than she is used to, in order to divine the meaning. So that's all good. Why, then, have I given this sequel only three stars, where the first book received five?There were three things that led me to this decision... and at one point, I was even hovering at two stars, but there was some redemption toward the end.First, I felt myself not liking Bridget much in certain parts. In the first book, although obviously flawed, she was still very likable, and even easy to identify with. I think that is in fact the main reason for the success of this series, that Bridget's personality and experiences strike a chord with an entire generation of women who see themselves in her. Well, when Bridget started dumping on Mark, just to please her girlfriends, and being inexcusably stupid, neglectful, and incompetent at work, she lost completely any sympathy she had with me. Bridget is at her best when being mortified at her mother bringing home a Kikuyu from her African safari, or suffering when she sees her boyfriend being fawned over by a gorgeous, rich, thin rival. Even when she pitches off-the-wall, slightly embarrassing or shallow ideas for Sit Up Britain, and things don't quite pan out the way she expected. But when she has a big interview with Colin Firth and acts like a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl (if that), and then doesn't even bother to write the article afterward, her unlucky bumbling turns into flat-out incompetence that makes me wonder what redeeming qualities she could possibly have. And she doesn't have a clue where Germany is? Germany! Okay. Moving on. The next peeve I had was that it felt like the author was stretching too far, coming up with outlandish plots, possibly in order to make it play better on the big screen. Getting caught for drug-smuggling in Thailand is just so far out of the scope of a normal thirty-something single girl's experience that it just didn't fit for me. And then the whole stalker thing with the builder? It felt so last-minute and stuck together. The last thing I didn't much like was the fact that Bridget never saw Mark's message on the back of the poem (and why would he have written on the back of a poem anyway? Surely there was a blank piece of paper around). I mean, come on, she was in a prison for a week with no other reading material, and she took the poem out and re-read it several times. She would have noticed something on the back. This may seem like a minor detail, but it was actually a pretty big point for drawing out the uncertainty over their relationship right up to the end. There were a couple of other things, too, like the fact that there was a gaping hole in the wall of Bridget's house for months, and no one said anything... and she didn't need to get a building permit for the addition, either. I just felt like there was too much suspension of disbelief necessary, that things could never have happened like that in the real world. That might not be a huge drawback for some books, but Bridget Jones' success banks on the reader being able to place themselves in Bridget's place, and for these things to actually happen to them (or someone they know, or someone who at least lives on the same planet). Now, what is the redeeming quality that brought this back up from 2 stars? It's the fact that Bridget does actually seem to learn something. She actually does make some major changes in her life (throwing out all of her self-help books, quitting her job), and sees that she was wrong to treat Mark the way she did. She gains insight into her character and acts on that. I was also very touched by the mother-daughter scene near the end, where Bridget's mother actually seems to come down to Earth for a few minutes and gives some very good, profound advice. So, in the end, I did like this book, and I can admire the author's skill in writing and creating a worthwhile piece of entertainment.
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, a fictional work of British literature by Helen Fielding, is a whirlwind of a romance set in the city of Notting Hill. Bridget, the calorie, cigarette, and alcohol obsessed thirty year old, finds herself in unfortunate relationships that hardly ever work out for her. But eventually, she finds the man of her dreams, Mark Darcy. It has been “four weeks and five days [that she has] been in a functional relationship with an adult male,” portraying that she is not a crazy repulse of love (Fielding 3). But not everything goes in her favor throughout their relationship. Mark begins talking about a woman he works with more and more in front of Bridget, and Bridget becomes over-worried and extremely jealous. She constantly thinks the worst about her relationship with her perfect man. The two English soul mates seems like the perfect couple, however, with some bumps along the way, Mark and Bridget break up, which puts Bridget in a state of depression. Will Bridget ever convince Mark that he’s the only one she loves? Or will she never make it back together with Mark, the man of her dreams? tHelen Fielding makes the reader feel like they are one of Bridget’s best friends through all of her unmanageable boy troubles. Fielding wrote this book with an intention of making the characters easy to identify with and communicate with. Her writing, quick and relatable, helps the reader cultivate an understanding for Bridget and her “said-so”, irreplaceable, connection with Mark Darcy. There is no way you can not be fixated to this book and the dynamic characters placed in the British work. tIn Bridget and Mark’s relationship, anything can be expected. The main point of the work is to point out that anyone can find love, even if it seems impossible. Bridget makes this clear, as someone who believes she is a repellant of love. No one ever knows what will happen between the two unpredictable characters, as a couple. However, if you want to know what the fate is of this couple, you will have to read Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
What do You think about The Edge Of Reason (2001)?
I am often typecast by friends and family as “the one who likes books.” To non-readers, a book is a book is a book, so I often end up getting some really weird books that I would never pick up for myself. This is how I ended up in possession of The Edge of Reason, Helen Fielding’s second Bridget Jones novel.In this novel, Bridget stumbles through her day-to-day life, surviving one ridiculous mishap after another, until she is finally reunited with her love.The writing is designed to imitate a form of shorthand that might be used to keep a diary. It reminded be somewhat of Flowers for Algernon in the sense that the form was an important part of the content (something that we (should) see often in poetry, but that is quite a bit rarer in novels). It was interesting and it gave the story quite a bit of verisimilitude. The short sentences kept me reading at a faster pace than I do normally, which was rather interesting. And even though I read this about four years ago, I still use the “v.” (or “vee,” if I’m speaking) as a shorthand for “very.”Bridget Jones herself is a hilariously inept character, bouncing from one situation to another with little agency of her own. I have a soft spot for such characters, so long as they aren’t annoying about it, so I rather enjoyed her as well. The situations themselves were so ridiculous (particularly the one involving a naked boy and a bunny – yes, really) that they had me laughing quite a bit as I read through.This is the ice-cream of the reading world – it’s enjoyable, not particularly nutritious, but it won’t rot your brain out either (provided it’s consumed only sparingly and interspersed with meatier fare).
—Marlowe
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.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.
—Jennie
I really enjoyed this book, even though it was virtually no where near how its portrayed in the movie!!! I have to say I am disappointed that the Mark Darcy from the books isn't exactly represented in the movies, he is much more funny and fucked up and sexual than the movies give him credit for!!! Its all good though, the book was hilarious all the same and once again, I wanted to tackle Bridget's ass and slap some sense into her for all her neurotic behavior!!!! Being done with this book now brings me to the next book in the series, which is how I started reading the books in the first place-WHOOP WHOOP! I of course, would suggest this book to anyone who's a fan of Bridget, or Fitzwilliam Darcy-Mark Darcy-Colin Firth, LMAO, as Bridget is very obsessed with all the above, and rightfully so! Damn that Colin Firth is a handsome charming devil of tall British hotness! OMG, am behaving as a non-British black American version of Bridget where everything comes back to Colin Firth and Pride and Prejudice (which I do have on DVD along with Bridget Jones' Diary and Edge of Reason, don't hate)!!!
—Darla
