'Bridget Jones is the thirty something we are all frightened of becoming. Or know that we have already become.'
Bridget Jones is a thirty-something single girl, with her own flat and a group of supportive friends. She also has man problems, weight problems, mother problems, and career problems. Sure, it sounds trite, but Helen Fielding has that true genius of a writer whereby every small detail is a delight to read and serves to create a masterfully told story.
"Bridget Jones's Diary' is a novel about a single woman facing every day life in Britain. There's the not very inspiring job (brightened a bit by an attractive boss), the benefits and occasional annoyances of friends, and the struggle with the scales. On top of all that, after all these years of marriage, it looks like her parents are about to spilt up.
Bridget's diary, written (as you could imagine) in the first person, is written in an authentic shorthand and provokes a close empathy with Bridget, and her story as she lives from day to day and her experiences with work, men, friendships etc. The diary begins in January with a list of New Year's resolutions and ends with her measurements of how she did. It is lots of fun to live Bridget's live with her while she consumes alcohol units, cigarettes (v.bad) all manner of food stuffs, has an affair with her boss, and tries to cope with her mother dating a deeply suspicious European named Julio while she remains married to 'Daddy'. All the characters are three dimensional and completely living, and the novel is referential to outside events while remaining timeless in the story.
I think that the real strength of the book is that the character of Bridget is very recognizable. She's a reflection of many 30-something women. She's looking for love, critical of her looks and figure, struggles to climb the career ladder, has her hopes and dreams that sometimes seem within reach but often feel so far away... Other fictional characters sometimes feel too perfect. Bridget isn't perfect. Bad hair days happen to her. Because of all this, the reader wants her to do well. I wanted a happy ending and for her to find love and everything she hoped for. Throughout the book, you can't help but journey along with her and feel involved.
The self doubts, disgraces, highs, victories and disasters of Bridget Jones's life provide a hilarious catalogue which is over the top but close to the bone. Our laughter is fuelled by our own painful memories. We've all been there. We just wish that we could be half as funny when we recount it to our diaries.
As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the defining books of the “chick lit” genre; so defining, in fact, and followed by so many pale imitations, that Bridget Jones’s Diary should probably surpass this tired and overstuffed genre into something else with the emphasis on “literarty”. There have been so many awful books that have tried to sneak into a similar category, but they just can’t touch the wit and style and glorious lovability of Bridget Jones’s Diary.
I would recommend this book to anyone. It makes for a lovely read when curling up in bed, or to take along with you to the beach. There's something in Helen Fielding's writing style that kept me smiling and giggling all the way. It sure made it hard to close the book before I had finished it.
Tomorrow, I will analyse how this relates to masculinity within the 1990's.
Until then, take care Jonesy x
No comments:
Post a Comment