Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding

Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Reviews

• 
  Michelle

  I really do love these books and reading these back to back in one edition was fabulous!
  
  This is one series I need to make sure I finish.
  
  Four stars.
• 
  Aishu Rehman

  A very uneven offering from Fielding, whose first two Bridget Jones' books are classics, in my opinion. Her greatest creations are the character of Mark Darcy and the indelible voice of Bridget Jones. The first two books were wonderful, sort of a melding of The Odd Couple with Jane Austen. But, Mad About The Boy is all about Bridget's voice and her failure to grow and mature. She's just getting old. It's disappointing and unthinkable that after what, 10 years or so with Mark Darcy, she couldn't/wouldn't grow up? She's become a bit of a female Daniel Cleaver in this book. And yet...Fielding incorporates considerable feeling and sadness in this third installment, particularly in her depiction of Mark's death and the effect it has upon his family, the devastating loss, the wonderful routines with the children that are now gone forever. Fielding's chronology here; did Bridget really have her youngest child at age 48? Why? Fielding would have done well to write the interim book, from Bridget's marriage to just before Mark's death, to provide some rationales here.
  
  Still, the ending is satisfying and there is a very short passage just before the end, of tremendous beauty and emotion in which the moon and an owl play a part. Incredibly moving, devastating, and worth the tedium of much of the book in my opinion.
• 
  Mahra

  This book was 700-something-pages! I read the first book and watched the movie and then read the second half and watched the movie also.
  
  1. Very funny
  2. True I didn't get hooked up from the beginning but the perseverance paid off
  3. Longest book I ever read till now
  4. Bridget was some kind of positivist and I'm glad she did not shag Daniel after seeing that naked girl on his roof.
  5. Mark Darcy is (as she said) is a sex god
  6. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book!!
  
  7. TOTALLY getting a diary next year
• 
  K.D. Absolutely

  I spent more than 4 days reading this 2-Books-In-1 of Helen Fielding: Bridget Jones's Diary and The Edge of Reason. The first book is the Filipino Group's Book of the Month Choice for February 2010 with the theme Romantic Comedy. I voted for Unrequited Love for the theme because I thought I would nominate Wuthering Heights so that I would have a compelling reason to read it. But it lost to rom-com so I had to think of a good novel for that. I thought of nominating The Graduate or Breakfast at Tiffany's but they are old novels and definitely not popular with the predominantly young voters.
  
  Was the 700+ book (brand new at regular price of P525) worth the effort? I did not like the first book (1 star) but I enjoyed reading the second (3 stars). Since they are 2-in-1, I am giving the book a 2-star rating (it's ok). But with hindsight, Win or lose, I could just have nominated Breakfast At Tiffany's and see if Truman Capote is a good novelist. Then I could probably pass myself for not reading the book of the month as my choice did not win.
  
  Reason: Bridget Jones's Diary is too chick litt for my taste. Sure there were funny portions especially in the first few pages. Those in the rest are all either too British or too shallow. There is no character that I could identify with except Bridget's father who gave the best definition of love via Nat King Cole: "The greatest gift, you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return". Very apt for this Valentine's season.
  
  The Edge of Reason is a lot better than the first. The plot is meatier: there is a Filipino boy character naked in bed, Bridget went and got incarcerated in Thailand for drug trafficking, the two guys fought over Bridget, etc. However, the most wacky scene for me is Bridget's interview with Colin Firth. Unfortunately, this part was not included in its movie adaptation in 2006 (which I could barely remember now).
  
  It was announced last year that Bridget Jones Part 3 is now in the making with Bridget at 40 trying to have a baby. That should be nice. If the trend continues, it should be better than Book 2. I hope...
  
  Later, I will answer the questions the moderator is asking in the comment thread.
• 
  Amalie

  Bridget Jones diary is a novel based on the fictive character Bridget Jones; a slightly superficial yet humorous thirty somthing women, searching for mister right, dealing with family (especially her somwhat hyserical and bizare mother), while trying handle her job.
  
  The story of Bridget is light and funny, but in the end just can't stay on its tracks. I found myself quickly irritated by Bridgets desperate and slightly pathetic need of a man (what happened to being a little independent). Of course i am only 15 years old, and perhaps you have to be a littel older to realte and therfore respect Bridget.
  
  The silver lining of the story, is Bridgets love life with most focus on the realtionships with the Bridgets sexy boss Daniel and the more sweet layewer Mark Darcy.
  
  The story start with Bridget having an on and of realtionship with Daniel Cleaver. Daniel is a top publisher at the publishing house Bridget work at, and also her boss. The realtionship just start to get serious when Bridget catch him cheating. Daniel is the sexy jerk type, that practicly every woman on the planet, has to fall in love with in order to grow up.
  Mark Darcy is an obvious contrast of Daniel. He is the type that women can get serious with. He is also a vital part of the story, even though he only really step into character of the last chapters of the book.
  
  But at the end of the day I couldnt not read Bridget Jones.
• 
  Flora

  Όσο συμπάθησα, γέλασα και ταυτίστηκα σε ορισμένα σημεία με την κινηματογραφική Μπρίτζετ τόσο με κούρασε και σε πολλές στιγμές με εκνεύρισε η λογοτεχνική εκδοχή της.
  
  Αρχικά να πω ότι η ιστορία έχει πολλές διάφορες με τις ταινίες και πως οι ταινίες είναι πολύ καλύτερες του βιβλίου (πράγμα που σπάνια λέω).
  
  Το βιβλίο είναι τεράστιο χωρίς κανένα λόγο. Να σημειώσω βέβαια ότι η έκδοση που διάβασα περιλαμβάνει ουσιαστικά δυο τόμους. Ωστόσο και πάλι θα μπορούσε να είναι το μισό χωρίς να λείπει τίποτα ιδιαίτερο. Ο μόνος χαρακτήρας που πραγματικά αξίζει στο βιβλίο είναι ο Μαρκ Ντάρσυ και είναι απορίας άξιο γιατί γύρισε να κοιτάξει την Μπριτζετ (του βιβλίου της ταινίας καλά έκανε😅).
  
  Η μετάφραση είναι πολύ κακή με λέξεις τύπου «μπαρμπουτσαλιαρης» 🤦🏼‍♀️ κλπ και η όλη πλοκή πολύ μέτρια. Το πιο βαρετό και περιττό storyline για εμενα ήταν αυτό της τρελής μάνας της (από την αρχή μέχρι το τέλος) η οποία γενικότερα σα χαρακτήρας μου ήταν αντιπαθής και η όλη συμπεριφορά της εκτος από εκνευριστική δε μου έμοιαζε και διόλου αληθοφανής.
  
  σ.σ το τελείωσα καθαρά από ψυχαναγκασμό για να μη μου ξεκινήσει η νέα χρόνια με παρατημένο βιβλίο 😂.
• 
  Prabhjot Kaur

  Bridget Jones's Diary - 4 stars
  
  I loved the first book in the series. Bridget is idiotic and loathes herself for her weight issues and the choices that she makes but I still laughed. This was my first chick-lit read.
  
  Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason - 2.5 stars
  
  I didn't like this book as much as I liked the first one. Bridget was frustrating in this one. The only thing that I liked about this was Mark Darcy.
• 
  Em

  I absolutely loved BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY. Helen Fielding did an amazing job!
  Many women can relate to Bridget, I know I can! She is a very laughable character, there is literally no filtering system between her brain and her mouth which is why she always says things without thinking and the humour comes from her trying to dig her way out of those embarrassing times! Bridget struggles to find the perfect man and resigns herself to becoming a spinster, which is hilarious because she isn't even that old! The majority of her friends are all coupled up so she starts keeping a diary containing her inner most thoughts, her future aspirations and as a way to vent out her frustrations about the men in her life. She writes without the intention of being read by anyone! Could this book prove lethal in the wrong hands? . . . Wait and see!
  And then we have the love triangle! I immediately rooted for Mr Darcy! The un-satisfied mother, the creepy boss, the hilarious friends, betrayel, deceit, humour like laugh out loud funny!
  classic chick-lit at it's best, guaranteed laughs, romance. It's a sweet, light hearted read that's bound to make you smile!
  
  As for the second book, I loved how the romanticism at the end of the first book continued into the second to reveal that life is never always a bed of roses when it comes to matters of the heart. Does Bridgets life get turned upside down?
  I love how repetitive of life it is, that love is never easy, there will always be obstacles to overcome, life doesn't have all the ease of a fairytale, there is not always a happy ending!
  
  . LIGHT HEARTED
  . CLASSIC CHICK-LIT
  . FUN READ
  
  Happy reading guys!
  Emma
  x
• 
  Michelle

  Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is the second book of the Bridget Jones Diary series. This book had me both laughing out loud and cringing at the situations Bridget gets herself into.
  
  I've watched the movie a dozen times but never read the book so to be able to actually picture the characters as I read - her loopy friends, her crazy Mum and her sexy squeeze Mark Darcy - made for a really interesting read. I'm not usually a movie buff, preferring to read the book wherever possible and this is about the only book I can think of that I've watched the movie and read the book. It reads as comical as the movie and many situations that women (and probably men, oh how we confuse the poor buggers!) can relate to in new relationships.
  
  I would recommend this book for any woman who needs a laugh and also any man who is brave enough to step into the mind of a woman ... I can assure you, you'll be surprised and might even learn a little something about the opposite sex!
• 
  Varsha

  omg- i loved these two books so much! I want to see more Bridget please!! laughed so much- didnt cry from emotions as much as cried from embarrassment for Bridget.. love the character of Darcy being played by Colin Firth in the movies after the Firth incident in the book!! pure casting genius! Appreciate the movies so much more now- had always loved them but seriously Fielding needs to write another BJ novel:)
• 
  Emma Harvey

  I love the Bridget Jones films. But I found reading two of the books in one just a bit much. Bridget got a bit annoying - she never takes responsibility and relies on men to shape her emotions whilst constantly stating she won't.
  The book did make me laugh a few times though and I loved comparing how Mark and Daniel are portrayed in the books compared to the film.
  It's also interesting to see the culture difference in weight criticism. I don't think a book now could be released with so much 'fat' shaming without shaming the characters in return. It was clear to see why Bridget seeks constant validation when everything around her is critical and obsessed with the scales, resulting in an incredibly unhealthy relationship with food.
  I think I will read the others. I just need a break from Bridget for a bit 😂
• 
  Sophia The Book Fairy 💌

  the fatphobia was just… not it
• 
  Hayley

  I read both of these books while on holiday in Tenerife in 2002, I was away with the girls and need some books to read while I recovered from my daily hangover. The first book was by far the better read and you really feel for Bridget and the way her love life just doesn't want to go right. I managed to get through this book in three sittings with the a couple of glasses of San Miguel.
  
  The second book was good but not as enjoyable as the first - though I loved the bit where she is tripping out on the beach in Thailand. Classic and Renee Zellewager in the movie does it brilliantly as well.
  
  These two books are definitley beach reads for me but I would say give them a read, you never know you may enjoy them as much as I did.
• 
  Katie Brock

  I went into the books with knowledge of the films. Slightly different but still the same old Bridget. Love these books!
  
  Full review here:
  https://sherlockianbooklover.wordpres...
• 
  Jules (Never enough time to read)

  I couldn't put the books down, I found them both funny and entertaining. Yes, the books aren't perfect but they are certainly easy to read.
• 
  Melissa Richardson

  Funny, funny, funny! Humiliatingly humorous, mainly because Fielding is so honest I recognize the awkwardness in myself. Must read!
• 
  Emily

  A rare case where the film is better than the book.
• 
  Emma

  Helen Fielding's Bridget Jone's Diary is the perfect winter read. I picked up this book after happening across the film adaptation and honestly I cannot praise this franchise enough. As someone who thoroughly enjoys a good romance I found the story line to be quirky and entertaining. As for the protagonist Bridget, well she is the most relatable character I have found in a novel in quite a while. Who doesn't have issues with eating too much on the holidays, or really any other time of year for that matter? This novel is an easy read as I could not put it down. I highly suggest reading this novel during the winter season as it really helps with the constant cold weather and snow blues.
• 
  Wow

  3.2 stars
  
  Bridget jones diaries 2.5 stars
  The Edge of reason 4 stars
  
  I got the omnibus version including the 1st two books in the series.
  
  I read it over the course of 2 months, that doesn't makes it too long.
  
  In fact each one is a fast read!
  
  Basically it's a chick lit / modern retelling of pride and prejudice . It is about Bridget misfortunes and adventures in finding love in the modern world.
  
  It was quite hilarious, my face literally hurt me from smiling too much ...cackling like a mad is more like it.
  
  It's interesting to watch Bridget make choices that I normally wouldn't go with .
  
  I will read the remaining two books in the future.
  
  P.S. The movies are also pretty good !
  
  
• 
  Aiàlamode

  3.5 Stars
  
  Entertaining and mostly saved by visions of Colin Firth/Mark Darcy during reading.
  
  Like a grown up version of “Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging”.
  
  In hindsight a bit shocking how many unwanted sexual advances Bridget receives and accepts as no big deal.
  
  Sometimes wanted to shake B as she made so may bone-headed decisions in her life/career/love life.
  
  Can’t look away/stop reading, in manner of train wreck.
• 
  Isabella

  Not my general type of book, but it was an entertaining read that was nowhere near as cringeworthy as it's movies (which annoys me because that means my Mum wins an almost decade long debate). But a solid read (especially for a vacation where you're turning of your brain and enjoying the sun) and exactly what it should be given its genre.
• 
  John Timothy

  The author talks about a lady in her mid life crisis, the expectations of society and unfathomable circumstances what we call life throws into it.
  Bridget Jones according to her diary had major self esteem issues I found annoying at some point but that was the life she knows. I think she got a happy ending.
  #GoodreadwithJohnT #Booklover
• 
  Lori

  I found this book to be extremely annoying. Is it a diary or is it a novel? Make up your mind! The only reason I finished it was for self-discipline. There was a small amount of entertainment but the not-diary format was awful. I will never read another book by this author. EVER.
• 
  Stephanie

  Jovial
  
  I shouldn't of bought these as a two in one, I lost interest at the beginning of book 2. But that's my error not the books. The stories are light hearted and relatable, but just missing a bit of drama / suspense.
• 
  Katherine Pederson

  It's a light funny read. Sorbet for the brain!