The Edge of Reason is another hilarious episode from the chaotic life of Bridget Jones who follows closely the footsteps of Jane Austen's heroines. Now that she has - like Elizabeth Bennet - coupled up with Darcy, she - like Anne Elliott - lets her friends and self help books persuade her to take a course that will lose her the love of her life.

Mr. Darcy turns into a softened form of Captain Wentworth, ready to marry or rather - in this day and age - shack up with anybody who takes his fancy and who has an opinion of that is entirely her own.

Bridget stands by and watches, and, like Anne, is accosted by small children, keeps her head in a crisis, observes the blind love of Darcy's parents for one another, endures with pleasure how Darcy's father cannot remember women's first names, has a terrible fright when she thinks Darcy is married to someone else, receives a letter and watches as an injured woman falls in love with Benwick over books. Not quite the poetry that Jane Austen had in mind though, but more up-to-date literature. At the end she knows it is time to make choices of her own...

Towards the end the story takes a turn that stretches belief a little bit, but the last chapters make everything OK again.

This book makes quite enjoyable reading.

Habiendo leído 'Bridget Jones's diary' en inglés, decidí leer este libro, la traducción española y debo decir que me ha gustado muchísimo y todavia tiene tanta gracia como antes. Bridget describe su vida cotidiana en su diario, siempre con los mismos comentarios muy collejos y graciosos. Cuando leo este libro, siempre identificas con Bridget porque es un caracter muy normal y tiene las mismas dudas como todo el mundo. Me gusta las palabras que ha utilizado; mmmmm, uf, umf etc. Es muy gracioso y me ha gustado muchísimo. La traducción es perfecto y me encanta. Leídlo ahora mismo. Siento hacer tantos errores españoles.

En este libro Brigite Jones nos sigue relatando su vida y algo más en su diario. En él no sólo cuenta lo que le pasa a diario, al inicio de cada día pone las calorías que consumió, lo que pesa, los cigarrillos que ha fumado y las copas que ha tomado. Es en esta segunda parte de su diario donde conoce al hombre que le robará el corazón. Una historia muy entretenida, fácil de leer y con la cual todos de una u otra forma nos vemos identificados.

A follow up book with a fan base like "Bridget Jones Diary" has an awful lot to live up to. I thought EDGE OF REASON could never be as good as the original. How wrong could I be! Since this sequel is about to start filming, I thought I would re-read it. It didn't disappoint the second time around.

EDGE OF REASON sees Bridget struggle through yet another year, manless (having finished with Mark Darcy), 1471 dialing (having regretted finishing with Mark Darcy!) and utterly hopeless. Convinced that Mark is not the one for her afterall, Bridget sets off on a journey through an even more neurotic year than the one chronicled in her first diary. She embarks on a career as a journalist, writing for an entertainment magazine, which can only lead to disaster. This provides one of the funniest chapters of the book as Bridget scores an in person interview with Colin Firth. As her year goes on, she becomes almost as obsessed with her diary as she is with her weight and status as a singleton. She goes on a girls holiday, only to find herself encarcerated in a far east prison.

EDGE OF REASON was hilarious and riviting from first page to last. At last a sequel worthy of its predecessor. Highly recommended!

If you've read any of my other reviews (click on my name above to see them!), you'll know I don't read "fluff". But I got a few laughs from the movie, and decided to give this book a go, without even having read the first, or Fielding's earlier novel, "Cause Celeb".

All I can say is I laughed from start to finish. This book's terse diary-entry format and its guileless, often-clueless heroine reminded me of an Adrian Mole book more than anything else -- only all grown up (and yes, I KNOW there are "adult" Adrian Mole books, but I didn't enjoy them...!).

Life can get pretty depressing on a steady diet of "literary" fiction and non-fiction. Sometimes, I need a break, and a book like this is the perfect opportunity to immerse myself in pure reading enjoyment. Since reading "Edge of Reason," I have reserved the first Bridget Jones book from my local library, and am waiting on the edge of my seat for (hopefully!?) the THIRD installment in Bridget's madcap adventures.

This book is by far the best I've read in a very long time, and in my opinion is much better than it's prequel "Bridget Jones' diary". After seeing the film starring Rene' Zellwager and the particularly wonderful Colin Firth, I decided that to check out the book would only be fair as it is well known that it is very often better before it is shaped for the big screen. Rather than conforming to everyone else's opinion that this was also true of this novel, I preffered the film. However, after borrowing the "Edge of reason" from a very close friend who demanded that I have it back in her hands within 12 hours I was finally allowed to take it home with me. I found that I couldn't put it down for one moment, and was highly annoyed when my mother called me down for dinner. Other than that one interruption, I read the entire thing from cover to cover and it only took me 8 hours to do so. Of course this took me through to around 3:00am but what the hey? It was worth it. I especially liked the interview between Bridget and Colin Firth...I don't think I have ever laughed so much at a book in my life. Bridget is definately the girl of today, and with some of the things that she came out with in this book I just know that there is a little bit of her in all of us. Absolutely brilliant, and the funniest book I've ever been lucky enough to read. Of course it did help being able to picture Colin Firth in the role of Bridget's boyfriend Mark Darcy...if only!!!

I was so wrong to have thought it would be rather boring. A s I read through the pages, I thanked my cousin for recommending it. It's hilarious and witty. Such a fantastic character! Contrary to some reviewer's comments, I think Bridget has a very high self-esteem (they certainly couldn't get to the depth of it)'cause anyone who takes herself lightly is very self-confident).Her approach to life, herself, her relations with the other gender and her family make her unique and a charming character. I even thought I would have liked to be her!! Though I'm married I could easily identify myself with Bridget and sympathised with her point of view about how the society treats singletons. It was a great bed-time companion except for that, my husband did get disturbed by my frequent giggles!A very talented writer as she is, dear Helen FÝelding, thanks so much for such a wonderful work but I have a little note for you, I must admit I was shocked and a bit offended by your remarks about Turkey and Turkish people in your book, seems your knowledge on this matter is more than limited. Hope one day you'll have the chance to come and visit Ýstanbul (would be glad to host you) (next year's resolution?!)and your perception will certainly upgrade. Nevertheless, wonderful book!

In my short lifetime I have noticed many things about girls. The largest, however, are our numerous insecurities. We want our bodies toner, our breasts bigger, our hair straighter, our bad habits gone, and our status with males to be quite good. These desires tend to grow as we get older. None the less is more true in Bridget's life, a women who is probably the inventor of self esteem issues. Women feel as if they can relate to Bridget's imperfections through their own "problems". The reader does not have to feel shame from these imperfections because of the book's constant comedy that causes one to roar. That is just one of the many reasons why women everywhere should read Bridget Jones Diary. This book will surely make women feel as if the book was written about themselves.
Bridget, a 33 year old British women working at a publishing house, is starting off her New Year with a resolution, well more like a hundred of them. She wants to lose seven pounds; stop obsessing over her boss, Daniel Cleaver; spend more money then she earns; stop smoking; drink less alcohol; and to go to the gym a few times a week(the list continues...). Throughout the book at the beginning of each entry you are given insight on her progress. The story begins with Bridget's trip for dinner with her relatives and friends who are keen on getting Bridget married. She is introduced to the newly divorced lawyer Mark Darcy. They do not exactly hit it off. He is absolutely uninterested in Bridget and her loud, smoke inhaling self. Once, back at home and back to work, Bridget is still falling for her boss. Daniel and her begin dating and taking "mini breaks" all over England. In many of Daniel and Bridget's outings they run into Mark. Bridget senses that Daniel and Mark know each other and do not get along. Daniel tells her that they were roommates at Cambridge and ends the conversation there. Bridget comes home after she goes to a party with her parents to find Daniel there with another women. Devastated by the whole mess, she quits her job and starts work at a television station. On her first assignment she fails miserably, but is given another chance to redeem herself by interviewing a lady who was on trial. Bridget once again messes up her assignment. She is buying cigarettes and sweets in a next door shop as the women comes out of the courthouse. Luckily, Mark Darcy enters. He tells her that he was representing the women, and that no reporters got interviews with her. Mark agrees to allow Bridget to interview the his client. Bridget begins to have feelings for Mark, and is starting to get over Daniel. However, you will have to read the book to see if Bridget and Mark hook up, or if she gets back together with Daniel Cleaver.
Throughout the entire story, Bridget's parents are struggling in their own relationship. Each parent is constantly calling Bridget to tell her their side of the story. Bridget's mom has found a new man named Julio and she has a new career. Bridget's father is miserable after Bridget's mom leaves him for Julio. Near the end of the book you learn the truth between Julio and Mrs. Jones life together. If you think you can find out the ending through the watching the movie, it does not even follow the second half of the book at all.
Bridget is struggling throughout the story with her calorie intake, smoking addiction, and developing inner poise. Many know how women go to the bathroom in groups. This book is a fine example of how true that statement is and how much women depend on their friends. Bridget constantly calls her friends to get help with her problems with men, work, and life. The end of the book ends on New Years day, you will have to see how many of her resolutions were met.
The character development in the books is obviously fantastic for the main characters. The book is a diary so you learn all about Bridget and her personality, her problems, and her partners. However, I was often lost when it came to her close friends and family. There seemed to be so many friends that I was lost on who was who. Characters that were mentioned at a dinner in the beginning of the book would be brought back into the plot at the end of the book. I found that was some what confusing but not enough to affect how much I enjoyed the book. In a whole the book was extremely realistic. It is down right hilarious through it's realism, especially the parts with her mother and Bridget's cooking skills. However, the end with Julio I found a bit far fetched. You will have to read it to see what I mean. I thought the issues that developed within the book were very serious, yet Helen Fielding was able to make them light and humorous. Fielding hit upon Bridget's weight during the scene where Bridget finds out about Daniel cheating on her. I found it amusing yet saddening in one.
The comedy made the book. Bridget's character was hilarious and her family was so much like mine it was scary. I found myself often laughing out loud, hysterically. I liked the book so much that I shared some of the story with my mother, who enjoyed the book as well. Overall, this book would be best for a woman to read. However, men would get some insight into a woman's mind and how much we worry. Either way both males and females would get a great laugh from Bridget Jones Diary. I highly recommend this book, with five stars.

BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY is one of the funniest books ever. Written in the form of a journal, Bridget starts each entry with a set of statistics: alchohol consumed; cigarettes smoked; current weight; etc... You can watch her alchohol and cigarette consumption go up and down as her moods change day by day.

Bridget's journal chronicles life as a 30-something single gal living in London and living alone. She's wishing she has a steady boyfriend. She finally gets involved with her boss Daniel Cleaver, and we watch as they progress from madly in lust to "ho hum".... of course she later learns what a scum bag he is and so she's back to square one. She also is fixed up with child hood friend Mark Darcy, who annoys her to no end.

Besides trying to find that Mr Right, she's also dealing with a mother who is going through a mid life crisis and that's a story unto itself. And her on-going struggle with self improvement schemes is a riot.

Bridget came across to me as someone who has a lot of self esteem, but at the same time is desperately trying to convince herself and others that she's ok the way she is. She's very vocal about her opinions, never gives up either when things are looking down. I really liked Bridget as a character, and saw a lot of her in me. Maybe that's why I liked this book so much.

Don't worry about the "lay lines"--they're cute in that "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" way, but the real fun in this book is the plethora of snarky comments about *everyone*, contemporary and historical. Funny, funny stuff.

Helen Fielding is better know for Bridget Jones than for Rosie Richardson, but Rosie's personality in 'Cause Celeb' is somewhat deeper than Bridget's despite a similar self-depriciating manner. Moments in 'Cause Celeb' are witty and satitical, moments are wise and sexy, but most of all, this book satirises the great 'personalities' of stage and T.V. and shows them for the shallow people they are. It also deals with the deeper subject of famine relief, highlighting the frustrations of welfare workers, and the nightmare administration that clamps the speedy arrival of proper relief for the malnourished.

You'll not read 'Cause Celeb' without laughing, but you'll not read it without a deep sense that things could be improved. At both levels, the book succeeds in telling a good story in a stylish way. Not five stars because it didn't grab me where it hurts and keep me riveted. Still plenty good enough for four.

Unlike some other people, I went into this book not expecting Bridget Jones. What I found was actually closer to Bridget than I thought in some sections. However, Rosie is a stronger woman-she just doesn't know it yet. Fielding's characterizations of the celebrities, as well as the relief workers, were well-rounded, and the action was fast paced. But most of all, I never thought I would laugh out loud while reading about a famine. The scenes where the celebrities first encounter the Africans are quite funny. Later on though, while one celebrity is photographed holding a starving child, all I could picture was Sally Struthers wandering through the camps with tears in her eyes--and Fielding's point hit home. Cause Celeb is an interesting statement on the place of celebrity in our society--and how it can actually be used for good, even if those doing the good are vile people. I recommmend ths book.

Because *Cause Celeb* was only recently released in the United States, I had already read both of her other books, the Bridget Jones Diary and the sequel to BJD, Bridget Jones Edge of Reason. I was happy with both of the Bridget novels; they were a fresh look at single life in the 90's. But I had no idea of Fielding's depth until reading *Cause Celeb*.

The main character of Celeb is a more mature, somewhat less self-conscious version of Bridget. They have many characteristics in common, in particular, their sense of humor in the face of tragic situations. Rosie works for a publishing house in London, where she is often right in the middle of celebrity gatherings. She hooks up with a famous TV host, Oliver, who turns out to be (in my humble opinion) a schizophrenic abusive boyfriend that increases her desire to get far, far away from London life and the celebrity scene. She finds work in Nambula, Africa, where she runs a refugee camp providing food, water and medical care to villagers thrown out of their homes. In Africa, Rosemary is able to find herself, garner self-esteem and gather the courage to go back to London when a food shortage and health crisis is imminent. Unfortunately, the only way she can help the refugees is to ask for a celebrity benefit from none other than Oliver and his cronies.

*Cause Celeb* is an absolute page-turner and exceeded my every expectation for a first novel by Fielding. She makes it clear that she can write about more than our Bridget, which only increases my anticipation by another Fielding novel!

For months now I have seen a book with these luscious lips on it called: Bridget Jones's Diary and quite frankly never picked it up to look at it. Then, the other day, I did pick up a very thin little book called: bridget jones's guide to life.

Quite frankly, I have never stood in a grocery store and laughed so much in all my life! Yes, I did not like the swearing (it is supposed to be funny, not insulting) or some of the morals, but there are some pretty funny things in this book that would even horrify Martha Stewart on Halloween.

It is my happy privilege to admit I am a "Smug Married," keep up with my "Urban Family," and know the meaning of "Karma." All listed in the "Useful Words and Phrases for Practical Living section.

What really made me laugh out loud is the section on page 4 called: To Create a Pleasingly Ordered Bedroom.

This tiny book contains "Helen Fieldings" thoughts on The Fragrant Home, Cooking (or Cuisine), Accounting (very short chapter to say the least), Social and Sexual Etiquette, The Road to Healing Your Life, Inner Poise, How to Lose Weight and Feng Shui.

With a certain sense of dry humor and hillarity, she explains how to put a loaf of bread in your oven so as to pretend to be baking bread.

She also doesn't believe in being a slave to the tyranny of the recipe and I had a great laugh when I saw what she did to Terrine of Venison with Juniper and Pistachio Nuts.

The Spirituality section had me taking out the highlighter so I could remember to use the word Hakuna Matata and re-read something about people being streams. I mean, that section of the book was actually quite thoughtful.

2/3 of the book is really funny. I do not advise this as a guide to life, but more as a way to spend only $5 for a good laugh.

Don't be fooled! This is not a sequel to The Edge of Reason. It's just a self help book but since this is Bridget Jones it's hardly serious. I liked this book. It was very amusing for the 10 minutes it took to read through it. Unfortunately, a lot of the book just rehashes what happened in the other two books. There is some new material however. I especially enjoyed the instructional photographs. My favorite part of the book is the section on the game "Shag, marry or push off a cliff," which I've become addicted to playing. This book is a must read for Bridget Jones fans but it's not really worth buying.

This little booklet was so much fun to read! It is filled with Fielding's ironic humor and signature style. Bridget has created her own little self-help book. Here, you will learn how to cook, eat, weigh yourself and even how to be your friends' therapist. It is all done with an ironic twist!

Every Helen Fielding fan should get a copy of this book. Granted, I feel it should have been longer -- but Fielding's humor is well worth it. Get it!