mariyamak's review
4.0
Helen Fielding's pre-Bridget Jones debut novel. It is about hunger in Africa, juxtaposed against the celebrity world of London.
Fielding worked at the BBC, producing Comic Relief benefit shows for Africa an a documentary on Sudanese refugees, and the descriptions of poverty, camp logistics and politics in this book show that she's writing from experience. There were the entertaining 'chic lit' moments here, but the heartbreaking intensity of the refugee crisis makes it a lot more worthwile.
Fielding worked at the BBC, producing Comic Relief benefit shows for Africa an a documentary on Sudanese refugees, and the descriptions of poverty, camp logistics and politics in this book show that she's writing from experience. There were the entertaining 'chic lit' moments here, but the heartbreaking intensity of the refugee crisis makes it a lot more worthwile.
iamasecretagent's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rach200406's review
5.0
So incredibly well written and funny while still being a serious critique of hollywood charity. I loved it
nadoislandgirl's review
3.0
Kind of interesting book about a chick who gets ditched and moves to Africa to help at a refugee camp. She later comes back and realizes the superficiality of the life she had left.
raballam's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sincerelyyoursannie's review
5.0
Rosie Richardson works in marketing and starts dating Oliver Merchant, and falls in love. Oliver is the host of a TV show where issues with cultural and political topics are tackled. Their relationship is controlled by his behaviour, one telling her he loves her and then ignoring her for days.
Rosie heads off to Nambula on a business trip after she breaks up with Oliver, and the revelation she faces around the poverty and environmental situation on her trip, makes her reevaluate many aspects in her own life.
Four years down the line, she is running a camp. Rumours of a locust invasion start to spread and the possibility of the food shipment being late.
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/05/16/cause-celeb-by-helen-fielding-book-review/
Rosie heads off to Nambula on a business trip after she breaks up with Oliver, and the revelation she faces around the poverty and environmental situation on her trip, makes her reevaluate many aspects in her own life.
Four years down the line, she is running a camp. Rumours of a locust invasion start to spread and the possibility of the food shipment being late.
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/05/16/cause-celeb-by-helen-fielding-book-review/
slipperbunny's review against another edition
2.0
I like chick lit, but it's not my favorite genre. It's what I read for fun I guess. This is the first book I have read from Helen Fielding and I liked Cause Celeb. I gave it only two stars because Rosie wasn't very good main character and there were a couple of things that annoyed me. But I laughed a little and the story was much better than I expected.
marieg11's review
3.0
This book was not at all what I expected. Since the author was also the author of the Bridget Jones' series, I was expecting a witty chick lit novel. While there were funny parts in the book, overall I did not think I would call it funny. But, it was a good book that really put some life and depth into humanitarian work. Rosie, the main character, decides to leave her London lifestyle and job as a publicist after breaking up with a celebrity. She moves to Africa and begins work on a refugee camp. This opens her eyes to how materialistic her life was and what is more important. Eventually, she decides to go back to London to enlist the help of various celebrities to raise awareness for the need in Africa and ultimately save the refugees at her camp from starvation.
afterglobe's review
5.0
I had not read this book for 7 years, so I was concerned that, upon coming back to it, I would not like it as much.
Of course I rolled my eyes at some scenes that I thought were majestically romantic when I was 20. But overall, the reasons that I loved this book so many years ago - mainly, that it made me laugh and it made me think - were still present.
This book explores everything from love to abuse, famine to humor, colonialism to war... Yes, it's not the typical chick lit novel, but I'd argue it isn't meant to be. And that, to me, is the beauty of this vulnerable and brilliant story. It entertains as it educates. It makes the reader laugh and cry.
I hope to love it just as much when I read it in another 7 years.
Of course I rolled my eyes at some scenes that I thought were majestically romantic when I was 20. But overall, the reasons that I loved this book so many years ago - mainly, that it made me laugh and it made me think - were still present.
This book explores everything from love to abuse, famine to humor, colonialism to war... Yes, it's not the typical chick lit novel, but I'd argue it isn't meant to be. And that, to me, is the beauty of this vulnerable and brilliant story. It entertains as it educates. It makes the reader laugh and cry.
I hope to love it just as much when I read it in another 7 years.