yangyvonne's review against another edition
4.0
Marian Keyes is a well-loved Irish author know for books like "Watermelon" and "No Dress Rehearsal". This was a great compilation of her pieces done fo the Irish Press on a multitude of topics. From her quirky family to her typically British husband, it takes the reader no time to assimilate into Marian's life.
Coming off of a week in Ireland, this was the perfect book to read on the flight home as I prepared to assimilate back into my real life, as Keyes pointed-out the many imperfections in the lifestyle of the "Celtic Tiger" nation. I was worried that the stories wouldn't relate to someone in their 20's, but for the most part, I was motivated to keep reading, even if only for the slang!
Coming off of a week in Ireland, this was the perfect book to read on the flight home as I prepared to assimilate back into my real life, as Keyes pointed-out the many imperfections in the lifestyle of the "Celtic Tiger" nation. I was worried that the stories wouldn't relate to someone in their 20's, but for the most part, I was motivated to keep reading, even if only for the slang!
gerd_d's review
3.0
"Further under the duvet" is essentially the same as "Under the duvet" and as such I enjoyed it. I liked to read all those short accounts about Marian's obsession with Make-up, handbags and shoes, about Himself and her terrifying perfect family.
That is the good part of the book, the bonus section consisting of her short story writing, well, I have to agree there with Marian’s own observation that she’s not much of a short story writer. She misses proper build up and structure, and the punch-line is delivered at a point where I was way past caring (or in the case of her shoe story didn’t really get it at all).
What’s more, I didn’t like even one of her characters. They are all bad mannered, snarky people with a designer label obsession that have set out to make life harder on everybody else.
I guess fans of her novels will embrace the bonus part, me, I did not so much.
That is the good part of the book, the bonus section consisting of her short story writing, well, I have to agree there with Marian’s own observation that she’s not much of a short story writer. She misses proper build up and structure, and the punch-line is delivered at a point where I was way past caring (or in the case of her shoe story didn’t really get it at all).
What’s more, I didn’t like even one of her characters. They are all bad mannered, snarky people with a designer label obsession that have set out to make life harder on everybody else.
I guess fans of her novels will embrace the bonus part, me, I did not so much.
jennc's review
3.0
Some great essays, odd short stories and intriguing glimpses of Marian Keyes real life.
I kept this book in my foster cats room and read it off and on. Hannah and Addison enjoyed it immensely and are now Marian Keyes fans. :)
I kept this book in my foster cats room and read it off and on. Hannah and Addison enjoyed it immensely and are now Marian Keyes fans. :)
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