rosy57's review
4.0
Not as sharp as the diaries themselves - reading the first columns is reading a ‘first draft’ and it’s interesting to see how the ideas developed and changed.
shahrun's review
3.0
I suspect I may have read the actual Diary many years ago and I have seen the film, so I have some familiarity with the characters and plot. This collection of the columns that started it all was interesting reading, very of it’s time (90s) but not as funny or entertaining as I was expecting. For me the best and most interguing bit is how she starts her entires. I love the tally of weight, transgressions and her own opinion of each one. I’m not convinced her scales work though with the impossible weight gains/losses. Gonna have to read the Diary now.
kalkie's review
3.0
This is a strange little book. It is a collection of the very first "Bridget Jones" columns that appeared in The Independent and as such comes before both "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason", both of which I have read and enjoyed - and, of course, comes before the film version of the original diary book.
However, reading these columns is almost like reading the "Bridget Jones's Diary" film script. It is clear that a lot of the film's contents (Mark Darcy aside) came from these original columns, with very little tweaking involved. Being a huge fan of the film, this did ruin it for me a little bit.
The writing is a bit "iffy" in places, and it's clear to see that this is one of Fielding's first writing projects - the books are much better! In places there are glaring inconsistencies and errors in the text, and it is now a bit dated as it constantly refers to "current events" that are no longer current! However, it is still a very funny collection of writings, and well worth a read for any Bridget Jones fan. "
However, reading these columns is almost like reading the "Bridget Jones's Diary" film script. It is clear that a lot of the film's contents (Mark Darcy aside) came from these original columns, with very little tweaking involved. Being a huge fan of the film, this did ruin it for me a little bit.
The writing is a bit "iffy" in places, and it's clear to see that this is one of Fielding's first writing projects - the books are much better! In places there are glaring inconsistencies and errors in the text, and it is now a bit dated as it constantly refers to "current events" that are no longer current! However, it is still a very funny collection of writings, and well worth a read for any Bridget Jones fan. "
lydlud_'s review
4.0
As well as being hilarious, this book is really interesting to read from a historical perspective. It's now set over 2o years ago, so as an 18-year-old, the events take place before I was born. Since this was published as newspaper columns Bridget gives her brief commentary on certain items that were in the news at the time, which I found interesting. It's strange to see how much British culture and society have changed in a relatively short time, particularly with the introduction of the internet.
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