Summer Reading: Bridget Jones Diary

Bridget Jones Diary : The Edge of Reason
By Helen Fielding

1. Two reasons I would recommend this book...To give you an idea of how humorous this book is, my Mom had to tell me to be quiet on the plane because she was worried a was going to wake people up with my random bursts of laughter. The reason I love this book so much is because the author, Helen Fielding does a brilliant job of relating all of Bridget's experiences to unfortunate circumstanes in peoples every day life. For example, Bridget's life is filled with love, jealousy, insecurity, humor, and most significantly, embarressment. When I read this book, I was able to relate almost every line to a past experience of mine. Bridget's life seems totally normal to society, but the witty details she reveals to the reader prove her life anything but normal. The other thing I loved about this book was that it was very simple. Not that is was readable for a first grader, but the plot always revolved around one main character, Bridget. There were many other important characters, but everything that happened in the book seemed to always be caused by or effect Bridget, which just drew even more scandal and humor to her life.

2. Two reasons I wouldn't recommend this book...Being a teenage girl, I loved this book because many of the events that occurred were very relevant to any girls daily troubles. However, for a guy to read this book, I woulnd't be surprised if he found it completely pointless. The witty details that girls would die of laughter from are about things that men wouldn't understand because it's not something that happens in their everyday life. For example, Bridget has a continous obsession with her weight, and what her boyfriend will think of her body. I found this hilarious because Bridget makes fun of herself in the funniest manner, but if I were a guy I don't think I would fall asleep of boredom trying to read four pages about a insecure girl rant on about how fat she thinks she looks in her jeans. The other reason I wouldn't recommend this book is because for people who stay up all night reading until they reach the peak of the story, your wasting your time. This book is written in journal form, so even though Bridget has some very dramatic experiences, she is still living her life, and no matter how many problems she faces, there will always be another chapter of just regular life. So if your someone who reads all day until you reach the peak of the book, your out of luck, because the peak of the book is on every page.

3. What two actors would I choose to star in a movie adaptation of this book...Well firstly, they already made a movie out of this book, but if I could I would change the actors who they chose. In the movie they already made, Renee Zellweger played Bridget Jones, Colin Firth was Mark Darcy (handsome boyfriend of Bridgets), and Hugh Grant was Daniel Cleaver (Bridget's seductive boss who she is secretly attracted to). My two actresses of choice that I would want to play Bridget is a tie between Cameron Diaz and Tina Fey. For the very handsome Mark DArcy, I would star Patrick Dempsey, and as the notorious Daniel Cleaver, it's a tough choice between Eric Bana or Javier Bardem.
By Elspeth McGillivray