The Complete Idiots Guide to the Ultimate Reading List discussion

I am not ashamand to say that this books changed my life. Ok not my life but it defintly changed me. I love it and I read it at least once a year. How could you not love Bridget when there is a little of her in all of us

Bridget rocked both sides of the Atlantic

After I read this I started writing very as v. like that book was v. good. I also loved her system of counting alcohol in "units" and the number of cigarettes she would smoke in a day.

Very funny, it was nice to relax and read a book that made me laugh all the way through, there are very few books like this. My biggest disappointment was Bridget being played by Renee Zellweger, I guess that's why I've stopped watching movies if I've read the book, they never get it right.

I loved this book, but was so disappointed in the sequels. This was one movie I skipped just because I was *sure* it was going to be much better if I continued to picture myself as Bridget instead of an actress. :)

lol.

I loved this book. When it came out it was totally different than anything else I had ever read. It was funny and clever and everyone could related to Bridget. Of course now the chick lit genre has exploded and some of it has gotten a bad rap (wrap? Hmm...just realized I'm not sure how to spell it in this context!) When it came out this was new and different and I loved it!

I just knew I'd be alone...for some reason, I really didn't like this book.

A lot of the English/Brittish slang I didn't understand. And a lot of the brands, like the chocolate she ate and the cigarettes she smoked, I didn't recognize (either because it's not in the states or because I've never smoked??) so it took me about 10 diary entries to figure out which was which.

I just didn't see myself as Bridget. She seemed neurotic and obsessive compulsive about everything she did. Her crazy ravings, constant weighing and most of her conversations with everyone made her sound clueless, reckless and made her seem less intelligent.

But, this is only my very very humble opinion. any book that gets people reading is applauded in my opinion, even if there are a very few of us that don't enjoy it.

Happy Reading!!

I gave up after just a few pages. I've got it on an ebook and the paragraphs are messed up- Along with the disjointed writing- the book was unreadable.

I really enjoyed the book, and I started writing very as v. also... I did that for at least two years after reading it (I'm weaning myself off now). The only thing that bothered me was her complaining about her weight and it was like 135lbs... Come on. Really? I would never complain if I weighed 135lbs.

Trisha wrote: "I just knew I'd be alone...for some reason, I really didn't like this book...."

Trisha, you are not alone. I disliked this book quite intensely. And it wasn't the lack of familiarity - I've been to England, shopped at Tesco's, eaten all the foods that she ate, and still didn't like it.

I found Bridget stupid, ridiculously self-indulgent, completely lacking in any real self-awareness, and generally in need of a sharp smack upside the head. The fact that the book is supposed to be a sort of retelling of Pride and Prejudice makes it just that much more insulting.

The book was quick to finish because it was so facile, but I got no enjoyment out of it.

I usually feel the same way about similar characters but I really liked Bridget, in this book. A part of her knew she was self-indulgent and lacked self-awareness, and she would smack herself in the head. But then she would have a few cocktails and be right back to where she was.

The movie annoyed me more than the book. And the followup book lost me. I think that was due to the Persuasion retelling, and that is my favorite Austen.