This is probably the one rare time I'd say that a book's sequel is much better than its predecessor.

In this continuation of her diary, Bridget again recounts the ups and downs of the single life, coupled by the indifference shown to her by Mark Darcy, her now established boyfriend. "Hurrah! The wilderness years are now over. For four weeks and five days now have been in functional relationship with adult male, thereby proving am not love pariah as recently feared." Add to Darcy's indifference the arrival of Rebecca, who absolutely has no girlfriend code of ethics when it comes to poaching another woman's man.

Whole dating world is like hideous game of bluff and double bluff with men and women firing at each other from opposite lines of sandbags. Is as if there is a set of rules that you are supposed to be sticking to, but no one knows what they are so everyone just makes up their own. Then you end up getting chucked because you didn't follow the rules correctly, but how could you be expected to, when you didn't know what they were in the first place?

Everything else also proves to be topsy-turvy, as Bridget's mother has returned from a trip to Kenya with a young Masai in tow, to her father's consternation; her best friends Jude, Shazzer, and Tom are all trapped in dating hell themselves; her apartment has a gaping hole thanks to an unreliable carpenter; an ex-boyfriend (Daniel Cleaver) has just reentered her life; and now someone is sending Bridget death threats--could it be Mark Darcy as the detectives suspected?

Bridget is a slightly silly person, a bit on the unrealistic side (who knew that she had practically bought almost the entire section of self-help books of a bookstore?), but I suppose diaries (as the format of this novel proves) may include ones ultimate unrealistic fantasies (like being rescued by Colin Firth or Prince William). While Bridget is on the edge of reason, her on-again off-again boyfriend is the voice of reason and the perfect comic foil.

Book Details:

Title Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Author Helen Fielding
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

Again, I enjoyed this. Probably much more than I'd have enjoyed it prior to living in England and picking up on the local vernacular. Knwoing the exact meaning behind the things she says really enhanced it for me, especially since I wasn't constantly marking text to go back and look up things later. Actually I think I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Funny, very funny. The only thing that spoiled it a bit is the fact that I'd already seen the films. I do prefer to read a book and then see the film. That said, I will rewatch the second film as soon as I am able. I watched the original film years ago when it was released and again just after moving here. ( )

Bridget is dating Mark, then she isn't, then at the end of the book they are back together; typical Bridget Jones shenanigans; not quite as good as the first one. ( )

Comme le premier tome bien drole ( )

I've read this book 4 or 5 times. Seen the movies about the same. I love this book dearly! It is so funny and captivating that once you start reading it - you don't want to put it down! I suggest this as a great read to all fellow singletons out there. ( )