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Monday, June 22, 2009

This Charming Man by Marion Keyes

Genre: General Fiction/Contemporary/Chick Lit?

Pages: 676

Copyright: 2008

LOL Rating: ROFLMAO

Rating:
Rating 4 Crowns

Keyes is a modern-day Merlin. She wiggles her magic fingers over her keyboard and conjures up an amazing story with the power to work comedic magic on even the most morose of her readers. Like many women, I don't laugh easily at novels but Keyes made me laugh till my stomach hurt. In fact, days later, I'm still chuckling about some of the scenes.


It's told from the perspective of four different women and centers around their relationship with Irish Politician Paddy De Courcy. On the surface, this book could be any other Chick-Lit novel but trust me when I say that it is so much more. It is gritty and dark yet the humour wraps around you and prevents you from becoming too raw and exposed. She has crafted this novel intricately and the results are both touching and hysterical.

There were some parts of the novel that I found difficult to read simply due to the language she uses. One whole section of the book is a mix-up of sentence fragments and text messages. Whilst this makes it a quick read, it doesn't really make it easy to read if you're a stickler for sentences like me. I know of at least one friend who COULDN'T read this book because of the deliberate crafting of the language.

This is the perfect in-between read for historicals and family sagas. It will definitely lighten your mood - even though it deals with some pretty dark issues. I'll admit that it doesn't have the same high a romance novel gives you but it's still fantastic. You won't really notice you've just read 676 pages. Highly recommended to those who enjoy Chick-Lit.

silly princess

8 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

Haven't read this one yet, but now I sure will :)
I need a good laugh and Keyes didn't really deliver in the last book i read

Kate said...

This sounds like a great read! Thanks for a superb review. If it can make me laugh, I want it!

Sharon said...

I knew I was going to like LOL week! I've got to get this one. Thanks!

Mandi said...

Interesting that is humorous yet still dark and gritty. I like it:)

The Book Resort said...

Don't you just love when a bool makes you laugh long after you've read it? Glad you enjoyed it.

Looking forward to the rest of LOL week.

Miss K said...

Blodeuedd - which Marian Keyes did you read last? I must admit I wasn't really a fan of Rachel's Holiday...didn't finish it.

Kate, Sharon, Mandi & Diane - I really enjoyed this book! The expressions she used and the situations the characters got themselves into were really funny. I'm glad you're enjoying the week! I'm reviewing one of my favourite books tomorrow :-) A highly recommended and very funny romance.

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

Thanks for the review, Annie :)

I have mixed feelings about the Marian Keyes books I've read(one was dreadfully boring), but I think I will give this one a go.

Marg said...

I really love reading Marian Keyes books, although because of the voice of Lola I wasn't really as keen on this one as I was on some of the others.

I do love the way that Keyes is able to combine laugh out loud moments with deeper subjects.