Chick Literate » Marian Keyes

Rachel’s Holiday

lklawless — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:38:18 +0000

Marian Keyes, the queen of Irish chick lit, delved into the serious subject of drug addiction in her third book, Rachel’s Holiday, but managed an amazing job of mixing those horror stories with romance and humor. The end result is a wonderful book about another of the Walsh sisters – it’s funny and sad, serious and playful, and I’ve read it half a dozen times.

Last Chance Saloon

lklawless — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:11:49 +0000

Last Chance Saloon is Marian Keyes’s first novel told from multiple third-person points of view. It’s the story of old friends and new loves, growing up and seeing people for who they really are. Between the hair-obsessed actor and the woman who learns that it’s ok to need someone, it will make you laugh and cry.

Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married

lklawless — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:00:24 +0000

I love, love, love Marian Keyes’s Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. Though it’s not perfect (see spoilers, below), I enjoy the story and particularly certain scenes so much that I’m still able to reread it regularly and enjoy it just as much each time I do. I really like Lucy, and overall the book is very funny and believable.

SPOILERS Lucy is blatantly “weightist.” At one point she is furious when she thinks someone is mocking Meredia’s weight, yet Lucy repeatedly does this herself throughout the book.

The whole dealing-with-her-dad’s-alcoholism section is fairly hefty and can be a bit of a drag to read. But it works.

I love the scenes with Daniel at the restaurant, in his car, and at his apartment; and I love the Indian restaurant, and all the roommate stuff, and the work avoidance… it’s all great.

Watermelon

lklawless — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:00:55 +0000

If you were to take a crash course on chick lit, Watermelon, by Marian Keyes, would be required reading. This début novel begins with Claire in the hospital, where she has just given birth to her first child a few minutes before her husband arrives to tell her that he’s leaving her for another woman. Claire’s subsequent breakdown and rebuilding of her life is by turns heart-breaking and inspiring, and it’s also heart-warming and really funny. Even the saddest, most tragic scenes are interspersed with humor – sometimes gentle, sometimes black – which make this a joy to read again and again.