My first by Keyes, surprising as I've always loved a witty, contemporary, UK female voice (note that I did not say chick-lit, no I didn't!) This is a huge book, almost 700 pages in the Australian edition I picked up, and told in first-person POV by three major female protagonists and a fourth with minimal impact (I barely remember that she had a POV, but the back cover blurb implies that she did.)
My problem with the book stemmed from that multiple POV. One of the female leads I really liked; one I took a while to warm to and her choppy style, told in diary format, grated on my nerves; the third I did not empathise with at all. The three are imperfect, flawed women who share a dark secret linked to the charming man of the title.
Once that secret was foreshadowed my interest and involvement in the book escalated. Despite my irritations with some of the characters actions, I could not stop reading. I KNEW what was coming; I knew it would be painful; but I HAD TO keep reading. So although my reaction to the book was mixed, I will be picking up other Keyes books because of her skill in building the story, in mixing the dark with the light, and in drawing such vivid characters (even the ones I didn't "get".)
Oh, and although this is primarily about the women, there are romantic subplots.
This Charming Man, by Marian Keyes, Penguin Group, 2008
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Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Down Under Desirabelles
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Desire Apr08
Which one
Hi Bronwyn,
I just read and reviewed this book and then thought I'd skip around and see what other people thought. I wonder which POV was the one you couldn't empathize with? Marnie? I loved Lola but the diary speak style was so off-putting I sometimes felt like I was reading with one eye closed. I kept waiting for it to be like subtitles in a movie--I thought at some point I'd stop noticing and just read it smoothly but that didn't happen.
Anyway, I thought your review gave a good perspective on the book. I picked up two of Keyes's books at RWA in the goody room. I took this one and my roomie took the other. I'm hoping she'll pass the other back to me because she said she really loved it. I can't remember the title of that one, though. I have read several of Keyes's earlier books and will be happy to go back and read the ones I missed.
Cheers,
Ellen
Ellen's Blog --- Ellen's Website
The Boyfriend's Back Superromance May '09
His Secret Past Superromance May '08