111 4 I TRIED MARIAN KEYES BASED UPON A RECOMMENDATION . THIS WAS JUST AS BORING AS ' LAST CHANCE SALOON ' . I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO FINISH EITHER OF THESE BOOKS . THE CHARACTERS ARE ALL SO ANNOYING , YOU DON'T GET ATTACHED TO ANYONE & THEY AREN'T BOOKS YOU CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT . I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE GLOWING REVIEWS , THESE BOOKS ARE SO BORING .
106 4 This is a story about how nice girls DO finish first sometimes . As always , Keyes ' characters are engaging and their 20 / 30 - something misadventures always entertaining . A great beach read .
her Las Vegas marriage of four years to ( and subsequent separation from ) Oliver , who she isn't quite over yet ; her eating disorder ; having the hots for her boss , Jack Devine , who is perplexed by her advances ; and her continuous power trip which sets the Dublin office into a tailspin . As you might expect , Lisa is a very difficult woman to work with and for ; she continually projects a curtain of inapproachability , behind which no one can penetrate . But really , Lisa is just as insecure as most women are .
Dublin is not what Lisa has been accustomed to . In London , the magazine she worked for occupied a 12 - story tower . In Dublin , the office of Colleen is located on one floor . Where Lisa used to have a staff of dozens , she currently has a staff of five . Where in London Lisa was invited to launches and parties , and given freebies , in Dublin she has to deal with what is second best . And on and on the differences go . Lisa is spoiled , and can't seem to get her act into gear . But there is a very good reason for why Lisa gets sent to pioneer the magazine - because she's the best at what she does .
Ashling is hired to work as the Assistant Editor at Colleen magazine . Although she has no experience is journalism , she was hired for her efficiency ( as opposed to her personality or looks ) , and is soon known as the office Miss Fixit . Ashling's personal life makes up the heart of this rather entertaining , poignant story . Years of having to deal with her mother's depression makes Ashling susceptible to it as well . As a result , Ashling has difficulty with her relationships with men ; a short-lived relationship with a comedian named Marcus Devine doesn't help her situation . In the end a surprising relationship is formed with someone who was under her nose the whole time .
Clodagh is probably the least likeable character in this novel . And I suspect that the reader isn't meant to like her . Married with two kids , Clodagh is a close friend of Ashling's , who stole Ashling's boyfriend years ago . ( It galls me as to why Ashling remained friends with Clodagh ; but this serves as evidence of Ashling's people-pleasing attitude ) . Clodagh is frustrated with her marriage and goes about remedying that situation in the best way she knows how : by trying to find a job , and then having an affair . When discovered , Clodagh , appallingly , says that it wasn't her fault , and continues the affair regardless of the fact that Dylan , her husband , threatens to sue for custody of the children .
There are also the more minor characters in the novel , who are wonderful support to the main cast nevertheless : Clodagh's wronged husband Dylan ; Trix , Lisa's PA , who she treats as a pet in order to incur the dislike of others ; Ted , a comedian friend of Ashling's who is of that remarkably rare breed of male characters in chick lit who aren't either a ) the love interest of the main female character or b ) the stereotyped gay friend ; and Joy , Ashling's close friend who keeps complaining about an on-again , off-again relationship she has with a man she calls the Half-Man , Half-Badger .
Marian Keyes gives us an excellent look into the lives of ordinary Dubliners : people who experience heartbreak , disaster , as well as life's triumphs . The title of the book comes from the fact that Lisa Edwards enjoys sushi , and wants to introduce it to the office of Colleen magazine . She keeps having daydreams about being able to feed Jack Devine sushi while in the office . Ashling has never eaten sushi , and at first she is put off by the look and smell of raw fish ; but Jack Devine gives her a sushi for beginners set , in which there are some of the things he imagines she might enjoy . I enjoyed this book greatly and could not put it down ; The Other Side of the Story , also by Keyes , is next on my reading list . While the book is , admittedly , rather long ( and could therefore have been about 100 pages shorter ) , I found Sushi for Beginners to be exactly what my literary palate enjoyed .
001 4 This is the sixth Keyes novel I have read . Generally , I find that she provides average-to-good reads , although for the type of fiction she writes , I find her books to be a bit too long . This novel was no exception , as the first half of the book really dragged ; in particular , it was hard to get into the story because one of the main characters , Lisa , was not at all likeable . However , the book definitely picked up in the second half , when the characters became more three-dimensional and better developed . The story centers around Lisa , a hotshot London magazine editor who has been banished to Ireland to start up a new magazine ; Ashling , the plain Jane who gets a job as an assistant editor of the magazine ; and Clodagh , Ashling's gorgeous best friend who feels smothered by her roles as wife and mother . All three women are trying to sort our their work and love lives while also dealing with demons from their respective pasts . The cast of supporting characters adds interest , including Jack , Lisa and Ashling's boss ; Joy and Ted , Ashling's supportive friends ; Boo , a homeless man who Ashling befriends ; and Oliver , Lisa's estranged husband . My actual rating of this book is three and a half stars : if you can hang in there through the somewhat boring first half , you'll be rewarded with several unexpected twists in the second half . A worthwhile read for fans of Keyes , but perhaps not for others .
002 4 This review is from :
Sushi for Beginners : A Novel ( Hardcover )
Marian Keyes is deservedly known as the queen of contemporary womens ' novels , and SUSHI will not disappoint either her long-time fans or those new to her work .
Set in the glitzy world of a high-fashion magazine with a detour through the madcap comedy club circuit , this book has its hand and heart on the pulse of young Dublin singles and marrieds who aspire to be successful , wealthy , and happy .
Ashling Kennedy is the heart of the story - - - the everywoman with boyfriend problems and weight problems . When she is offered a second banana spot on Colleen a new magazine for the upwardly mobile Dublin woman , she feels she has latched on to something really good . Unfortunately , her boss and editor-in-chief is the very disappointed Lisa Edwards . Instead of a big promotion to the New York office , this assignment feels like a passport to hell to the ultra-ambitious fashionista . Horrified at being shuffled out of London and off to Dublin , she vows to make this new magazine one the world will sit up and take note of .
Rounding out the trio of women is Ashling's best friend , Clodagh Kelly . Married to a handsome professional , the mother of two children , and tucked away in a beautiful home , Clodagh seems to have it all . The only glitch in her life is that she is bored and miserable .
The lives of the three women weave together and eventually collide as life takes some unexpected turns . An ex-husband , a wayward boyfriend , a handsome managing director , and staunch friends add interest to this story of surviving the daily grind and making it work for you .
003 4 Marian Keyes is deservedly known as the queen of contemporary womens ' novels , and SUSHI will not disappoint either her long-time fans or those new to her work .
Set in the glitzy world of a high-fashion magazine with a detour through the madcap comedy club circuit , this book has its hand and heart on the pulse of young Dublin singles and marrieds who aspire to be successful , wealthy , and happy .
Ashling Kennedy is the heart of the story - - - the everywoman with boyfriend problems and weight problems . When she is offered a second banana spot on Colleen a new magazine for the upwardly mobile Dublin woman , she feels she has latched on to something really good . Unfortunately , her boss and editor-in-chief is the very disappointed Lisa Edwards . Instead of a big promotion to the New York office , this assignment feels like a passport to hell to the ultra-ambitious fashionista . Horrified at being shuffled out of London and off to Dublin , she vows to make this new magazine one the world will sit up and take note of .
Rounding out the trio of women is Ashling's best friend , Clodagh Kelly . Married to a handsome professional , the mother of two children , and tucked away in a beautiful home , Clodagh seems to have it all . The only glitch in her life is that she is bored and miserable .
The lives of the three women weave together and eventually collide as life takes some unexpected turns . An ex-husband , a wayward boyfriend , a handsome managing director , and staunch friends add interest to this story of surviving the daily grind and making it work for you .
004 4 Marian Keyes does it again with Sushi For Beginners . This talented Irish author tackles the world of fashion magazines with her new tale , and does it with her usual charm and humor .
The backdrop of Colleen magazine is the perfect place to set up the main characters . First you have Londonite and fashionably dressed Lisa Edwards , who thinks that her life is over when she is shipped off to the great north to be the editor of this new magazine with a the smallest staff known to man , no perks , and well - - - - it's in Ireland ( which she thinks is a fate worse than death . )
The bright spot is the really sweet ( sometimes overly sweet ) Ashling Kennedy . Ashling is everything that Lisa is not . She's not fashionable , she's not worldly , she's not - - - well , posh . But , she's the foundation of this book and really the driving force behind this great tale of work , love and friendships .
I don't think there is a better author out there than Marian Keyes and she didn't let me down with this one . I love Sushi for Beginners and would suggest it to any lover of this genre or great fiction in general .
Cheers ! ! ! ! ! !
005 4 This is my first Marian Keyes's books and I understand now why she has so many fans . Sushi For Beginners deals with the world of magazines in Ireland . Lisa , a powerful editor for a magazine in London was transferred to Ireland to start a new magazine targeted at women called Colleen . Lisa was terribly unhappy at this transfer as Ireland was dull and dreary compared to London and she considered it an insult . At the same time , she was recently divorced from her husband of four years . Lisa is one of those difficult boss / supervisor as she is extremely competitive , arrogant and expected nothing but the best . Her assistant editor , Ashling was the complete opposite .
Ashling is a big worrier and with somewhat low self-esteem . However , she is extremely kind , sensitive and caring . She found out that working for Lisa was extremely difficult as Lisa seemed to take it upon herself to make Ashling's life miserable . Then there is Jack , the managing editor at Colleen who also seemed to bully Ashling and Lisa had her eyes set on him . Other characters in the book include Clodagh , Ashling's best friend who is an unhappy housewife and mom , and who seemed to blame her husband for everything ; Ted , Ashling's stand up comedian friend ; and Marcus , another stand up comedian who seemed to be interested in Ashling .
There are definitely a lot of characters and plots in this book which at times can be a little confusing but once you get the hang of it , you will enjoy the book . The storyline is nothing new - the whole arrogant editor and victimized assistant but Marian Keyes adds subplots which makes the entire book quite a treat . In addition , there are definitely humor and romance in Sushi For Beginners . This is a great summer read !
006 4 Marian Keyes shoots and scores again with another fantastic novel which centers around three modern singletons . Magazine editor Lisa Edwards meets with her bosses about a new job they have lined up for her to launch a new magazine called Colleen . Lisa is already visualizing a new posh lifestyle for herself in New York .
However , New York isn't quite where her new job has been set up . She's pretty much being deported to Dublin to fend for herself , start anew and make this new magazine the next big thing .
Ashling Kennedy is the assistant editor for Colleen . She's a bit frumpy and unhappy with her non-existent waistline and her non-existent social life .
Meanwhile , Ashling's best friend , Clodagh Kelly , is living the high life and seems to have it all . But she's searching for something more .
The transition from one singleton's point of view to the next is smooth and unmistakable . And the ups and downs these women go through are hilarious to follow .
This is a romantic comedy that hits just the right tone with the writing style and comedic dialogue . It's like getting three novels in one . With Sushi for Beginners , Marian Keyes does a great job in capturing perfect settings and following these women on their search for happiness .
007 4 I would not recommend this book if it is your first one by Keyes .
Keyes is a scream , an absolute sarcastic scream . I usually love her because of her wacky outlook on things . Her books are hysterical , but at the core of them they take on very serious issues ( drug use , alcoholism , depression , difficult childhoods ) , which I think is why Keyes is so successful in the realm of chick lit . She's the perfect blend of humor and seriousness .
I have read everything that she has written so far , and have to admit that I was a little disappointed with Sushi for Beginners . This book is not one of her best ones , and after reading her latest paperback ( Angels ) I guess I expected more .
In this book her characters come off flat and whiny . Lisa and Ashling are trying to get a new Irish womens magazine off the ground , and the basic premise of the book revolves around their trials . Clodaugh , the other woman , is a friend of Ashlings who is terribly unhappy with her marriage and kid filled life .
More than once I found myself wondering what the point of the story was . Keyes is a good writer , and the story isn't bad or anything , its just a little flatter than a lot of what she has written before . Her characters usually start off as either depressed or silly people who evolve throughout the book to become better , deeper , self fufilled ones who learn about themselves and what is really important in life . Lisa and Ashling get there eventually , but with two chapters left in the book it was too late . Only a teeny bit of true Keyes tried to shine through at the very end . And while I did laugh out loud a few times , Keyes trademark humor is overall missing from this book .
I'm not sure why this is . To me , her best books have been those that involve the Walsch sisters ( Watermelon , Rachel's Holiday , and Angels ) , so maybe that blend of family humor is what shows Keyes at her best , maybe its what her books need . Because this one and Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married are both not Keyes ' best at all .
So read one of the Walsch sister books or Last Chance Saloon before Sushi for Beginners .
008 4 I really enjoy Marian Keyes books , especially Lucy Sullivan Gets Married and Rachel's Holiday , I didn't like this book very much .
I don't think the way the story is told allows you to have any real empathy of the characters . Lisa is too mean for you to care about , Ashling to much of a doormat and Clodagh is way to spoiled and selfish . Icouldn't care about these people because I didn't like them . I kep asking myself questions like : If Lisa wants to be with Oliver , why does she keep acting like such a fool and what does she gain by being so awful to everyone around her ? Why would Ashling keep Clodagh as a close friend after she had already betrayed their friendship by helping herself to her friends boy friend ? Mind you , I'm not saying you should ignore the man's part , but what kind of friend has so little respect for you that she would do this , and why would you want her in your life after she's done this ? Why is Ashling such a door mat ?
I even put this book down and picked up Babyville ( great book ) so I could try to get back into it . Alas , by the end of this book I was just glad it was over , now I'm waiting for her next one . I hope it's better than this .
009 4 Having read Marian Keyes's previous books , I knew I had to get my hands on this one . I was not disappointed . Once again , Keyes writes a wonderful novel that mixes a dark plot with sharp and witty situations .
Sushi for Beginners , like Last Chance Saloon , focuses on various characters in third person narrative . Set in Dublin , Lisa , an ambitious Londoner , has been given the task of launching a new fashion magazine for Irish women . After she somewhat recuperates from the initial culture shock , she meets some rather eccentric characters at work . She decides she dislikes Ashling , the sweet deputy editor , and develops a crush on Jack Devine , the Managing Director and notorious maverick . What develops is a tale of betrayal , deceit and heartbreak . One of these people is on the verge of a nervous breakdown . . . Who will it be ?
The focal point of this novel is depression . Ashling suffers a bout of the aforementioned mental illness when Clodagh , her best friend , shows her true colors . Ashling's world captivated and spoke to me . What I love about Marian Keyes is that she mixes tender romance with a serious subject matter that readers could relate to . I love the wit in this novel - - much more subtle than her previous efforts . I also love all of the secondary characters - - namely Trix , Dylan and Jack Devine . As mentioned , Sushi for Beginners is my favorite Keyes novel . Highly recommended . . .
010 4 I absolutely LOVE Marian Keyes and have read all her books . I couldn't wait to get this and read it . I was so anxious , I broke down and bought hard cover . This book is HORRIBLE . It is so boring . I cannot get into any of the characters . Normally , I am laughing out loud when I read Ms . Keyes books , but she just wasn't funny in this . I couldn't even finish it . Maybe it gets better during the second half , but I may never know .
011 4 Ashling is the star of this show , kind of plain and good hearted , she can hardly believe it when she is given the job of editor's assistant on a fabulous new magazine starting in Ireland - Colleen . This is a huge jump up from her old job at the Women's Weekly .
Lisa is immaculately groomed , extremely ambitious , gorgeous and has a heart of coal . She can hardly believe it when she is made editor of Colleen - it's a huge step down for someone who had their heart set on the editorship of a trendy magazine in New York .
Clodagh has it all : gorgeous husband , two beautiful children and all the money in the world to shop to her hearts content . But her heart isn't content at all - she looks around and finds her life somewhat lacking in the excitement department .
Ashling and Lisa work together , Clodagh is Ashlings best friend . Things begin to unravel for all three women . Ashling realises that her Little Miss Fix-It persona is not working for her anymore , Lisa starts to miss her gorgeous estranged husband way more than she ever thought she would , and CLodagh embarks on a passionate and reckless afair .
All three stories weave together seamlessly , and are so absorbing you will obsess about finishing the book like I did . Magnificent writing , I hope we get to read more of Marian Keyes soon - highly recommended
013 4 Sometimes a person is lucky enough to pick up a book about which he or she knows nothing , and find a heretofore unknown treasure . Such was the case with the delightful Sushi for Beginners , Marian Keyes ' hilarious but deeper-than-it-seems tale about thirty-somethings in modern Dublin .
The main character of sorts ( although there are really several ) is Ashling , the type of person who carries band-aids , headache remedy , sewing kits , and just about everything else in her handbag , and is good at dispensing same to anyone who needs it . Little Miss Fix-It ( as she is snidely called by her pompous boss ) is in need of a new job when the book opens , and finds it in the editorial offices of a proposed new Irish woman's magazine , Colleen .
Colleen's staff is an assorted crew of truly funny people - - and for those of us who actually have worked on a magazine , only too true ! The editor-in-chief is the formidable and horrible Lisa , who prides herself on being rotten to her employees and upon having no friends whatsoever . She has a sterling journalistic reputation in London , but considers this Dublin assignment too beneath her to stand . Nevertheless , she gives it her witchy all . . . backed up by the disheveled but sexy boss Jack , whose equally sexy girlfriend Mai shows up from time to time to have loud , screaming fights with him - - complete with snarling bites ( good thing Ashling as band-aids in her purse ) !
There is a supporting cast of characters , both men and women , who are in equal parts selfish , self-centered , sad , needy , and - - with very few exceptions - - loveable . Despite the humor , there is a true story beneath - - a story of ordinary people trying to make their way in life with a bit of love thrown in to sooth the loneliness . In some ways , the reader is reminded of Sex and the City - - with an Irish twist .
This is a perfect book to make one laugh and even cry while waiting for spring to arrive and the flowers to bloom . Try it !
014 4 After reading Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married , I immediately ran to the store and bought Rachel's Holiday . I fell so in love with Keyes writing that I literally had to force myself not to read all her book's in a row so that I would have something to look forward to . . .
Having been very bored and disappointed with Angels , I was thrilled with the return of Keyes ' unique style in Sushi for Beginners . Fun , charming and witty . Still not my favorite of all her books , but wonderful all the same .
015 4 Instead of the coveted transfer to a glamorous New York magazine , Lisa Edwards finds herself the new editor of Colleen in Ireland , of all places ! No more perks or parties . This is not good !
Ashling Kennedy is very glad to have her new job as Lisa's assistant even tho Lisa is the boss from Hell . Ashling is a people pleaser - even going so far as carrying a purse filled with things people may need - bandages , , pins , buttons , etc . If there's an emergency , she's ready for it . Her own life could use a little fixing up but with her new job and a new boyfriend , maybe it'll be okay .
A side story concerns Ashling's friend Clodagh - a stay at home mom with some extremely annoying children .
As the book goes along , the three stories converge and it becomes very hard to put the book down . I didn't .
If you remember her last book Angels , she gets one more dig in at California .
Enjoy !
016 4 I love the work of Marian Keyes , and in my humble opinion , I think this is her best work since Watermelon . You can help but love Aisling , who tries so hard at everything . She has her good friends - I loved Joy's humor , her problematic parents , and her work drama . Keyes can balance the heartbreaking pieces about Aisling's depressed mother and hilarious office situations . Part of the Keyes ' magic is her ability to give you the story , a good grasp of the setting , and the side characters that keep you smiling . Things like Lisa ' country cottage and her description of Boo and Lisa's neighbor kids really kept me into the story .
I enjoyed reading about the warmth of Ireland melting Lisa's tough exterior and the pain involved in her marriage . Can't wait to read the next Marian Keyes book !
017 4 Although I wouldn't say all of her books are equal , I have to give each one 5 stars , because 4 is inadequate . This is a wonderful story of three young women , whose lives intervene through work and friendship . Deals with eating disorders , depression , infidelity and other contemporary issues in a lighthearted yet understanding manner . Fun fun book , where you root for all the characters and even have sympathy for the ones you would probably never have given the time of day to in real life .
018 4 What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure .
( Samuel Johnson ) .
Going through this book , I got the impression that Marian Keyes was fulfilling a contract with her publisher to produce a ' novel ' that had to be in the bookstores by a certain date . So basically she got up in the morning and pounded away at her keyboard to string together a bunch of words , without heed to plot , characters , insight , or style . The result is a desultory ramble of nonsense . The reader is left feeling ripped off of hard earned money and precious time . I would avoid this book at all costs !
019 4 Sushi for Beginners is the best book by Marian Keys . I have read them all . Keys is a very witty Irish lady who writes for all women .
020 4 Although this isn't my favorite Marian Keyes book , it was an absolute joy to read and remains in the top 10 of my all-time favorite books along with most of her others . It is a delightful British romantic comedy that would make a great movie in my humble opinion . If you appreciate and enjoy british humor ( along the lines of Bridget Jones Diary ) , you will LOVE Marian Keyes ' style of writing in general . All of her characters are funny , engaging and relatable in some way , with my only complaint being the fact that once I pick one of her books up , it takes over my life and I can't put it down until I'm on the last page . Marian Keyes is one of the best ( if not THE best ) writers of her genre .
021 4 This book is a very slow-starter , so if you can plod through the first third of the book , things will pick up in the final two thirds .
Keyes , as she does in several of her books , goes to great lengths to point out how wrong it is to indulge oneself in adulterous affairs . The selfish character Clodagh is pretty appalling , not only for failing to have appreciation for her nice life , but also for being such a pampered , selfish jerk . As always , we don't just hurt ourselves when we do bad things - - the ripples of pain spread out like a rock thrown into a pond .
Lisa was an interesting character , being the flip side of Clodagh , only with a spanner thrown into the works by having to move to Dublin and take on this new magazine , Colleen ( horrible name , geeez . . . It doesn't have the same cachet as , say , Mademoiselle . ) Thankfully , she did some growing up .
Ashling had an interesting story , once we were finally able to read it .
All in all , this book was a bit longer than it really needed to be . I think there was some stuff in there that could have been edited out to make this story move along at a brisker pace .
022 4 Super fast read and a great ending - I have never read a Keyes book I didnt like !
023 4 Not bad , really . A little slow in the beginning , but picks up as it goes along . Neither as hilarious and pointed as Rachel's Holiday nor as poignant as Last Chance Saloon , but good nevertheless .
024 4 I love Marian Keyes and buy each of her novels as soon as they are released . Her writting is laugh out loud funny with a reality check or two thrown in . Her characters are so well written that you fall in love with them and really care about how their story ends . I am never disappointed as she always delivers . This selection was no exception . I enjoyed it immensely and stayed up through the night to finish it in one sitting .
025 4 I liked it a lot . The characters are interesting and inner dialog is very observant . The story line is easy and enjoyable to follow and the book hard to put down .
026 4 I disagree with the other reviewer completely .
I appreciated the backgrounds detailed for the main characters . I really enjoyed this my first Marian Keyes novel , and would easily purchase a sequel . I have just ordered Rachel's Holiday too .
027 4 I wanted to get lost in the story of this book . I couldn't put it down . The characters were quirky , sweet , and a little naughty . What a darling book . Keep writing Marian . I can't get enough of your books .
028 4 This review is from :
Sushi for Beginners ( Mass Market Paperback )
After not being totally impressed with the first Marian Keyes book I had read , I was a little hesitant to begin this one . I love this book ! There are a couple of main characters and each has such a different personality and different obstacles in their life . It's funny how each person's life changes from what they learn from each other .
This is a long book but worth every second you spending reading it . Some of the characters work in a new high fashion magazine , some are comics trying to make it and some are friends and relatives from the sidelines .
The three main women in the book : Ashling is an ordinary girl with a compassionate and difficult past due to her mother is just trying to get by minimally in the magazine world , Lisa is the high flying editor knocking everyone over on her way to the top , including her parents and her husband , and Clodaugh the picture of a perfect life who is unhappy and bored with her life . Each person learns something from the others and their relationships change with the mistakes they make and the lessons they learn . It's a very good book !
029 4 After not being totally impressed with the first Marian Keyes book I had read , I was a little hesitant to begin this one . I love this book ! There are a couple of main characters and each has such a different personality and different obstacles in their life . It's funny how each person's life changes from what they learn from each other .
This is a long book but worth every second you spending reading it . Some of the characters work in a new high fashion magazine , some are comics trying to make it and some are friends and relatives from the sidelines .
The three main women in the book : Ashling is an ordinary girl with a compassionate and difficult past due to her mother is just trying to get by minimally in the magazine world , Lisa is the high flying editor knocking everyone over on her way to the top , including her parents and her husband , and Clodaugh the picture of a perfect life who is unhappy and bored with her life . Each person learns something from the others and their relationships change with the mistakes they make and the lessons they learn . It's a very good book !
030 4 Marian Keyes has such a lovely way of portraying all the bad with the good , and making us sympathize with even the evil ones . And most moving in this tale is Lisa , the evil , bossy , confident , perfectly groomed , perfectly dressed , maneating fashion editor who met her match and actually married him but then let him just go away without a fight . Ashling is quite sweet , and endearingly pathetic in her attempts to find love . There are many others whose plights are part of this cooky tale . It takes a little getting used to , all the separate and eventually intertwining plots . But all in all , a satisfying and fun read .
031 4 This was not her best book-it was a good story , the boyfriend stealing was the same as another book , it was just slower to get into . The 2nd half was better . Still Keyes , still worth the read ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
032 4 This was my first Keyes novel and although the summary is somewhat misleading , the book and story itself are pretty entertaining .
The characters all have flaws , but yet somehow Keyes makes them likable . I don't know how , but she makes you invest in and care for the characters and still want to smack them upside the head . That said , I wound up feeling very satisfied with the ending and definitely interested in reading more of Keyes writing .
While I was reading it my husband told me how much he enjoyed watching me read a book that made me laugh and smile so much . So , if you like to laugh and smile while you read , pick this one up .
033 4 I just finished this book . It is my first experience with the author and I have to say it got me hooked . I am looking forward to the rest of her books . This book is long so it will keep you busy , which is nice if you love to read . For those weary of the length the short 2 - 3 page chapters keeps the pages flowing .
There are many characters in this book , each with their own unique storyline , but all tied together by their ties to each other , through work and friendships . I am impressed with the authors ability to keep the stories seperate but not off subject .
The main characters :
Gorgeous , workaholic Lisa has just relocated from London to Dublin to start a new magazine for women called Colleen . She is less than pleased with the move , as she is deeply fixated with pop culture , and finds Dublin to be dull . She is bitchy on the surface , but as you learn more about her you see that the tough exterior is only a front to help her cope with her insecurities .
Working under Lisa is Ashling . She is the girl next door type , and oh so helpful . She is the one to turn to if you need a band-aid , button or tissue , as she carries everything around with her and is always willing to help . Her sweetheart personality annoys bitchy Lisa , but deep down Lisa's got a soft spot for her . She is very superstitious , as a result of her troubling childhood . She is trusting and non-confrontational .
Other characters include Joy , Ashlings neighbor who always drops by for a chat , and a go at the Tarot Cards . Ted , Ashling's friend who has just started a career in comedy as a way to meet women . Clodah who is married to oh so hot Dylan , and raising their two children . Jack , the mysteriously endearing boss of Lisa and Ashling . Marcus Valentine , Ashling's boyfriend。。 comedian . Trix the receptionist at the magazine . A homeless man named Boo , who Ashling befriends and many more .
The story deals with love , betryal , ambition , divorce , infedility and so much more . I urge you to follow the stories in this great novel . With so many great twists and turns along the way you'll never experience a dull moment . Key's writing is realistic and so down to earth . While you read and learn about the characters it becomes quite easy for you to see these characters as real people with real problems .
034 4 A nice change from run-of-the-mill chick lit , Sushi features a fresh setting in Dublin , a nice trio of not-cloyingly-cute characters , and most refreshing of all , a glimpse at what happens after the happily ever after , i.e . family and kids . The daily drudgery of motherhood and married life for even a gorgeous gal married to a perfect man is a nice corrective to all the puffery about having it all out there , without ranging too far into nightmarish Kate Reddy territory . Not especially well written or plotted , but readable , fun and engaging .
035 4 I thought this was a pretty good book . We see the lives of 3 women , Lisa , a determned workaholic with nor personal life - Ashling , the woman who wants to fix everything , and Clodagh , the beautiful Mother who wants whatever she doesn't have . Lisa is sent by her publishing company to start a magazine in Ireland . Ashling is hired as her assistant , and Clodagh is Ashling's oldest friend . For four months we are treated to a glimpse into their day to day lives , and the story focuses more on Lisa and Ashling .
I though this was a little better than some of the chick lit books I read recently . I like seeing how each character views things differently , and how their view shapes what they will do with their life . I thought the plot was good , and fairly original . The dialogue was snappy and realistic , and had me laughing and cringing at the same time . I thought that the character behavior traits were explained in good form - throughout the story little details about the characters background come into play . We are not hit over the head with these revelations , but are served them up slowly . I like to understand shy a character acts in a certain way , and I think the author does extremely well .
My biggest problem in this book is the reliance on brand names , but I realize in a book about a women's magazine , these mentionings are inevitable .
036 4 I loved this story about the start of a magazine called Colleen . The story follows 2 different women who are working on the magazine . It is a bit of a romance story but more of a fiction work with a bit of romance throw in . All of the characters are real and very well developed ( in the style of a Shopalolic series books , focusing on more than one character here though )
You follow Ashling and how she deals with her new fabulous job on the magazine as well as her dating life . You also meet her friend Clogagh who plays a large part in the story as it progresses . At the same time you are following Lisa Edwards who thought her fab new job would be in New York and not the end of the earth in Ireland . How will Lisa deal with her gorgeous new boss ( though taken ) , the break up of her marriage and pulling together a new magazine with NO , I repeat NO budget or staff ?
If you like the Shopaholic or Bridget Jones Series or anything else by Keyes you will enjoy this one .
037 4 Even as I write this , I'm pondering weither I REALLY liked this book or not . I enjoyed it , and it was writen with some of the classic Keyes style , but . . . . . . . I still feel like something was missing ! ! Oh wait * smack * . . . . . FRIENDSHIP . One thing I have come to expect in a Keyes novel is the element of good cheer that comes when a group of friends gets together and helps one another through life's hurdles . I found this element sorely lacking in this book .
When I first started reading it , I thought ( as with all her other books ) she would have the bitter , work-obsessed Lisa befriend the obsessive-compulsive , Ms . Fixit Ashling , and they would help Ashlings friend Clodagh ( who I guessed early on was going to have an affair ) get through her problems and there own as well . Along the way they would meet , date , and break-up with men until they decided life wasn't all bad being single . Well , was I in for a shocker ! NOBODY in this novel is ( barely ) a friend to anyone else , except for Jack who is a ray of sunlight in this other wise bleak novel .
Lisa held my interest for awhile , but as the book went on , I cared less and less about her . Till , at the end I hardly thought her turn-around made any diffrence at all . Ashling was such a doormat for most of the book , I mean who could not see that Marcus was an egotistical loser bellez-moi please ! ! ! ! Why would Jack , who was with hot , exotic Mai ever go for her ? ? And Clodagh , what a WITCH . . . . . . Really , I think she had no heart and got exactly what she deserved .
To sum things up , I read it ! But if anyone came to me and asked me to suggest a Keyes book , this would not be it !
038 4 I was skeptical about trying out this book , because I have seen Keyes's books before and they all seemed too long , and not for me . Maybe the cover just attracted me ( Yes , I judged the book by it's cover ) and I thought that the title was interesting . I was not disappointed !
The book generally deals with three separate women , and their circle of friends . The first is Lisa , she works on a womans magazine in England , but she ends up getting sent to Dublin to start up a new women's magazine , and doesn't have any choice in the matter . She is less than thrilled , but picks up anyway , leaves her husband ( which she had problems with anyway ) and tries to make a new life for herself in Ireland . Being bitter and stubborn the whole way .
Also getting a job at this same magazine , but with a much better attitute , is Ashling , who is really excited for this opportunity . Apparently , magazine jobs were rare in Ireland , so it was said .
Clodagh is Ashling's very best friend and she is saddled with two kids and a husband . Apparently devastatingly beautiful and feeling neglected and needing something different , she also tries to get a job with no experience to speak of . She has the perfect life , in Ashling's eyes , also because Clodagh stole this man away from her and married him herself .
There are many many other minor characters in this novel , some needed , some not . Ted , Ashling's up and coming comic friend who introduces her to her self-centered new boyfriend , Marcus Valentine , who is also an up and coming comic who writes Bellez-moi and his phone number and napkins and gives them to unsuspecting girls . Jack Devine is the rumpled yet handsome boss of Lisa and Ashling , and both of them have a crush on him . Lisa is stylish and beautiful , Ashling is plain , but down to earth . They still have competition with the lovely , exotic girlfriend Mai , who is constantly screaming back and forth in Jack's office , which is what keeps them together . There is also the homeless man Boo , who becomes fast friends with Ashling , and helps with her downward spiral of depression like her mom , as she wonders , why is life so unfair ?
But , I'm getting ahead of myself , and my review is becoming as long as the book ! Which leads me to the little problem of 426 pages . I am not saying that it was not interesting , it was , but half way through I started to realize how long this was taking me to finish , and the awareness of it slowed me down a bit . I will also mention again that there are many characters to get to know , but . . . for what it's worth , Keyes does an excellent job of making you remember them , and connect them to each other . To put together so many personalities that are so different is the genius in this book . I really enjoyed it . I may even try her books again ( even though they are all kind of long ) : )
039 4 while lucy sullivan is getting married remains my favorite keyes book , i really enjoyed sushi . her writing makes me feel i am IN dublin ( i have a lot of family in ireland ) and i enjoyed the entire story . . . enjoy !
040 4 If you are a fan of Marian Keyes work , as I am , you may want to skip this book . ( I can't believe I just typed that ! )
I found the subject matter in Sushi to be compelling , but Keyes just didn't give me any interesting characters ! There was no one to cheer for . I didn't even care enough about Ashling to be on her side when she was getting jerked around ! It may have had something to do with the way the book erratically skips around between their stories , never giving the reader time to bond or relate to any one character .
It's a shame because I felt character development had been one of Keyes strongest talents .
The Bottom Line : Make your way through Keyes ' other books first !
041 4 this is the book that got me addicted to marian keyes ! she has a way of drawing you into the characters lives like nobody else . the story revolves around the lives of its two main characters , lisa edwards and ashling kennedy . lisa expected an assignment to nyc and instead gets transferred to ireland . ashling ends up leaving her old magazine under less than ideal circumstances . the book follows the two women as they develop a brand new magazine , colleen . you'll learn about their exes , neighbors , friends , and coworkers . if you loved rachel's holiday , you'll love this one too .
042 4 I was leant this book by a friend and was pleasantly surprised by how easy this books was to read . Not my usual taste in books , I was aprehensive to take the book from her , but as I began to read I found the story to be quite engaging .
However , I won't be running out to buy any Marian Keyes in the near future .
043 4 I had a high level of expectation for this novel . After reading Last Chance Saloon and Watermelon , I could barely wait for Sushi for Beginners to come out . Unfortunately it did not live up to the standards of Mrs . Keyes ' other novels . The book is written about the same topic as most ' chick lits ' of late . There is the ' good ' heroine & the ' bad ' heroine , who consequently both work together at a fashion magazine . Big Shocker There ! Although the author's writing is excellent , I found myself bored and laboring to get through the novel . If you're a die-hard Keyes fan you will undoubtedly like Sushi for Beginners , but if you're not , I STRONGLY urge you to read the witty Last Chance Saloon instead . It's brilliant .
044 4 To the new Marian Keyes reader , Madame Keyes may come off as a Helen Fielding wanna-be . Don't be fooled . Marian Keyes is much better than Helen Fielding and has the sales to prove it .
Sushi For Beginners is the latest Keyes title to cross the pond . Like Last Chance Saloon , Sushi is a multiple point of view novel . And like Last Chance Saloon , there's nary a Walsh sibling to be found .
Sushi follows three women in Dublin . The first is Lisa , a glamorous , shiny , sleek fashionista who is more married to her job then her stud muffin photographer hubby . Ashling is Little Miss Fix-it / weekly womens magazine writer who is prepared for any emergency . Clodagh is Ashling's best friend and married the hunky Dylan .
Instead of the job on Manhattan that she craves , Lisa is sent to Dublin to start Colleen , a light , sexy mag for the hip , young Irish female ( think Jane / Marie Claire / Glamour / Cosmo , etc ) . This is the last thing Lisa wants , even if the head of the Irish branch of her mega-media company is the jumpable and aptly named Jack Devine .
Ashling comes on board as the 2nd in command on Colleen and becomes the target of Lisa's annoyance and rage . Meanwhile Clodagh with the perfect life can't stop fantazing about every man but the delightful Dylan .
Keyes manages to include some hard looks at heavy topics ( depression and homelessness ) without going overboard . These touches add a true sense of realism to a book that could be see as sheer fluff .
If you are a fan of British Chick Lit or Marian Keyes , end your wait and pick this up !
045 4 I bought it in a bargain section in a book store and enjoyed it thoroughly . Its a very heart warming story . Simple in its essence , but as the 3 main women unravel and piece themselves together , you find yourself too . The humour in it kept me rolling ( literally ) on the floor laughing .
Reading this book has made me seriously consider visiting Dublin . I would recommend it for anyone who is game for a comedy cum romance .
046 4 I read this book by the poolside during a vacation and it was ok material for that scenario , but I've read better . There's a lot of good fluff vacation reading and this would not be in that category . I didn't become involved in any of the characters enough to care what happened to them . Their personalities kept changing and it just felt like a mishmash of ideas of the writer rather than well developed fluff . I recommened The Devil Wears Prada over this book .
047 4 I've been screaming for a while for a good chick-lit book with strong , independent female characters and when I finally find one , I get bored halfway through . The book was good , but I had a hard time holding my interest in it . It follows the lives of three completely different , yet connected women .
Lisa is a flashy magazine editor from London . Her work is everything . She's been hoping to get a glamorous job at a magazine in New York City , but instead she's been assigned to setup a brand new woman's magazine in Dublin , Ireland . She goes from a staff of hundreds to a staff of less than ten . On top of all that , she's dealing with the breakup of her marriage and realizing she isn't quite such an awful person after all .
Ashling is older than Lisa and has worked for the same small magazine in Dublin for the past eight years until she invents a cleaning tip that ruins a reader's couch and is subsequently fired . She lands a job as the assistant editor of Lisa's new magazine . Not much else is going on with her life . She's 31 and on the dating scene , not a terribly good mix .
Clodagh is Ashling's best friend . As far as Ashling is concerned , she has the perfect life . She's been married to Dylan ( an ex-boyfriend of Ashling's ) for the past ten years and has two bratty kids . She has a wonderful house and never has to work . Clodagh is not even remotely happy with her life though . There's never a hint that she actually loves her children or her husband . She is a spoiled brat , plain and simple .
In the end , everything works its way out . I could have done without Clodagh altogether and some of Ashling's friends ( Ted and Joy ) seemed to be written into the story only to be used in a small way later on . They have no real purpose in being there at all .
I thought it was a good book overall . It was a bit slow . Wouldn't have hurt the author to shave about 150 pages off the book . Sushi wasn't even mentioned until page 290 and then for the remaining 136 pages it's like the only thing people could think about was sushi . It almost seems as though at that point in writing the book the author thought of the clever title Sushi for Beginners and decided to incorporate as much sushi and explanation of beginner's sushi as she possibly could throughout the remainder of the novel .
048 4 I didn't like it ! And I LOVE Marian Keyes and all her books so far . I found Sushi for Beginners incredibly boring and had a hard time liking any of the characters . I'll keep my fingers crossed for her next one !
049 4 I have never read a Marian Keyes book before and Sushi for Beginners will be my first and last .
This book is a perfect fit for proving that there are women out there that are only interested in their own lives to the point of lying and cheating on friends . Clodagh was the worst from the beginning . She is a terrible parent and makes being a parent out to be pure hell . ( SPOILER ALERT : Having her new boyfriend in the home just after the dad is out is the sign of a completely self absorbed woman . She is not thinking of the well-being of the children at all . She decides at the end that being a parent is wonderful and wants the life she has back with her husband but it is too late .
I think part of my negative review is just me . I am sick , sick sick of books where the main characters are either lawyers or they work for a woman's magazine . The characters are clueless to everyone around them , world events and politics . None of these women show integrity , compassion and love . The women in this book ( with the exception of exploiting homeless men ) are completely selfish .
050 4 This was a very very hard book to get into . It took me until I was ¾ of the way through before I actually wanted to read it . I can imagine that someone with less patience than I would have a hard time ! This is a funny story of a workaholic British woman who moves to Ireland to start up a new glossy magazine . Her marriage has fallen on its face and she is working to get on top of the publishing world . Meanwhile you meet two other women with men issues and career problems . Ashling , one of the other main characters , is known as miss-fix-it . She has spent a lifetime trying to deal with her mother's depression and lack of parenting . The last 40 pages of this book make the whole thing worth reading . It is a fun summer read that will keep you just entertained enough to finish ( if you can get into it in the first place ) .
051 4 I stumbled on Rachel's Holiday a couple of years ago , and fell for the author , but this book feels incomplete , like Keyes was trying to get through it and on to something else . There are some good ideas ( Ashling dealing with her mom and her depression , Lisa dealing with her impending divorce ) , but it isn't her best . Someone said that Keyes had done a lot of writing for magazines . Perhaps in an effort to disguise her real life inspirations she moved too far away from the story .
Try any of the books about the Walsh sisters , or Last Chance Saloon , or Lucy Sullivan is getting married first . If you get hooked on them , you will be able to tolerate this one .
052 4 This was the first Keyes novel . It was the novel that got me hooked on her writing . It had me laughing and crying . I think for some people it is hard to like Lisa one of the main characters . If you are a slacker sort of person and not an overachiever i can see it would be hard to identify with . At first was a bit annoyed by her but i kept reading as i was in love with Ashling the other main character . I soon began to enjoy the parts of the book following Lisa just as much as the Ashling segments . It was a very interesting and creative story line . I didn't see some of the surprises coming at the time , but as i said it was the first of her novels that i read and i didn't know her writing style . Looking back there is plenty of foreshadowing . . .
I have sense read Rachel's Holiday , Is Anybody Out There ? , Angels , The Last Chance Saloon , and The Other Side of the Story . I fully intend to read the rest of Keyes books . The only one of her books i won't read twice is Is Anybody Out There ? The only reason i won't be reading it again is because it plays on my worst fear and i cried through most the of book ( but i couldn't put it down ) . Other than that , i HIGHLY recommend all of the Keyes novels i have read , especially Sushi for Beginners .
053 4 the book was delivered in fine condition
the storhy is a laugh
entertaining yet enlightening
marian keyes lives up to her image as the queen for chick flick
054 4 I picked this book up in the hopes that the title referred to some food writing . This book has nothing to do with food . The characters rarely even eat . Having said that . . . . . .
The female characters in this book seem to have the same responses to the crisis in their lives . Although the two women are very different . There are some cute moments in the book but I didn't find it to be a page turner .
055 4 Funny , engaging , hard hitting . You'll end up liking even the most unlikable person . . . read this if you want to laugh a lot on a transatlantic flight . I promise you won't be thinking about your bum falling asleep in pins and needles . : - )
056 4 It took me one month to get through this book . My average time to finish a book is 3 days - 1 week . Previously , I've enjoyed several of Keyes ' novels and enjoy the ' Chick Lit ' genre , but I was so disappointed by this one , that I threw it out afterward . The characters lack a great deal of depth , which unfortunately created indifference toward the characters . The characters of Lisa and Clodagh are so shallow , that it's difficult to find emmpathy for them . In contrast , Ashling is uber-naive and sugary sweet to the point of annoyance . The pace of the book is too slow and monotonous . However , the final third of the book , finally picked up and was somewhat enjoyable . I think this may have been better off as a short story .
057 4 I'm a big fan of Marian Keyes , so I knew there was little chance I would dislike this one , but I have to admit that it did start off rather slow . In the beginning I didn't like any of the characters ( well , maybe Ashling , a little - but I loathed Lisa ) and I couldn't really see where the intersection of the main characters lives ( Ashling , Lisa & Clogagh ) would intersect interestingly . However , this is a big book ( 500 pages plus ) , so eventually I became engaged with the characters ( both major and minor ) and was turning pages madly to see how it would all pan out . The novel has an interesting sense of place in Dublin given from the distinctly different points of view - an unwilling transplant from London , an upper-middle class housewife and a 30 - ish single career girl . The worlds of the three main characters intersect in the offices of Colleen a new women's magazine and in the city's comedy clubs . But I think what I enjoyed most was the serious subplots that plagued the characters . Homelessness , divorce , depression , the feelings of alienation and loneliness many mothers feel , adultery , and trying to come to terms with one's working-class roots are presented with care and honesty , not simply just thrown into the mix of your typical chick-lit book . Keyes is deft at her craft and it shows if you take the time to read this book . She's also quite skillful at working through the heavier topics and then righting everything somehow in the end so that it doesn't come off as glossed over or cheesy .
058 4 I am a new Marian Keyes fan , but have been plowing through her books left and right , and I have to say , this one is one of my favorites . You can't help but root for the main character , everyone loves an underdog . Great feel-good , happy ending romance .
059 4 this is the third marian keyes book that i read and i enjoyed it , just like lucy sullivan is getting married and angels . it got a bit dragging in the middle but there were ' moments ' that turned the story around . i just hope there was something more with regard to ashling and lisa's relationship as it appeared they were the stars of this book . admittedly , i lost interest in clodagh even though i sympathized with her . what i hope to have a juicier spin-off is the jack devine angle , culminating with his relationship with ashling .
in sum , this is not great as in GREAT but it's a good read . in fact , i've always dreamt of putting up my own magazine in the future and the plot of this book really inspired me to pursue it .
060 4 This was a pretty decent book as far as chick lit goes . Keyes fans are not likely to be disappointed . The story has plenty of humor and would be a very good beach , airplane , rainy weekend type of book . Probably worth purchasing in softcover if at a reasonable price and definitely worth checking out from the library .
The story is about 3 girls : Lisa , Ashling and Clodagh . I really disliked Clodagh as a character . She is supposed to be Ashling's best friend but you would never want a friend like her in real life . I think I'd rather have enemies ! Lisa is a workaholic - your stereotypical career woman . She's very interesting and quite mean - - a combination that makes up for the drama that Ashling's life lacks . So : you have a nice girl , a mean girl , and a girl who is mean but doesn't know it . The 3 different types of women give the story momentum . Drags on a bit more than necessary but overal a worthwhile read . Closer to a 3.5 than a 3.0 but I am not giving a 4 because like most chick lit it was relatively predicable .
061 4 This review is from :
Sushi for Beginners ( Mass Market Paperback )
this book dragged on FOREVER . I kept at it , thinking , It's Marian Keyes , it's gotta get better ! Alas , it was slow throughout . I liked the premise , I liked the characters , but I was happy when the story was over .
062 4 this book dragged on FOREVER . I kept at it , thinking , It's Marian Keyes , it's gotta get better ! Alas , it was slow throughout . I liked the premise , I liked the characters , but I was happy when the story was over .
063 4 . . but that's about all I can say about it . It started off great and steadily went downhill from there . I would actually give this a 3 1 / 2 but that's not an option . It has potential and a few good points after the fall from the great beginning . I kept expecting more and I was disappointed when there was nothing finished . Who the heck knows how anyone truly ended up . There are hints , but no finishes .
064 4 . . . but not that great . i have read 5 other marian keyes ' books and the last two that i read , this one and angels , were not that impressive .
the story was dragging and i just kept on flipping the pages with yeah , funny ha-ha , but let's keep going and find out what the happens next , okay .
i recommend her earlier books instead like watermelon or rachel's holiday .
065 4 I have read all of Marian Keyes , books and this is one of my favorites . Although one of the main characters isn't really likable , all of the others are excellent , and hey someones got to be the villian .
Over all the characterisation and the story are both excellent , and the depression of the characters rings really true .
066 4 Sushi for Beginners is an interesting book about women running a magazine . The only thing is that it takes forever for the story to get exciting . The first half of the book is slow . But towards the end , when things start to happen , it all happens very quickly .
The characters of Ashling , Lisa and Clodagh are all interesting characters . It is interesting reading about what happens in with them and the men in their life .
I thought it was a good book . I especially liked the fact that it was set in Ireland . This is a good chick-lit book .
067 4 Marian Keyes has a large following . This Irish author presents an interesting weave of characters and fashions a fine tapestry of lives that cover the spectrum : Character ego , courage , depression , deceit , infidelity , and loyal friendships make this an interesting book . The text does build into adult content and language .
The book is filled with Irish / Brit wit and flair . You'll enter the fashion magazine world and find some fine female characters along with the drama and growth that accompanies the human condition and any type of relationship .
Recommended .
068 4 Marian Keyes takes three unique women leading very different lives and throws them all together , creating another captivating story that takes place in the heart of Dublin .
Ashling is a young single woman , looking for love and a great career . Her love life is in shards but her career holds promise until she realizes she is working for an unrelenting , competitive editor .
Lisa is that editor , who pushes herself and her staff to the breaking point as she tries to fill her life with professional success .
Clodagh is Ashlings dearest friend . She is gorgeous , has a wonderful husband and two delightful children , but , something is missing .
Marian Keyes weaves her story through the empty places in their lives and develops an enchanting and piercing tale of coming to terms with those things in life that really are critically important . Crafted with her delightful sense of humor and a wicked intense honesty , this is a wonderful tale of life .
069 4 Yes , this book is quite lengthy , but WORTH IT ! This book is about finding happiness . The trials and tribulations of being single to trusting people ( that perhaps shouldn't be trusted ) to dealing with your boss , parents , friends , etc . to always being prepared in life . This was my first Marian Keyes novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it . I went out and bought Angels and I discovered on my bookshelf that I have a paperback copy of Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married . I find her similar to Jane Green and I highly recommend !
070 4 I had such a good time reading this book . It is definitely an easy , quick read , but it's entertaining and I just loved it . I had previously read another book by this author and didn't like it at all , so I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting this story was .
071 4 Overall this book was a decent read . It was slow and long winded in getting to a very predictable ending , but still managed to hold my interest .
072 4 This is the first Marian Keyes book that I have found to be slow , but once I got into it I was not disappointed . You can't go wrong with a book written by Ms . Keyes . They have all proven to be worthy reads ! ! ! Give it a chance .
073 4 Sushi for beginners was good , but I definitely preferred Rachel's Holiday , Angels , and The Other Side of the Story . Still , you can't go wrong with Marian Keyes . Her books are always entertaining , and her characters are always interesting .
074 4 I like Keyes ' writing style , she's witty and intellegent . But I felt like this book had about 100 pages of stuff that was superflous .
Lisa - yes she's got some likeable traits but at the same time , she's cruel and that's not likeable and it is hard to get past that . Keyes puts in stuff that makes her sad , a scene with her shaving off chocolate with her teeth to make it last longer , her constant hunger , her envy . And yet , I found it impossible to get past the way she treated others in the office . Maybe it's because I've worked for people who find it hilarious to be cruel and nasty to their subordinates out of a desperate need to feel superior , but there it is .
Ashling - likeable , funny . The only character in the book I could enjoy for the most part , except for the storyline about depression , which seemed contrived . I won't give spoilers but her not dealing with a major issue was frustrating .
Clodagh - uh , are we ever supposed to find her likeable ? It made Ashling less likeable because a shallow woman like this was supposed to be her best friend . I found myself wanting to smack her into reality every time she came into the book . What an utterly unredeemable character .
Generally , I liked the big picture stuff . Women struggling with their professional selves versus their personal lives . Dealing with insecurities and self esteem problems , marriages and divorce . I just didn't find the individual women that Keyes chose to do it with very convincing and she took an awful circuituous route to get there .
075 4 Marian Keyes is a reliable author , and in SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS , she does not disappoint her many fans .
Ms . Keyes specializes in chick lit with an Irish lilt . Yet in SUSHI , in common with her other novels , she examines issues that neither are shallow nor trivial .
While the theme of Dublin singles is a bit boring and a bit tiring - - looking for love being universal - - the rest of the book is marvelous . The author examines infidelity and betrayal , the crippling aspects of clinical depression and the problems of the homeless . And , while this list of issues may sound appalling in a woman's novel , these topics actually are what gives this particular book texture and richness .
Readers can rely on Marian Keyes for a good read .
076 4 The first book that I read from Marian Keyes was Lucy Sullivan is getting married and I really liked it . The second book Watermelon I really hated . When I picked up Sushi for Beginners I wasn't sure if I was going to like it . But after finishing it , I really like it . Ashling and Lisa are two women trying to start a new magazine named Colleen . Clogagh is Ashling best friend who is bored with her marriage . As the magazine get going the lives of these three women will charge , some for the better , some for the worst .
Ms . Keyes gives the reader a smart book about growing up , and finding who you really are .
077 4 I picked this book up on a whim as I don't usually read this type of fiction . I prefer mysteries and suspense , but I loved this book and will buy another Marian Keyes novel for sure . At first I thought it was just ok , but then I really fell in love with the characters and realized this book was about so much more . It's depth is surprising and the emotion that the author portrays is quite deep and insightful . It is laugh out loud funny in parts and heart wrenching enough in other parts to bring me to tears . I identified with each of the three women in some way . A delightful and special book .
078 4 I thought it was interesting to read about life in Dublin . It started a little slow and I found the friendship , which is claimed to occur between the three women , didn't actually occur . Nor does the domestic housewife work for Colleen magazine . ( someone referred to this in one of the reviews . ) I liked the way the characters developed into wiser people , at the end of the book , but it gave very little reason why it was happening to Lisa . Perhaps her experience was so humbling ? Perhaps it was the lack of badger-like competition around her ? Who knows ? ? ?
It did , however , work into a very real aspect of these women's lives . There were real consequences for what they did , revelations and a possibility for a good future .
Angels is on the agenda next . I wonder what will be similar and what will be different . I checked it out from the library rather than purchasing it this time , though . ; - )
079 4 The book started off slow and remained that way until maybe the last 100 pages of the book . I thought the book could've been much shorter and still kept the gist of it . I didn't really care for the characters in the beginning , but there were many surprising turns later on that kept me interested till the end .
080 4 I was so happy to have a new Marian Keyes book to read ! Her ability to create characters that you can relate to and fall in love with is unparalleled . It is a nice , fun book , and you really get to know the people in the book . Not her best novel , but it was good to have her back on my nightstand !
081 4 I love this book . I'm going to miss the characters . I could feel a part of me in each girl . I hope the author is busy writing another book .
082 4 While Sushi for Beginners often addresses serious issues such as depression , anorexia , and betrayal , Keyes manages to keep the reader laughing . Lisa Edwards , obsessed with control , ambitious , perfectionist , disappointed with her assignment as editor of a starting magazine , Colleen , struggles with what she thinks she should be as opposed to how she feels when she's alone . Ashling Kennedy , Assistant Editor of Colleen , organized , responsible , prepared to take care of everyone earning her the nickname Miss Fix It must learn how to take care of herself as well as let others take care of her . Clodagh Kelly , Ashling's best friend as well as unhappy mother and wife who looks for fulfillment by redecorating her home constantly , must come to terms with her unhappiness as well as the unhappiness she inflicts on others as she searches for new ways to find fulfillment . Keyes keeps the reader amused as she leads you through each character's romances , friendships , internal struggles , disappointments , successes , and life changes .
083 4 Sometimes I am a bit apprehensive about reading Marian Keyes books - they are so big ! But they do not disappoint ! Sushi for Beginners is a great novel - a great summer read . Join gals Lisa , Ashling , and Clodagh in Ireland at work and at play . I found this to be excellently written and it had an interesting technique with the prologue and the three girls - read the book and you'll see what I mean !
084 4 When I started this book , I had just finished the superb The Da Vinci Code , and was initially disappointed at the seemingly trite , sarcastic , over-cliched dialogue of the in crowd . An example : The shoes were a size too small - - no matter how many times she asked the Patrick Cox press office to send a size six , they always sent a five . But free Patrick Cox shoes were free Patrick Cox shoes . What did an unimportant detail like excruciating agony matter ? Ugh ! The aggressive , hard-core , verbally caustic Lisa seemed less a person than a cartoon character .
But , in the end , I was won over . Fecking eejit became my descriptive phrase from everyone from my husband to stupid drivers . I couldn't stop laughing , no actually smirking , at the light funny story and the funny Irish slang .
The book is a fun , laugh out loud , slightly over the top read . I would recommend it . There is enough sharp wit and funny dialogue and whack-job characters coupled with a current look at relationships ( mostly dysfunctional ) to appeal to everyone .
085 4 I've read all of Keye's books . . . except for Lucy Sullivan and this is by far the best yet . I really had to dislike Lisa . . . . but Ashling and Clodaugh totally made the book the superb read it was . . . . neither was flashy or gorgeous . . . but managed to keep both feet on the ground . I also got a kick out of Trix . I anxiously await Keye's next book !
086 4 Three women on the verge of a nervous breakdown are profiled in SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS , a witty but inevitably predictable romantic comedy . Touching on heavy issues , from homelessness to mental illness , the novel nevertheless remains light enough to be devoured in one sitting .
Lisa is an in-demand London magazine editor with a fabulous lifestyle and extravagant wardrobe . When her expected job promotion sends her from London to the backwater of Dublin to launch a brand-new young women's magazine , she alternates between belittling the hopelessly backward Irish and grimly determining to make her magazine a success . About to undergo messy divorce proceedings , Lisa turns her romantic attentions to her rakish boss , Jack Devine .
Ashling is Lisa's second-in-command . Nicknamed Little Miss Fixit by Jack Devine , she is hopelessly practical and always ready to help a co-worker by producing everything from bandages to hairspray as if by magic . When her boyfriend and her best friend simultaneously betray her , she is forced to reexamine her role as willing victim .
Clodagh is a working woman , too - - - but not in the glamorous world of magazine publishing . She toils at home , caring for her two children and perpetually redecorating rooms in her home . She is married to a handsome , successful man , and she should be more than satisfied . So why does she find herself recoiling from her perfect life ?
The three women's intersecting stories , which culminate when all three face life-shattering revelations , could be nothing more than tired stereotypes . But , as in most of Marian Keyes's novels , history - - - especially family history - - - intercedes , and each character ultimately gains enough depth to make her truly human . Ashling , for example , can trace both her penchant for solving problems and her superstitious habits to her own mother's depression when Ashling was a child . Lisa's ambition and fear of failure can be traced to her working-class roots : She was a working-class girl who'd spent her life trying to be something else , she reflects . And despite years devoted to the grueling treadmill of networking , sucking up , doing down , always paying attention , never relaxing , she'd been brought inexorably back to where she started . Although SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS doesn't focus on issues of alcoholism , drug abuse , and violence that Marian Keyes has touched upon in other novels , its serious examination of family roots and their impact on women's working lives gives this novel a harder edge than many so-called chick-lit confections .
That's not to say that SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS is a downer - - - far from it . It's ultimately a satisfying , if highly predictable , romantic comedy with not one but two happy endings . The romance is light , the situations - - - particularly the lengths to which Lisa goes to make her magazine a success - - - are a riot , and the dialogue is clever . There are worse things in the world than a good beach read , and if SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS can make you stop and think every so often , so much the better .
- - - Reviewed by Norah Piehl
087 4 I eagerly awaited Marian Keyes ' latest novel and was not disappointed . Sushi for Beginners , like all of Keyes other novels , is humorous , touching , and realistic . I highly recommend Sushi for Beginners !
088 4 This was the first book I ever read by Marian Keyes , and I loved it.The story was so well written that I had a hard time putting it down.She has developed her characters very well.I would definately recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice , romantic yet altogether fun novel .
089 4 I have read several Marian Keyes books , and I have to say that I think this is her best one . Her writing has progressed over several novels , and while I really liked her earlier books , I think this one has better character development and dialogue . Our heroine , Ashling , is a charming character , and she is totally believable in her romantic woes . I also thought Jack , her lead male character , was really well developed in this novel too - - a bit of a Mr . Darcy type ! I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a light , well-written romantic comedy .
090 4 Up until SFB , I have always enjoyed Keyes ' novels . This one did not live up to her previous efforts however . In fact , I was thoroughly dismayed that it took her so many , many pages to tell such a flat-out boring story with flat , two-dimensional characters . If you've never read Keyes before , may I suggest the fantastic Watermelon or Last Chance Saloon . These two are her best , and leaps and bounds better than SFB .
At the end of SFB , I felt like I didn't know anyone , and what little I did know , I didn't much care for . Major disappointment and well below Ms . Keyes ' previous talents .
091 4 Not until the final 50 pages of the book does the reader find out what the title means - - and not until slightly before that does the story really take off .
I'm a fan of Keyes , listing Watermelon , Rachel's Holiday , and Last Chance Saloon as some of the brightest titles in the Chick Lit universe . But this book was so slow , so sleepy , that it took me nearly a month to read it .
Pick it up if you've read all her other books and can't wait for a new title . All in all , it's not vintage Keyes . But you could do a lot worse .
092 4 This is an interesting and light novel that many readers will enjoy for its well-drawn characters , fast pace , and interesting storyline . It will keep you involved until the end by Keyes exceptionally warm , but flawed characters .
I love novels set in Ireland so this worked for me too . Througout the novel we are introduced to a wide range of people from a Type A career woman to the girl next door to an unhappily married wife . Keyes ' talent lies in intertwining their lives together with a good and solid plot . She also manages to suprise at times with good plot twists that the reader does not see coming . It has a wonderful mix of friendship , ambition , love and betrayal . There is something for everyone in this book .
Overall this was a delightful read and one that Keyes fans will love
093 4 This book was so enjoyable to read that I was sorry to see it end . Others have commented that it could have been shorter , but I do not agree . I thought by the end of the book your really knew each person and saw how they evolved during the story . Jack was totally Devine ! I got so into this story that I actually had sushi for lunch today ! ! ! !
This book was better than the Other Side of the Story . All chicklit fans will enjoy this one .
094 4 Moving to Dublin to work on a budding women's magazine is not what Lisa Edwards expected . Rather , she had thought that she would be moving to New York , to work as an editor on Manhattan Magazine . But her bosses have unceremoniously shunted her off into a corner , and it is up to Lisa to snap out of it , so to speak . Lisa comes equipped with a lot of emotional baggage : her Las Vegas marriage of four years to ( and subsequent separation from ) Oliver , who she isn't quite over yet ; her eating disorder ; having the hots for her boss , Jack Devine , who is perplexed by her advances ; and her continuous power trip which sets the Dublin office into a tailspin . As you might expect , Lisa is a very difficult woman to work with and for ; she continually projects a curtain of inapproachability , behind which no one can penetrate . But really , Lisa is just as insecure as most women are .
Dublin is not what Lisa has been accustomed to . In London , the magazine she worked for occupied a 12 - story tower . In Dublin , the office of Colleen is located on one floor . Where Lisa used to have a staff of dozens , she currently has a staff of five . Where in London Lisa was invited to launches and parties , and given freebies , in Dublin she has to deal with what is second best . And on and on the differences go . Lisa is spoiled , and can't seem to get her act into gear . But there is a very good reason for why Lisa gets sent to pioneer the magazine - because she's the best at what she does .
Ashling is hired to work as the Assistant Editor at Colleen magazine . Although she has no experience is journalism , she was hired for her efficiency ( as opposed to her personality or looks ) , and is soon known as the office Miss Fixit . Ashling's personal life makes up the heart of this rather entertaining , poignant story . Years of having to deal with her mother's depression makes Ashling susceptible to it as well . As a result , Ashling has difficulty with her relationships with men ; a short-lived relationship with a comedian named Marcus Devine doesn't help her situation . In the end a surprising relationship is formed with someone who was under her nose the whole time .
Clodagh is probably the least likeable character in this novel . And I suspect that the reader isn't meant to like her . Married with two kids , Clodagh is a close friend of Ashling's , who stole Ashling's boyfriend years ago . ( It galls me as to why Ashling remained friends with Clodagh ; but this serves as evidence of Ashling's people-pleasing attitude ) . Clodagh is frustrated with her marriage and goes about remedying that situation in the best way she knows how : by trying to find a job , and then having an affair . When discovered , Clodagh , appallingly , says that it wasn't her fault , and continues the affair regardless of the fact that Dylan , her husband , threatens to sue for custody of the children .
There are also the more minor characters in the novel , who are wonderful support to the main cast nevertheless : Clodagh's wronged husband Dylan ; Trix , Lisa's PA , who she treats as a pet in order to incur the dislike of others ; Ted , a comedian friend of Ashling's who is of that remarkably rare breed of male characters in chick lit who aren't either a ) the love interest of the main female character or b ) the stereotyped gay friend ; and Joy , Ashling's close friend who keeps complaining about an on-again , off-again relationship she has with a man she calls the Half-Man , Half-Badger .
Marian Keyes gives us an excellent look into the lives of ordinary Dubliners : people who experience heartbreak , disaster , as well as life's triumphs . The title of the book comes from the fact that Lisa Edwards enjoys sushi , and wants to introduce it to the office of Colleen magazine . She keeps having daydreams about being able to feed Jack Devine sushi while in the office . Ashling has never eaten sushi , and at first she is put off by the look and smell of raw fish ; but Jack Devine gives her a sushi for beginners set , in which there are some of the things he imagines she might enjoy . I enjoyed this book greatly and could not put it down ; The Other Side of the Story , also by Keyes , is next on my reading list . While the book is , admittedly , rather long ( and could therefore have been about 100 pages shorter ) , I found Sushi for Beginners to be exactly what my literary palate enjoyed .
095 4 SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS by Marian Keyes
( . . . )
I know there are a lot of Marian Keyes fans out there that have loved this book , SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS . This is only my second book I've read by her , ANGELS having been my first , and I gave it three stars . SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS I am also ranking three stars , but it's close to 3 ½ . Here's why :
I think Marian Keyes has a gift for creating funny characters . I do find myself chuckling as I read her books , and that is a good thing . On the other hand , the problem I have with her characters is that they don't always seem real . She has them do illogical things , or they may end up with someone that I can't see how it even happened . When I say illogical , I don't mean silly or crazy . What I mean is that she doesn't think her characters out all the way , so that she has them behaving in ways they shouldn't .
Because of this , I find myself rather disappointed by the end of the book . This was the case with SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS . Without giving it away , I did not see how one main character ended up with another character ( some of the signs were there , but their interactions with each other were not enough , in my opinion , to have them put them together as a couple ) . I also did not see any chemistry or any reason for one or the other to want to get together . It just did not make any sense . On the other hand , I did approve of another couple getting together , because it made a lot of sense and I was also rooting for them .
To sum up , SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS is about a start up magazine in Ireland and the employees that work for it . Ashling Kennedy has just been sacked by another magazine , and finds herself working for Londoner Lisa Edwards at the new Colleen magazine . Lisa is known to be a [ . . . ] when it comes to the work place and focuses so much on her career that her marriage has fallen apart . At the start of the book , she is already separated from her husband and buries herself in work to try to forget him . Ashling is also dealing with a broken relationship , and is afraid to start up with someone new until she hits the comedy club circuit with friends Ted and Joy and meets a comedian , Marcus .
The good thing about SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS is the fun you'll have with the characters and the chuckles you will have when you read about them . If you don't take this book seriously , you will enjoy it . For those who are looking for a much better written book , this is not it . I suggest trying a book written by Jane Green .
096 4 This book was alright . . . definitely wasn't the best I've read . This was actually the first Marian Keyes that I've read . The only interesting story / plotline in my opinion was the one that revolved around Ashling . Lisa was too annoying and Clodagh was someone you hated more and more . I recommend this to people 14 years or older because of a lot of swearing and some sexual content .
097 4 This review is from :
Sushi for Beginners : A Novel ( Hardcover )
' Sushi for Beginners ' focuses primarily on two very different women thrown together by work . Lisa Edwards is a London sophisticate on a hot career track while Ashling Kennedy is the perfect second in command type person who wishes she had Lisa's elan and attitude . The two women meet at the start up of Colleen , an edgy Irish fashion magazine . The magazine and the two women's personal lives allow the introduction of a variety of interesting characters including Lisa's almost ex-husband , Ashling's feckless boyfriend and best friend , and Jack Devine , the handsome boss that both Lisa and Ashling find attractive .
' Sushi for Beginners ' follows Lisa and Ashling as they seek professional and persona success . As Lisa's marriage with the husband she still loves comes to an end , she discovers new aspect of herself and new priorities . The journey , however , is filled with funny mis-steps and misunderstandings . Ashling begins to learn to stand up for herself , and discovers true love simply by being herself .
This is a very enjoyable novel , and one I found difficult to put down . The characters have enough foibles to be real , and the reader can empathize with the humiliation and embarassment both Lisa and Ashling encounter . The surrounding characters are personable , interesting , and accessible . I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys ' chick lit ' or Marian Keyes ' other books .
098 4 ' Sushi for Beginners ' focuses primarily on two very different women thrown together by work . Lisa Edwards is a London sophisticate on a hot career track while Ashling Kennedy is the perfect second in command type person who wishes she had Lisa's elan and attitude . The two women meet at the start up of Colleen , an edgy Irish fashion magazine . The magazine and the two women's personal lives allow the introduction of a variety of interesting characters including Lisa's almost ex-husband , Ashling's feckless boyfriend and best friend , and Jack Devine , the handsome boss that both Lisa and Ashling find attractive .
' Sushi for Beginners ' follows Lisa and Ashling as they seek professional and persona success . As Lisa's marriage with the husband she still loves comes to an end , she discovers new aspect of herself and new priorities . The journey , however , is filled with funny mis-steps and misunderstandings . Ashling begins to learn to stand up for herself , and discovers true love simply by being herself .
This is a very enjoyable novel , and one I found difficult to put down . The characters have enough foibles to be real , and the reader can empathize with the humiliation and embarassment both Lisa and Ashling encounter . The surrounding characters are personable , interesting , and accessible . I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys ' chick lit ' or Marian Keyes ' other books .
099 4 These women stay with you ; they become timeless . I loved it !
Ashling is so sweet and out of it ; she makes for a great romantic .
Lisa , on the other hand , so sharp yet warm , you gotta love her .
Spicy and hot . Like wasabe and sake over a nice chat .
100 4 I have read all of Keyes ' books , and this is my favorite . Maybe just because it is closer to my own experience , but I really enjoyed the characters being women whose work was a part of their life , and whose lives didn't seem to begin every day after work with hours in a pub . ( Personally , I don't know anyone who drinks as much as the women in all the Brit Chicks books - - it seems like their primary activity ) . anyway , I loved this book ; you can read the synopsis in the canned review .
101 4 This book is so funny . This is the first book from Marian Keyes that I read . After this book , I had to go to the bookstore and buy everything she has written . Her books are full of great characters , looks of fun things going on with the story line and returning characters in her books . Always funny , always romantic and always something unexpected .
102 4 Well - let me start out with saying that this is not the first Marion Keys book that I have read , and this one was not the homerun that the others were . She is still a fabulous author , and the book is humorous and emotionally revealing , but I was hoping for a little more . I wish that she would write something out of her normal fashion editor , all style and name brand iconic settings . She has got a real way of revealing characters , and writing a story that is smooth and a pleasure to read . It's just time that she changed it up a bit .
If you have never read one of her books , this one is a good place to start . She writes to women , and you will wind up loving the characters . I will always be a fan .
103 4 I completely enjoyed this book , my first encounter with Ms . Keyes ' work . The Dublin setting was new to me and so charming . And I wish life would more often imitate the fairy tale aspect of it - - the inner beauty of our Plain Jane ( or in this case , Miss Fix-It ) finally recognized and adored by Mr . Right . Most of all , I appreciated the sympathy with which Ms . Keyes wrote about the women in this story . Ashling , Lisa , Clodagh and Joy are all three dimensional and treated with humor , compassion and respect . One thing , though - - all that smoking ! Maybe it's a European thing and smoking is more acceptable on that side of the pond . I was amused by Lisa taking vitamins , doing pilates , worrying about Botox , drinking only bottled water . . . and smoking . And there's a scene where Ashling drunkenly whips a can of hairspray from her bag and uses it to save her stockings , while she has a lit cig hanging from her lips . Don't try this at home , ladies !
104 4 Sushi for Beginners has is all . . . laughter and a humorous examination of life that makes for a wonderful read . Three women in very different places experience the highs and lows of life . Finding love , losing love . Finding themselves , losing themselves . Definining , then redefining themselves .
Lisa's moved to Ireland and is trying to get a magazine off the ground while recovering from a failed marriage . Ashling's lost a boyfriend who couldn't or wouldn't commit , lost a job and finds a new one working for Lisa . . . not the most patient of bosses . Finally Clodagh has the perfect life . . . a perfect husband , two kids and a beautiful house . . . but it's not enough and she's not sure why . Sushi for Beginners travels their rocky roads to self-discovery in this great read !
105 4 This book starts really slow ; it took me about 250 pages to get into it . Great ending though !
107 4 This is my second Marian Keyes book and I now at the point where I need to read the rest of her books .
Lisa - What a pain the behind , from the start I wasn't to sure what I would think of her , but for most of the book I felt that she was just a bitter woman with a lot to deal with . She at times never seem to care about anyone or anything but her self . But towards the end my feelins for her changed , but she still was the same old way . I felt that she was never truly happy working at Colleen , but that she dealt with it as best she could .
Ashling - I felt a that the story revolved around her and her life . She is Little Miss Fix It , always carrying around her bag with bandages , tape and so forth . At times I felt that was a goody good . But her life never was too predictable , she was just happy to be back working for magazine doing what she liked . Her love life was one you read about all the time and sometimes seemed a little preditable , but somteimes it took a turn and changed . Her friendships with Joy and Ted were wonderful and her friendship with Clodagh was good , but it had it bad parts .
Clodagh - In my opinion she was a whiney woman , who was just out for herself . She lived what would be the good life to a lot people . She was married and had two kids . But in her world it wasn't good enough so she had to take things to the extreme and screw up a lot with her life and other peoples lives .
Overall this book was wonderful , I loved how the three charactors and all the supporting charactors acted and how there storys seem to come together at the end .
I can't wait to read more from Marian Keyes
108 4 I have read several of Marian Keyes ' other books and really liked them . This one , however , was such a drag I couldn't even finish it . The characters seemed too unreal to me and the storyline was very slow . Try one of her other books instead .
109 4 An excellent read . This is the second book I've read by Keyes , and have loved both .
I had trouble relating with any of the characters , but I still found the story entertaining .
110 4 I enjoyed this novel until the end . It has all of Keyes ' strong points , and it drew me in from the first page .
My problems came with the crisis between Ashling and Clodagh . Like many before her , Clodagh has found that life as a full time mom , isolated in the suburbs , with no career outside child raising , isn't what it's cracked up to be . Keyes draws a sympathetic portrait of Clodagh's alienation , her undramatic slide towards depression .
Clodagh's solution to her problem isn't the most noble , but it's human , and hardly uncommon . ( Anyone believe her handsome , always busy husband was completely faithful to her ? Even getting it just once a month ? )
From then on , the novel's sympathies are split . Switching gears from her sympathetic portrait , Keyes seems to enjoy heaping disasters on Clodagh . And the depths of Ashling's crisis over it seems a little manufactured . This is a guy she has dated only a few months . She wasn't in love . If it had been her husband or serious lover , maybe I could see it , and the issue of Clodagh's selfishness .
There isn't even a scene where we see it through Clodagh's eyes . To her , Ashling has everything : glamourous job , freedom , semi-famous boyfriend , but doesn't seem to appreciate it .
The one-sidedness of the whole thing made me uncomfortable , and in my opinion , damaged the story .
By the end , I was so concerned about when Keyes ( and Ashling ) were going to let up on Clodagh that I lost interest in the central romance . Too bad , because I'd been following it with interest up until then . Jack does sound Divine ; )
And unlike Ashling , I wouldn't abandon a lifetime friendship over a boyfriend who would have two timed me anyway .
Apart from that , it is very readable Keyes ' fare . As usual , she touches well on serious themes . Lisa , the mag hag , makes an entertaining read - - even if we'd never , never want her as a boss , friend or even co-worker . The behind the scenes glimpse of the magazine world is interesting . All in all , the book makes acceptable light reading , especially for Keyes fans .
112 4 I am so glad to see other people disliked this book . Normally , I loved Keyes ' work as much as the next person , but not only was this book flater than a manhole cover , Keyes ' attempt to somewhat mimic Helen Fielding's style was absolutely disastorous . My only hope is that Keyes ' thought that this style would attract more readers , but my advice is to stick with the Walsh sisters . The old adage rings true - ' If it ain't broke , don't fix it . ' Unfortunally for Keyes , this absolutely hideous novel has completely undermined all of her writings for me , and has made me quite hesitant to pick up anything new by her ( should she dare to write it ) . I really do hate to see such a sarcastic and humorous writer go by the wayside , but fellow readers be warned , a rebound from this book for Keyes would be astounding and a modern miracle at best , and a brave attempt to save face at worst .
113 4 What did Marian Keyes do before writing novels ? Encyclopedias ? Not only was it completely lacking in prose or any kind of voice , the story and characters were dull , plain , unimaginative , et cetera . Like when Tim or whatever his name is ( again , unmemorable characters ) in the comedy club , everyone's comments seem sarcastic ( like , your boyfriend's sooo hilarious ) and then everyone's worshiping what's-his-name ! It makes no sense ! A lesson to know for next time : do not buy a book without any reviews on the back .
114 4 Although I enjoyed the first Marian Keyes novel I read ( the other side of the story ) I was a little dissapointed to discover that whilst this book is written with as much skill and passion as other side . . . it seems to follow a similar outline to it : 3 women , all with similar situations to this book . Ashling has problems which stem from her mother ( Gemma ) , Lisa is a sucessful high flyer ( Jojo ) and Clogagh has a picture perfect life but feels worthless on the inside ( Lily ) . It addresses issues such as adultery , divorce , depression and many more , but all which are addressed in her other books .
I love your style Marian , but give us something new and different ! Show us versatility that only good authors can provide !
115 4 I am a big fan of Marian Keyes , having read all of her novels ( I am 3 / 4 of the way through the most recent , The Other Side of the Story ) . As other reviewers have noted , this novel took a long time to get going , and , in my opinion , neither of Keyes ' heroines are as real or interesting as those in her other novels . For me , Keyes is the most effective when using first person narration . The use of third person in this novel distanced me further from the characters , one of whom was too evil and the other too sweet . In her next novel ( Other Side ) Keyes uses multiple points of view more effectively . On the other hand , I thought Keyes's development of the male characters in this novel was better than in some of her others . What I would really like to know is when does the next Walsh sister novel come out ? I really want to hear how Helen's detective agency works out !
116 4 Keyes takes us into the lives of 3 modern Dublin women and their search for eternal happiness . She writes some of the best chick-lit that's being published , and this is a goodie to add to the genre's bookshelves . These three women work for Colleen , a trendy women's magazine . One is a chronic worrier , one is a tyrant , and one is too domestic for words . Stir them up and put a Prada bag in the middle of the table , and watch them turn into children squabbling over who gets the Gucci wallet .
117 4 I have never read one of Keyes's books , and would likley not do so after reading Sushi for Beginners . The story was unimaginative and very predictable , and the characters one-dimensional . It wasn't until I was almost through with this book that I actually began to care in the slightest about a couple of the characters . In addition , the narrative was riddled with tired and often silly cliches ( ie , comparing the fluidity of someone's dancing to a sack full of puppies ! ) , and the dialogue was uninteresting . Would not reccomend , unless you're looking for a sleep aid !
118 4 Not my favorite by any means . The best parts where the last 5 chapters . I will try her new book and hope it perks my interest . THis one did not
119 4 I could not pass page 50 . The caracters , the dialogues are shallow and the story makes no sense . The book portrays women who have very low self-esteem , and do not respect themselves .
By the way , I throwed it in the trash !
