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BOOK NEWS: The Worst Noel

Yesterday I bought a Christmas tree and I'm very excited, not least because we'll be decorating it tonight with mince pies and Bailey's. I don't mean we're decorating the tree with mince pies, I mean we'll be eating the mince pies while decorating ... oh, never mind.

Anyway, I was also excited when I spotted this Christmas collection, The Worst Noel, which includes an essay by Marian Keyes on preparing dinner for her Irish family of 13, "when she's never cooked a day in her life and only owns four chairs" along with essays from Trashionista faves, Valerie Frankel and Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

Related posts: Marian Keyes interview | Hex and the Single Girl by Valerie Frankel | Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

BOOK NEWS: The Worst Noel - Comments

Claire

Hiya,

Of course Marian&#39s books can be used as self help guides. They were for me anyway. This is a woman who writes about things like depression without making you want to slit your wrists or think you have some awful taboo illness that don&#39t dare talk about.

In each of her books I have related strongly to some element of a character. I may not have fertility problems (Angels) but the sense of trying to find yourself resonated with me. I&#39m not a single mother (Watermelon) but I&#39m a mum and it reassuring to see it portrayed so realistically. I&#39ve not lost a partner (Anybody Out There) but I&#39ve struggled with bereavement.

But for me, it is actually Marian&#39s own story as told in "Under the Duvet") which is inspiring. I&#39ve suffered from crippling depression for many years and much like Marian seemed to have my own self destruct button which I liked to press time and time again.

When Marian turned 30 she wrote her first book and turned her life around. I allowed that to inspire me and wrote my first book just before I turned 30 and it was published, and became an Irish bestseller last summer. (Same publishers as MK started with!).

I guess Marian&#39s work helped me find my voice, and have confidence enough to take a chance. Hope that helps.

izaaaj

I&#39m writing my thesis on the basis of Marian Keyes&#39s novels.I&#39m mainly interested in popular women fiction as a self-help literature.Is it really possible to treat Marian&#39s books as a kind of guide for modern women? Do they provide any kind of advice and help modern women to solve their problems or find answers to some nagging doubts or questions? Or maybe they can serve as a solace for somebody?Is there anyone who could share his opinion about this matter with me? Maybe Marian&#39s books helped somebody in some way?

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BOOK NEWS: The Worst Noel

BOOK NEWS: The Worst Noel - Comments

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