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May 12, 2008 12:18 PM
BOOK REVIEW: This Charming Man by Marian Keyes
Reviewed by Claire Allan
I doubt there has been such an eagerly awaited book as Marian Keyes' This Charming Man - how we have watched eagerly over the past two years as news of her latest book filtered out. There was going to be a character called Lola in it. It was going to deal with domestic violence. It was going to be very, very long (hurrah!).
My excitement reached a peak when I discovered a copy just in time for my holidays and as I stroked the gorgeous purple cover I was dying to dig in - because let's face it, you know what you're getting with Marian Keyes. She does funny. She does serious. She does perfect observation. She makes you want to turn the page. In terms of women's fiction she's like Ronseal - she does what she says on the tin.
This Charming Man has all her trademark qualities, but it is - it has to be said - very different from her previous books.
The action centres around politician Paddy de Courcy and the fall out from the day he announces his engagement. Four women, Lola - his girlfriend but not his fiancee - is devastated, Grace - a journalist - is intrigued, Marnie - his ex - spirals downwards and Alicia - his fiancee - finds herself caught up in a media whirlwind.
There aren't so many laugh out loud moments (in fact I'm not sure I did laugh out loud once) and the portrayal of domestic violence is at times graphic and disturbing.
Keyes' (or should we just call her Marian? We know her so well) portrayal of depression and alcoholism through the eyes of Marnie is keenly observed, deepy moving, at times frustrating and powerful all at once because you know that Keyes is writing from personal experience. There are lines which echo Marian's own story as revealed in Further Under the Duvet.
That's not to say the book doesn't have warmth and humour in it. We all know Keyes can write on a knife edge - bringing you almost to the depths of despair and hauling you back with a quick turn of phrase.
Lola's story - written in a diary style, has bucket loads of humour and intrigue. Okay, by 200,000 words you do start to miss the smaller words (book written in very chatty style. Small words not necessary for Lola. Dialogue sometimes reads clunky because of this - but realise book is huge and small words would have made it longer (ie heavier). Had baggage restrictions on plane - so fair enough).
But that shouldn't put you off (nor should reference to size 14 being fat in the Dublin set). This is Marian's finest book - in terms of content, message and contribution to the argument that chick lit is far from light weight fluffy nonsense. There is nothing - and I mean nothing - lightweight about this novel.
My heart will always belong to Rachel's Holiday (you never forget your first time) but This Charming Man is a triumph of a book of which Marian should be proud. Can't wait for the next one.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try More Than Love Letters by Rosy Thornton
Came straight to this page? Visit www.trashionista.com for more female fiction news, reviews and interviews.
Posted by Aigua Media on May 12, 2008 in Irish Authors, Marian Keyes, New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink
Comments
Its a shame that with such a strong novel, they have given it such a fluffy cover... I have never read any Marian Keynes before, and although the book sounds good, I would never have picked this up in store... any idea what the toaster refers to?
Posted by: Katie | May 12, 2008 1:26 PM
There's a broken toaster in it, Katie, but it's not central to the plot. I did laugh out loud, at some of Lola's bits, although at first her diary style annoyed me - it seemed like Keyes was abbreviating too much, and I would have preferred something written in the conventional first-person.
It's not my fave of her books, but it is very good, and the way she portrayed domestic violence and Marnie's whole story is brilliant and incredibly moving (I cried at the end). x
Posted by: diane shipley | May 13, 2008 1:17 AM
My favorite is Last Chance Saloon. Is it more or less dark than this one?
Posted by: Jade Ingmire | May 17, 2008 1:05 AM
This book was not to my liking at all. I have read all Marian Keyes' books and enjoyed them immensely, as the serious parts were always peppered with good laugh-out-loud humour. I hated the notebook style in which Lola's story is written and lost interest when it went on and on.
However, I decided to persevere so I read the book half way through and decided at that point that I wasn't bothered with it any more. I can't remember putting a book down at that stage before.
Miss the old style Keyes :(
Posted by: misesandra | July 7, 2008 1:50 PM
Ive just finished it, couldnt put it down for hours! loved it and thought even thought my fave Marion is prob one of the funnier ones like rachels holiday, this charming man is definitely the best book shes written
also totally agree with the review, with books like this you could never accuse womens fiction like marion keyes of being light weight stuff
Posted by: Sophie | July 21, 2008 10:30 PM
I have read all of Marian's books and i LOVE THEM....except for this one. I am half way through and am really struggling. I will carry on and hope that at the end i will have a slightly different opinion (but i can't see it).
Posted by: Nicola | November 9, 2008 9:59 PM
I liked this book a lot. I've read all Keyes novels and I think it's the best she's written. The is a new deep level going through it. Lola's parts where typical Keyes-styled comedian, Grace was hugely interesting person, the picture of Dee Rossini was amazing and Marnie was so touching and so true. And Paddy was scary and disgusting, naturally.
Posted by: Salla | February 10, 2009 9:43 AM
I am so glad others have noticed (and don't like) her abbreviated style,I would definately have preferred if it were written in the first (any)-person. It's not that it's hard to follow it's just you come to expect more from (my favorite) world famous author. My favorite of her books was Angles, did I laugh out loud???.... but all have been very enjoyable until now. I had googled the book to see if it was just me who had issues with her new style. I loved Cecelia Aherns diary style books so surprised that Marians style bugged me so much....
Posted by: Orla | March 28, 2009 8:20 PM
This isn't my favorite Keyes book; I'd have to give that one to Sushi for begginers, but this was quite good. I actually loved Lola; more than any of the other charaters. I found her fun and endearing and I laughed for hours at the"driving car load full of trannies" part. I enjoyed the diary style a lot, it was very light and easy to read. I found the Marnie's whole sections were very very strong and hard to read without crying. I loved the ending, though I think that if they'd gone to the press afterwards i'd have felt that it would0ve been even better.
Posted by: Mariella | May 13, 2009 10:09 PM
I found it hard to get through the first 200 pages but stuck with it and was very glad that I did. I found Lola's diary a bit hard to read as the language didn't quite flow all the time. Had the feeling that the story could have been edited a bit more to make it come together faster as a whole story. Lola and her antics could easily have made for another story another day. However, there's no doubt that Ms. Keyes is really a wonderful wonderful writer.
Posted by: Sheila | August 5, 2009 10:18 AM
I got this book for Christmas last year and due to my ever growing reading pile I've only just got to it (well around two weeks ago) I am only just half way through and I am struggling so badly... I found myself missing pages of Lola's diary on purpose just to get through it. I decided to put it down tonight and not bother with it again, but then I read these comments and now I'm not sure what to do... I just find that it goes on and on and on... I want to tell the book to get to the point! My sister assures me that it's wonderful and that I should persevere but I don't know if I can... Will it get better?
Posted by: Ella | October 15, 2009 3:48 AM
I'm about halfway through and I only started 2 days ago. I admit this is only my 2nd book by Ms Keyes, so maybe my expectations are different from those of you that have read every other book, but I am enjoying it immensely! Yes, Lola's narrative is annoyingly written, but it does help distinguish her from the others. I love the cross dressing side story, and think those types of stories are the funniest bits. I can't wait to finish to find out what happens and can't imagine just putting the book down at this stage!
Posted by: Kristin | October 29, 2009 6:36 PM
this is my frst time havin marian keyes novel. As the first tmer i found the story's dawn is very well written n expressed. just managed to read half pages of the book at this moment, n will struggle to finish it by end of this week. yeayy....
Posted by: carla | November 3, 2009 6:25 AM
My first time reading Marian Keyes's book. Halfway right through it, I really detest the way of writing using different characters point of view.
But stuck through it, and its really an amazing good read! Glad that I stuck with it, and I started to love all the different characters in it soonafter.
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 6, 2009 7:08 AM
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