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This Charming Man by: Marian Keyes List Price: £17.99 City Travel Guides Price: £8.99 You Save: £9.00 (50%)Prices subject to change. |
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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Binding: Hardcover EAN: 9780718149123 ISBN: 0718149122 Label: Michael Joseph Ltd Manufacturer: Michael Joseph Ltd Number Of Pages: 688 Publication Date: April 30, 2008 Publisher: Michael Joseph Ltd Studio: Michael Joseph Ltd Sales Rank: 206 Related Items: Related Items:      see moreBrowse for similar items by category:
Editorial Review: Review: Four Dubliners regret misguided liaisons with a sadistic Irish politico.Keyes (Anybody Out There, 2006, etc.) displays her trademark uncanny ability to wring humor from cliches in this story of four women whose paths cross with that of handsome Irish party hack Paddy de Courcy. Lola, whose narration hilariously parodies the article and pronoun-challenged diary of Bridget Jones, learns from the press that Paddy, her boyfriend, is engaged to Alicia, a horsey widow respectable enough to be a political helpmeet. Grace, a Dublin tabloid reporter, and her fraternal twin sister Marnie, met Paddy while all three were students working in a Dublin pub. Grace flirted briefly with Paddy before losing him to Marnie. But as his ambitions escalate, Paddy dumps Marnie, leaving her emotionally shell-shocked. Lola, fashion advisor to Dublin's nouveau riche matrons, had found Paddy's sexual proclivities increasingly problematic, but she's so unsettled by his summary betrayal that she flees to a rustic seaside cabin in County Clare, where she becomes reluctant housemother to a growing contingent of transvestites. A brief fling with a surfer helps her weather Paddy's rejection, but memories of how his kinky sexuality segued into "isolated" acts of physical abuse undermine her struggle to recover her sense of self-worth. Grace learns that Paddy may be behind the seemingly random torching of her sports car, but withholds her full history with him from the reader. She's more preoccupied with trying to keep Marnie, who until recently lived happily in London with her commodities trader husband Nick and two daughters, from drinking herself to death. The weight of attention devoted to Marnie's harrowing alcoholic free-fall deemphasizes and defuses the devastating impact of Paddy's horrendous behavior. The gradual reveal of Paddy's monstrosity toward the novels' women, interspersed with the flip entertainment of Lola's Bridget Jones-speak, generates a jarring unevenness of tone. Flabby, often implausible plot propelled by original prose. (Kirkus Reviews) Product Description: 'Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married'. Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy's marrying - because although she's his girlfriend, she definitely isn't the bride-to-be. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola's retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? Not if journalist Grace has anything to do with it. She wants the inside story on the de Courcy engagement and thinks Lola holds the key. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can't she forget him?Grace's sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her family is wonderful but they can't take away memories of her first love: a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on? And what of the future Mrs de Courcy...Alicia is determined to be the perfect politician's wife. But does she know the real Paddy de Courcy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all... Synopsis: 'Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married'. Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy's marrying - because although she's his girlfriend, she definitely isn't the bride-to-be. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola's retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? Not if journalist Grace has anything to do with it. She wants the inside story on the de Courcy engagement and thinks Lola holds the key. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can't she forget him?Grace's sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her family is wonderful but they can't take away memories of her first love: a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on? And what of the future Mrs de Courcy...Alicia is determined to be the perfect politician's wife. But does she know the real Paddy de Courcy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all... About the Author: Marian Keyes' international bestselling novels include Rachel's Holiday, Last Chance Saloon, Sushi for Beginners, Angels, The Other Side of the Story and most recently Anybody Out There, a number one bestseller. Two collections of her journalism, Under the Duvet and Further Under the Duvet, are also available from Penguin. Marian lives in Dublin with her husband. Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Riveting!'This Charming Man' is Marion's best so far. It is truly moving, horrifying, funny, sad and exciting. The tale of a psychopath and the women who fell for him. I particularly liked Lola but the other women were also engaging and likable. A page turner form start to finish. Not a light read or even 'chic-lit' but an excellent contemporary novel with a very serious undertone. Rating:  - Ok but not her bestI love Marian Keyes so when this come out i rushed out to get it.But i have to say i didn't enjoy it as much as i have all her others i didn't really warm to any of the characters at all and i found it lacked that Marian spark.Being in a violent relationship myself for three years i thought i'd really relate to the characters in this book but i just didn't warm to them at all.Ok but not her best. Rating: - Keyes is the Queen of Chick LitWell, each to their own, I guess - but I can't understand the Keyes 'fans' who have slated her latest work. As for the readers/reviewers who didn't like the diary writing style for Lola's storyline....pleeease! What is there not to like? :-) This inclusion was original, brave, refreshing, funny and intelligent. If you're considering buying 'This Charming Man', then really - don't hestitate. Buy it and prepare for a very enjoyable and, in places, very moving experience. Other so called 'chick lit' writers don't come close to Keyes, she delivers every time. In my opinion, she is the Queen of Chick Lit, and long may she reign. Rating:  - What a shameI have a theory.....an auther comes up with a brilliant idea for a book but is then told it has to be X thousand words long so pads it out with fluff in oder to deliver. Could that be the reason behind the huge disappointment of this latest offering from Ms Keys? In short this book would have skipped along merrily written from the viewpoint of Lola, a wonderfull character, with all of the others coming in to create the theme of the book. The idea was great,the ending was a treat but why oh why did we have to endure the endless ramblings of the other women ?!What a shame. Rating: - this book should come with a health warning ...............because its completely addictive! I loved all of it , every page, esp. as am very difficult to please! I loved all the parts, esp as it was a real eye-opener and highly educational. Only bit hated..............finishing it..............feel like I am having withdrawal or something......I can't understand any of the bad reviews, the book got me in from start to finish. Lola my fave, but also Grace and Marnie! I can't say anymore will ruin the book for others, but the ppl writing bad reviews must have read a different book or not given the book a fair chance. I couldn't sleep I just HAD to finish it!! highly recommded and refreshingly honest........I think this one is her best yet!!! |
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