Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy

We can only hope that Bridget Jones remains as interesting as she was when she was younger. When she was making blue soup, dating all the wrong men (read: Hugh Grant) and, of course, falling, tripping, breaking and getting arrested. But as we find in Helen Fielding's latest offering "Bridget Jones - Mad About The Boy," she is, unfortunately, not nearly as witty or interesting as she was decades ago - perhaps with the real loss of Renee Zellweger, Bridget died too?

Bridget, so English and plump, is now middle-aged. And not the sassy yoga middle age that we're obsessed with right now - thanks to Madge and Gwen - but the bad middle age where it is all just a little depressing. Maybe it's a reflection of real life after all? But Fielding does write well, and it's still funny to read. Just not as funny as before.

Bridget's having a tough time, to be honest, so maybe we need some sympathy - her Mr. Darcy does pass away and it leaves her to play mommy all by herself. The godfather of the children of course is no one other than Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant's horrid of horrid himself). So at least there's that interesting angle happening for the story line. And of course the diary she keeps is always alarmingly funny and self-depreciating, as only Bridget can be.

But Bridget is over; women are less like this than ever. They've stopped being overly romantic weaklings. They're running for office now, and CEOs of the biggest brands in the world. Oh, and having babies without men, let's not forget that. Despite the obvious examples that contradict, women are no longer waiting for a man to save them or even to look at them like Bridget does. They're in charge, whereas Bridget, perhaps, puts on her slippers and lies on the sofa.

You can read this book in a night, in bed with some chocolate pudding, or maybe some extra-fat ice cream. Curl up and read it all in one go and then see how you feel. A reenacted Bridget Jones moment - but only for a moment, as tomorrow it is time to take over the world.

"Bridget Jones - Mad About The Boy"
Helen Fielding
$16.17
Knopf