This Charming Man: A Novel
by Marian Keyes
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Book Summary Information
Author: Marian KeyesEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2008-06-01
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 576
Publisher: William Morrow
Book Reviews of This Charming Man: A Novel
Book Review: Controversial
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd read only one of the M. Keyes' books, so I can't compare this one with her previous ones.
This book is about four completely different women and one man they're all connected with.
Story starts with Lola, the stylist, who has been abandoned by P. de Courcy. After the unexpected break up, she just falls apart. At first, I didn't like the diary style, Lola was too weepy, pathetic and I felt the story is a little bit exaggerated and even boring.
Than came Grace, the newspaper journalist. She's a girl that is tough to her core. She has a boyfriend Damian and their love is unique, in completely unpathetic way. She is strong, independent, tough. She's got me hooked to the book.
Third is Marnie, Grace's twin sister and completely different person. She's fragile, depressed, overly sensitive, lives in her own world, feels pain ten times harder than a normal person. She's in constant need of help and is no good on her own. Typical self destructive person (and if you think she's unbelievable, you're wrong - it means you just haven't met one of those).
And finally, here is Alicia, who thinks it's finally come her moment, and because she's always been unlucky one, less beautiful and not lovable one, from now on her bad luck will turn. But she's in for yet another disappointment.
Four completely different women, and in between their stories, small chapters are inserted about women being abused.
But who is this women? First you think it's Marnie, than M. Keyes has you believed it's strong Grace, than again you change your mind and think it's definitely Lola... I was turning on the pages wanting to know the answer, and the story kept changing with unpredictable twists and turns.
This is not a light chick-lit prose. Very serious subjects are depicted. And every now and then there is a funny situation (like trannie nights than are happening at Lola's).
I didn't give this book 5 stars because of a slow start and a little bit too obvious ending. Also, the situation when de Courcy is confronted with the person he abused, didn't go well with me.
But I appraise diversity of characters, original approach to the subject and the fact that it kept me interested till the end. For me, the characters were three dimensional and believable.
When a book gets reviews so different, ranging from 1 star to 5 stars, it means it's controversial. One need to read it in order to know whether he likes it or not. It's hard to tell from the reviews.
But if you look just for a light chick-lit, avoid this one.
Summary of This Charming Man: A Novel
With This Charming Man, Marian Keyes hits her stride as a novelist with her best novel yet, telling the stories of four women who are shaped by one man
Paddy de Courcy is Ireland's debonair politician, the "John F. Kennedy Jr. of Dublin." His charm and charisma have taken hold of the country and the tabloids, not to mention our four heroines: Lola, Grace, Marnie, and Alicia. But though Paddy's winning smile is fooling Irish minds, the broken hearts he's left in his past offer a far more truthful look into his character.
Narrated in turn by each woman, This Charming Man explores how their love for this one man has shaped their lives. But in true Marian Keyes fashion, this is more than a story of four love affairs. It's a testament to the strength women find in themselves through work, friendship, and family, no matter what demons may be haunting their lives. Depression, self-doubt, domestic abuse?each of these women has seen tough times in life, and it's through Keyes's wonderful storytelling ability that these subjects are approached with the appropriate tone and candor. Her deft touch provides a gripping story and, ultimately, a redemptive ending.
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