Marian Keyes - my friends laugh at me for reading her books

uumm yes they are superficial fashonistic twaddle and not as good as MK,

Wasnt there a tv series based on lucy sullivans getting married, I remember really looking forward to it and then being disapointe, I don't remember the song titles!

I also like some of Catherine Alliots, the funniest one was Olivias luck, there is one bit where she is posing in tight shorts trying to be cool in front of estranged husband when he comes to pick up their daughter, she strolls to the door nonchantly with hands in pockets and then trips up over door step and cant get her hands out of pockets. ha ha ha ha, I laughed til I cried, doesnt sound as funny now

I've actively steered away from the shop-a-holic books just because I don't really like shopping that much!! How daft is that? Maybe if they are as good as MK I should give them a go- I just imagine them to be superficial fashionistic twaddle, just because of the title!!

Glad I made you feel like you weren't being ignored- I know how that feels! As well as the curry incident I love the "Come away in- I've a whole pig here that'll just go in the bin if you don't eat it!"- that was my gran, and it soo makes me chuckle!

Hurrah! Thanks RedJools everyone is ignoring me tonight!
I actually read Lucy... on the train and literally laughed out loud, I am now going to buy it and read it again.

I also quite like Sophie Kinsella, shopaholic series not sure why as Becky is selfish stupid & spoilt, have just downloaded an audio book, Sophie Kinsellas new one "remember me" on DH's ipod, the narrators voice sends me to sleep so I havent a clue whats about, will have to listen during the day

PABLOP! That was one of my favourite bits, and made me actually laugh out loud in an annoying-reader-on-the-train way!! I think she writes well, and is witty and her characters are a bit meatier than most chick-lit books. I'm not a big fan of chick-lit tbh, but I do make an exception for Marian Keyes, because I think she writes well, and looks at things from an interesting standpoint.

Lucy Sullivans getting married is the funniest book ever, there is one chapter where she is in an indian restaurant with best friend Daniel? they have to think of songs with indian related words, they come up with "you can't curry love" "stand by your naan" etc etc I think MK is hilarious!

It's funny you should mention Lisa Jewel, the headgirl, she is my other favorite chiclit writer - next to Marian Keyes.

Some effort goes into those books. There is not always a hero, she is not always perfectly turned out in a Joseph dress and £500 handbag, and her crises are a little meatier than whether her crush at the office will email her.

Rachel's Holiday was a piece of art, it really was. To keep it funny, and yet still allow the screaming desperation to fade through, was very good writing.

I usually try to read the new Marian Keyes book, I think she's quite funny.

Have to say, Marian Keyes is one of the authors that I like to read, despite myself! I have always thought I liked "literature" rather than "chicklit" but I think it's a bit like saying that you are never, ever going to eat in McDonalds, only in Michelin-starred restaurants! (i.e, one day you will be caught with a Big Mac in hand and will have to explain yourself) Also, Marian herself is such a funny, witty person and so entertaining that I can always sort of hear her voice in my head when I read the books and it brings it alive for me.

OMG there is one out in May....

[elf passes out in excitement]

off to read what it is about

She's actually one of the only authors I get excited about when I know something new is due to be released.

I have all her books and do love them all. The ones with the Walsh family are my fave, just waiting for her to write one about Helen and I'll be happy

I read Rachel's Holiday when I was 16. I'm now 26, its battered to hell as I have read it so many times!
But my copy of Catcher in the Rye is the same, before anybody has a go at me for my naff book shelf

the thought of only reading worthy books

well i really love her books - i've read them all - they are funny and sad and easy to read and give me a warm happy feeling . . . so two fingers up to the op's friends!!!! and a big fat raspberry

I can't honestly tell you what I think of her! although I have read many of the books mentioned in this thread I can't remember anything about them - but I do know that I must have enjoyed reading them or I wouldn't have carried on buying her books!

So what if I can't remember and didn't learn anything - I had a few days enjoyement from reading them, tis all that matters to me some days..

Enjoy her books and ignore your friends...

take no notice of your friends, i personally think there are thousands of other worthier books to read though.

what snobbery on this thread

I enjoy her books too - she and Lisa Jewel are sold as "chick-lit" but I think their characterisation is done with some depth and with great warmth and humour. I always smile at those who are dismissive of these writers, as I suspect they are judging by the proverbial cover and want to appear well read! For what its worth I try to read widely and think that some writers can be bestsellers and still be good!

Lilolil - you are so right. I happen to like chicklit because I ENJOY reading it. There is no point in forcing yourself to read something you don't enjoy as reading for me is all about enjoyment. Sod your friends and stick to your guns

I love Marian Keyes too - Rachels Holiday in particular was fantastic

agree with grapefruit -it is chick lit but I do think she tackles subject/issues that others shy away from (grief, addiction, infertility etc).

I loved the early ones, but the most recent one Anyone Out There was rubbish really formulaic, think she is churning them out now.
However I am a bit low brow as I also like Jane Green. Jennifer Weiner is a good compromise Little Earthquakes has page turn appeal but it feels like a step up from chick lit.

I think the books are ok for light reading - and she does often cover quite deep subjects within the novels - in Angels, I thought the way she wrote about the character suffering from infertility was spot on - I've never seen the affect it has on a person and a marriage written about in fiction that way before....

If you enjoy her books, read them. And tell your friends to get stuffed

Repeat after me: I should not feel guilty about reading stuff I actually enjoy. I am passing my love of reading on to my DCs. And I am not a ponce

She's good enough for Penguin!

I know they have dumbed down a bit from the old days, but not too much - Pat Barker is in there too, and William Boyd, and various other modern-but-not-chicklit writers like Sue Townsend and Nick Hornby and Zadie Smith.

Agree with Belgo but I enjoy her books because they're not 100% fluffy.

I am so sad I've been to see her at a Q&A session and she seemed genuinely lovely. Like a slightly crazed but lovely auntie. My first read was Rachel's Holiday. My copy is now seriously tattered from being re-read and passed round everyone I know.

Her books are easy to read because they are well written, but I wouldn't call subjects such as miscarriage and bereavement 'light reading' and 'fluffy'