Marion Keyes - always so misogynistic?

[squashyhat]

I am on holiday so decided on some light reading. I've started my first ever Marion Keyes book (Last Chance Saloon) because everyone says she is funny, insightful etc and I imagined it would be a fairly easy read. I didn't know she is Irish so was surprised at all the Irish characters at first, not that that's necessarily an issue, and it's quite well-written and humorous. But every single female character seems to be hanging on for dear life to a terrible and abusive relationship, mourning the loss of terrible and abusive relationship, or eyeing up useless, abusive men with whom it would be a disaster to have a relationship. Am I unlucky with this book or does she just hate women?

Do you know what I just remembered when I first read Rachel's Holiday at 19 I didn't even click she was a drug addict until embarrassingly near the end of the novel, that's how relatable it was for me then! Maybe I will give it another try.

Weird this popped up. I was literally just talking to my mum on the phone who was asking if I've read any Marian Keyes. I haven't but from following on posts am keen to try some.

Brilliant.

She’s awesome! Love Marian Keyes. And no I’m not her either 😆

Marian Keyes deals with serious issues that affect the lives of many women with humanity, warmth and wit. Of all the writers in the world to accuse of being misogynistic, very odd choice.

Incidentally, I've just read a self-help book for women in unhealthy relationships and one of the blurb/recommendations was by Marion Keyes. She has first hand experience of a lot of what she's written about, including addiction and depression.

She shows great empathy for her characters whilst not being afraid to show their flaws. And of course she's Irish!

Welcome to Mumsnet, Marian

I loved her books (25 years ago).

The main thing I find annoying about her latest book is that everyone is gorgeous or beautiful and real life isn’t like that. Still read them though.

This ^

What utter Belloc OP😀

Bollox

I bloody adore Marian Keyes.
I've read the vast majority of her work and don't find her to be misogynistic in the least.

You should read This Charming Man. Marian Keyes does not fecking hate women.

Well I for one am very glad to hear you say that all those Irish characters aren't necessarily a problem😬
Tell me would you have said that very same line about Asian or black people?

Marian Keyes is an absolute superstar writer. She’s so far from a misogynist, she could be on the moon and that wouldn’t be far enough!

Nobody enjoys a sanitised character.

The situations Marian describes can be abusive and misogynistic. Like everywhere else, the patriarchy is alive and well in Ireland. The women are products of that and Marian writes about fully developed characters, flaws and all in a human and humorous way. I love her writing, she is like a playful Maeve Binchy, very witty.

Odd to come on and start a thread slagging off a book you haven’t finished.

Marian’s early books, including LCS, Rachel’s Holiday, Lucy Sullivan, etc, etc - are very much of their era - people in their heyday in the 90s, pre mobile phones (that could do anything other than just text), the internet as it is now, social media, etc, etc.

Yes - Tara is with an utterly dire man. That’s the whole point of the book.

Try ‘this Charming Man’. Love it.

Please stop spoiling Again, Rachel. Some of us haven't read it yet!

You're barking up the wrong tree OP.

MK is about as far from misogynist as you can be.

Just came to add to the Marian Keyes love. Definitely not a misogynist. Some of her characters love beauty treatments and make up, which is not personally relatable to me but it's not misogynistic!
My absolute favourite of hers is the brightest star in the sky, but with all of them you can guarantee a good laugh, excellent writing and an often emotional story.

Pretty sure MK doesn't need to come on here to defend herself against some random who hasn't even finished reading her book. 😂😂😂She's a multimillionaire?

I'm loving all the Marian Keyes love here. Makes me want to buy the ones I haven't yet read!

I've never read Marion Keyes but I loathe the modern expectation that all stories must provide a Moral Message and all characters must behave well or Be Punished.

I do t think the op has read any MK’s books, but for some strange reason doesn’t like her and thought she would start a pile on!