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Posted by Grete, on February 13th, 2010 Marian Keyes is one of those writers that can capture ordinary moments in life and turn them into something special. Funny, witty, sarcastic yet also sombre and poignant, she is not afraid to draw on her own darker personal history to give her books that something extra.
So what do you do when you have read everything she’s written and looking for more? Along with Marian, here are some of my favourite reigning queens of ‘chicklit’.
Jill Mansell
A funny, amazing storyteller who reminds me that while life can be difficult and painful, there are always moments of hilarity and joy that can make the day seem so much brighter. Lighter of heart than Marian Keyes but just as good.
Jenny Colgan
I find Jenny Colgan’s books the lightest in mood from all the authors on this list, but she shares Marian Keyes’ knack for writing and capturing characters that feel so real and funny or sad. She combines that with stories that keep you engaged and reading right until the end.
Katie Fforde
It’s a pleasure reading Katie Fforde’s work, it’s full of life, love and those moments where you just have to stop and take a good long hard laugh at yourself. Light in tone but gets you in the heart when you least expect it. Highly recommended.
Fiona Walker
Another excellent author who can look at life and take both the good and the bad and turn them into funny, powerful and heart-warming stories. A great match for everyone in this post.
If you have any other authors or books you feel would be enjoyed by people who loved Marian Keyes, feel free to comment on this article with your recommendations.
Posted by Grete, on June 26th, 2009  Booklover Laura Horsley is a shy, quiet girl who loves her job working in a small bookshop. When the owner decides it’s time to retire, she finds herself in the scary position of having to find new employment. Against her better judgement, she agrees to help organise a literary and music festival in the countryside and a moment of misunderstanding leads the committee to think she personally knows one of the literary world’s brightest and more reclusive stars. With the funding, band involvement and other author attendance all dependent on Dermot Flynn attending, she is given the task of tracking him down personally and getting his involvement. No small task then, especially since she’s had a crush on him since University and first read his books!
I thought this was an incredibly sweet book. I loved the characters, especially Laura and Dermot and groaned each time they had a missed opportunity be it from bad timing or misunderstandings. The pace of the story was good and as the run up to the festival started, you felt the pressure and urgency mounting which I thought was very clever. It was involving and interesting and I loved seeing Laura come out of her shell. I think a lot of people will see themselves in the character, myself included. There were several funny moments that had me laughing and there were also some very touching scenes which were nicely done. It was very enjoyable, couldn’t put it down and I think it’s definitely one of Katie Fforde’s best books.
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Posted by Grete, on July 9th, 2008
Posted by Grete, on July 6th, 2008  Thea Orville, one time professional photographer, now fed-up landlady to art students is persuaded to accompany a friend on an art appreciation holiday. While there she meets a charming artist and when almost home, decides to throw wind in the face of caution and escapes to Ireland to visit him. Realising she needs a new direction in life, Rory gives her the perfect opportunity and when her nosy friend turns up on his doorstep with some equally unwelcome guests, she seizes the opportunity with both hands. Now if she can just realise her plans while learning to saying NO! to Molly, Rory and Petal, and deny her attraction to the enigmatic Ben, things might just work out…
I find it hard to put Katie Fforde’s books down, they are lighthearted, funny, romantic with wonderful escapism, and Artistic Licence is yet another great read. The only disappointing thing, is that I finish them too soon! This book took me about five hours to read, and just like her other books, left me with a warm glow, and the feeling of having been thoroughly entertained.
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Very young children eat their books, literally devouring their contents. This is one reason for the scarcity of first editions of Alice in Wonderland and other favorites of the nursery.
Rosenbach, A. S. W.
About BookThing! BookThing! is a website where Grete can indulge her passion for books. There are reviews covering a range of genres (paranormal romance, crime, fantasy, romantic comedy), bibliographies for selected authors, features and sometimes the odd free book giveaway!
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