Audiobook: Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

Read by Tracie Bennett
Time: 3 hours 18 minutes (Abridged)

Meet Bridget Jones -- a 30-something Singleton who is certain she would have all the answers is she could:

a) lose 7 pounds
b) stop smoking
c) develop Inner Poise

Here is the laugh-out-loud daily chronicle of a hilarious year in the life of the devastatingly self-aware Bridget Jones; a year in which she resolves to: reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1 1/2 inches, visit the gym three times a week not merely to buy a sandwich, and form a functional relationship with a responsible adult.

Bridget struggles to keep her life on an even keel -- or at least afloat. Whenever her plans meet with disaster, she manages to pick herself up, go out on the town, and tell herself it will be all right in the morning, when life will definitely be different this time and totally alcohol, calorie, and perverted-misogynist free.

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My Thoughts: Recently, I watched the movie Bridget Jones's Diary for the first time. I was surprised to realize that it was an inspiration of Pride & Prejudice. I found myself liking the movie so much that I had to read the book. I found the audiobook at my library and quickly snatched it. I was highly looking forward to it, but it was not as great as I was expecting.

First of all, I did not realize that this was an abridged recording until after I finished listening to the book. Nowhere on the cover did it say that it was abridged. I found out by searching online for book covers. So I'm not sure if my disappointment of this book has to do with the fact that it's not complete. But then again, abridged versions are supposed to highlight the important parts.

Well, most of the story was okay and somewhat what I expected. Bridget was a 30-something year old who drank and smoke a lot and who was trying to fix her life. Many of the things she said and did were silly and had me chuckling a few times. However, the romance that I felt in the movie was almost non-existent in this book when it came to Mark. I kept waiting for something cute to happen between Bridget and Mark but it never came. It had me pouting at the end of the audio.

This audio was read by Tracie Bennett. She did a decent job in capturing Bridget's character. She had the perfect accent but she did read too fast. Many times it sounded like she was just rambling, which had me lose focus. However, I did enjoy listening to Bennett's enthusiasm as she recounted some of the crazy things Bridget went through.

At the end, this was an "eh" book. I'm not sure if I'll try reading or listening to the unabridged edition. I was expecting a little bit more from the book. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I actually liked the movie better. I rate it: