This Charming Man: A Novel | Marian Keyes | The best written novel on a difficult subject

This Charming Man: A Novel | Marian Keyes | Charming Novel BUT ...

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This Charming Man:...

	This Charming Man: A Novel Marian Keyes William Morrow, 2008 - 576 pages average customer review:based on 63 reviews view larger image
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The best written novel on a difficult subject

Amzing new novel from a great auther. As a survivor of domestic violence, I find this book to be extreemely helpful and accurate. I love the auther, and am Impressed by the research that's obviously gone into it. I am also a sosiologist, planning on using this book as part of therapy.

Charming Novel BUT ...

I have to admit that once I got past the chapters regarding Lola's point of view, I was able to read this book without stopping. I have read every single one of Keyes' books and have found them highly entertaining. This book is perhaps the first one that failed to rank at least a four star. It's not the subject matter that failed to make it a good novel, it's the writing style. I have to admit that I absolutely despised the chapters on Lola's POV, where it was written as if it was in text-messaging style and Lola isn't a character that I much care for anyways.

I understand the desire to give each of the characters very different voices, but Lola's voice was just bizarre and too confusing, too hippish and just too stupid. That was a big disappointment. Another one is how come none of these women ever complained about Paddy's abuses and are police in Ireland that obtuse? Ok, maybe domestic violence is common throughout the entire planet, but speaking as survivor of a domestic violence marriage, I got out when I did and am thankful that I was able to. I recognized the signs early on. And if Grace and Marnie's parents were as close as they claimed to be, how come none of them interfered with Marnie's relationship with Paddy early on?

The ending was very predictable and too neatly wrapped. So the bad guy got his comeuppance and all ends well (well, except for Alicia, the wife who is now stuck with his anger forevermore). All this novel did was to remind me that charming men are not so charming after all and Paddy is no exception to that rule.

The reason why I gave it a three star is very simple. I couldn't put the book down in spite of all of its flaws. I haven't given up on Keyes, but hopefully, her next novel will be better. I am grateful that I borrowed this book from the library but am disappointed that it wasn't enough to get me to the bookstore to buy the copy to share. It is a pretty good description of alcoholism and domestic violence, but the characters really needed a lot of work to come across as strong women, not weak-willed women who quaked in their boots when Paddy came near them. Then again, that is common of a lot of battered women whose wills have been sapped dry by the nonstop abuse.

This is not exactly a beach read but it is a good read for those of you who have a few hours and don't mind staying up till the wee hours of the night till it's done. It's not her best novel, but it is still a good read.

8/15/08

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Adequate, just adequate.

I had been expecting so much more from this novel. Told from the viewpoints of four women in Ireland, this narrative tracks how their lives transect PADDY, the handsome, up and coming political icon...the JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. of IRELAND. SPOILER ALERT: TOO much emphasis was put on the TRANNIE, cross-dressers. Not enough on the plot and revenge. The slow descent into the pit of alcoholism of the sister was well done. Issues of physical abuse were also unveiled. All in all, I would have loved less babble about the life in the village and the little woman who watched t.v. with the liqueurs. THE bit about the high fashion and the stylist image consultant was fun, but a bit much. I must admit that the stilted diary type of entries of the stylist made me want to do give up. SHE would write without a verb, or without a subject......very stilted.THE background of the four women could have been much shorter, with a much more structured plot and final climax, when poor Paddy is fired onscreen, on live t.v. Great premise, but not pulled off . I so wanted to give it a better review.

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