This Charming Man
A multi-voiced novel about a charismatic politician and the women whose lives he harms, using shifting perspectives to expose charm, power, and abuse.
Work Information
A multi-voiced novel about a charismatic politician and the women whose lives he harms, using shifting perspectives to expose charm, power, and abuse.
A multi-voiced novel about a charismatic politician and the women whose lives he harms, using shifting perspectives to expose charm, power, and abuse.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Michael Joseph Ltd
- Published
- 2008-04-30
- Pages
- 688 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 16.1 x 4.6 x 24.1 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780718149123
- ISBN-10
- 0718149122
- Price
- 2583 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Literature & Fiction/Literary
`Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard that Paddy de Courcy was getting married’ Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy’s marrying – because although she’s his girlfriend, she definitely isn’t the bride-to-be. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola’s retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes? Not if journalist Grace has anything to do with it. She wants the inside story on the de Courcy engagement and thinks Lola holds the key. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can’t she forget him? Grace’s sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her family is wonderful but they can’t take away memories of her first love: a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on? And what of the future Mrs de Courcy … Alicia is determined to be the perfect politician’s wife. But does she know the real Paddy de Courcy? Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all …
Marian Keyes is a phenomenon. The multimillion copy, internationally bestselling author of some of the most widely loved, genre-defying novels of the past thirty years – including Rachel’s Holiday , Anybody Out There and Grown Ups – has millions of devoted readers around the world. In addition to her fifteen previous novels, Marian has also written three collections of journalism, upon which hit BBC Radio 4 show Between Ourselves was based. Marian co-hosts the popular show Now You’re Asking with actress Tara Flynn for BBC Radio 4. In 2022, she was named the British Book Awards Author of the Year. Marian lives in Dublin. My Favourite Mistake is her sixteenth novel.
Reviews
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Just Good
I wanted to give this book 3 and a half stars but decided to stick to 4 stars mainly because of Grace and Marnie's stories. And I honestly admit that after reading a few chapters of Lola's story, I intentionally skimmed through her parts on the book. I love, love Marian Keyes but, this book isn't one of my favorite from all her novels.
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暗い気持ちに…
読んでいて元気が出るような内容を期待していたのですが 真逆の効果が…。 暗い気持ちになってくるので読み進むのが辛いです。
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Five Stars
loved this book. It was an emotional roller-coster reading it. From comedy to deep tragedy...
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Incrível!
Ótimo livro! Um pouquinho diferente dos outros livros da autora, porque entra em assuntos como relacionamentos abusivos e outros (não quero dar spoiler hehe) mais aprofundados, mas sem perder a leveza e a pitada de humor. É um livro mais intenso, que prende a atenção e é difícil parar de ler. Outro fator importante, que achei muito interessante, é que conhecemos o ponto de vista de quatro diferentes mulheres, o que faz com que a gente perceba diferentes perspectivas de uma mesma história. Enfim, até agora, meu livro preferido da Marian.
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Keyes takes on tough subject matter but makes it work as only she can in this novel of suffering, laughter, love and redemption
From when I first cracked open Watermelon I've loved Marian Keyes, but at first it was a fickle sort of love, the kind reserved for light, fluffy books that were guaranteed to better my mood. This all changed with the publication of Anybody Out There? the astonishing last novel of Keyes that blew my mind (and my perception of her as an author) out of the water. Since then I've seen her as an extraordinary novelist in her own right, capable of drawing people in and invoking emotions you never expected to feel for fictional characters. So needless to say when I saw she had a new novel coming out, I pre-ordered. I was hoping (desperately hoping) that it would be the next novel in the Walsh sister's saga, but apparently Keyes feels the need to string that out a bit more. Oh well. It's not like I haven't enjoyed her other novels. I decided to take a positive attitude about my disappointment. In the end though there was nothing to be disappointed about. "This Charming Man" is an amazing book told by four distinct voices. Lola, a stylist, Grace, a reporter, Marnie, a working housewife and mother and Alice all have something in common that has changed and altered the course of their lives. His name is Paddy de Courcy and is hailed to be the political savior of Ireland. But though Paddy seems charming, suave, handsome and perfect on the outside our narrators know the secrets behind his smile-and the nearly deadly effect of his true charm. "This Charming Man" is really extraordinary and unlike anything Keyes has written before. She's tackled tough subjects in the past, it's true, but the heinous nature of the depraved acts of violence and degradation described in this book take it to a new level that rises completely out of the genera of chick lit. I raced through this book in one sitting because I was literally unable to put it down. The storyline is exciting and fast paced and despite the shared narration and seemingly random inserted scenes of domestic violence between parts the novel (which make sense eventually) it has a wonderfully cohesive plot that all comes together through our four very real heroines. This book made me laugh out loud, cry and more importantly think on the desperate situation that so many women are forced to live in because of domestic violence. I'm not saying this book is a downer though. While it discusses very serious subjects there is a great deal of humor, mainly provided by Lola's diary (which in spite of the semi-annoying shorthand was my favorite part of the book) romance comes from Grace, and eventually, strength from Marnie. And triumph for all. This is a truly amazing novel that any author would have been proud to write. I congratulate you Ms. Keyes on another remarkable book that made me loose sleep and I highly recommend that everyone reads this book. Five stars. (And I know it'll be another two years at least but I can't wait `till her next novel!)
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It doesn't feel like 900 pages!
Such a great writer! This is probably the longest book I have ever read, at just shy of 900 pages. But it didn't feel like it at all, in fact I couldn't put it down and looked forward to long stretches of time when I was able to dive in! Like all of Marian's books, the genre of 'chick lit' is hugely reductive. The women characters in this book introduce us the dark side of relationships, and the damaging affects they have. As well as a frightening glimpse into alcoholism and its downward spiral. Marian Keyes' books are for everyone. Her dark humour and human insights into both male and female characters are relatable to us all and we'd be better for reading more of them!
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Very pleased with order
Wonderful really enjoyable. I am definitely a MK follower
Related Literary Awards
- Irish Book Awards Edition 7 (2009) ・Winner