A Singleton with a Skeleton (Lucy Sullivan is getting married - Marian Keyes)

Member Name: MaryanneH

Product:	Lucy Sullivan is getting married - Marian Keyes
Date:	11/07/04 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good read

Disadvantages: The first part is too predictable

This was my third attempt at reading this book, and I am usually not so persistent. At first glance Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes is going to be one of those, oh so predictable ?girly? books, but I don?t know what it is about the book but I felt that it was a book that I should enjoy so couldn't understand why I had not managed to complete it?

My initial perception of the book is that it was very similar to Bridget Jones Diary. Lucy Sullivan does have many similarities, to Bridget, even a romantic interest and a life long friend called Daniel (who she couldn?t possibly fancy because she has known him too long). She lives in London and lives the singleton (although the word is not used) life and is attracted to men that treat her horribly. That is however where the similarities end.

The story opens with a trip out with her work mates to see a Tarot Reader, and whilst she is somewhat cynical about the whole thing she goes along rather than upset Meridia, the overpowering, oversized work colleague who set the meeting up. The Tarot reader tells her that she is going to get married at some point over the next 12 months. Lucy completely dismisses the idea when they are discussing the predictions in the car on the way home, but as is possible with any Tarot reading, certain events occur over the following week that can be construed as the reading coming true for all her colleagues. The pressure is then on for Lucy, especially as, at that point she doesn?t have a boyfriend ?. The book then continues in the whose it going to be sort of vein.

The main love interest early on is a guy called Gus, who is Irish, drinks a lot and expects Lucy to pay for it, he is unreliable when it comes to turning up and acting respectably. At this point in my first 2 reading attempts 
3; gave up on the book thinking it will be a do they don?t they sort of thing and she will end up marrying a stunningly handsome son of an oil baron and ride off into the sunset ? how wrong I was.

The next chapter in Lucys life, is when her life comes crashing down around her. Her very Catholic, Irish mother comes to visit and tells her that her father is an alcoholic and she can no longer bear to live with him so she is moving in with the dry cleaner down the road. This devastates Lucy who does not believe that he could possibly be an alcoholic so moves home to look after him. At this point the book changes from being incredibly funny, oh how could any one be so stupid sort of light hearted humour, to deadly serious how do you cope with living with an alcoholic. She starts to grow up and realise how badly she has allowed herself to be treated. Here the writing does become very intense, the development of character from a complete doormat who enjoys a good time at weekends to a much harder self preserving person is gradual and interesting. I will not divulge any more of the plot as how she finally wakes up to herself and what happened next is what really made the book for me.

I know the book was serialised for television a couple of years ago and I must admit I didn?t find it that gripping, also having now read the book it was, as ever, changed completely. The book on the other hand I can now recommend. I know it took 3 attempts to read but it certainly makes good light-hearted holiday reading, the interaction with her flat mates and work mates can easily be related to by any fan of Bridget Jones, but in Lucy Sullivan there is a skeleton in the closet and this changes her, and her choice of life long partner, and does she end up getting married? Well you?ll have to read it and find out.

Current availability on Amazon for £5.59.

Thank yo
u for reading and I look forward to your comments.

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