This Charming Man: A Novel | 
enlarge | Author: Marian Keyes Publisher: William Morrow Category: Book
List Price: $24.95 Buy New: $13.89 You Save: $11.06 (44%)
New (34) from $13.89
Avg. Customer Rating: 23 reviews Sales Rank: 971
Media: Hardcover Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 576 Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7 Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.9 x 1.6
ISBN: 0061124028 Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914 EAN: 9780061124020 ASIN: 0061124028
Publication Date: June 1, 2008 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Condition: Why buy used or risk lower rated sellers when BRAND NEW IS THIS LOW! Mailer packaging recycled materials for a cleaner, greener world.
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Product Description
With This Charming Man, Marian Keyes hits her stride as a novelist with her best novel yet, telling the stories of four women who are shaped by one man Paddy de Courcy is Ireland's debonair politician, the "John F. Kennedy Jr. of Dublin." His charm and charisma have taken hold of the country and the tabloids, not to mention our four heroines: Lola, Grace, Marnie, and Alicia. But though Paddy's winning smile is fooling Irish minds, the broken hearts he's left in his past offer a far more truthful look into his character. Narrated in turn by each woman, This Charming Man explores how their love for this one man has shaped their lives. But in true Marian Keyes fashion, this is more than a story of four love affairs. It's a testament to the strength women find in themselves through work, friendship, and family, no matter what demons may be haunting their lives. Depression, self-doubt, domestic abuse—each of these women has seen tough times in life, and it's through Keyes's wonderful storytelling ability that these subjects are approached with the appropriate tone and candor. Her deft touch provides a gripping story and, ultimately, a redemptive ending.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
disappointed July 25, 2008 I love Marian Keyes work. I have all her books and pre-ordered this book from Amazon. That said, I was disappointed in both the writing (the annoying voice of Lola almost drove me crazy) and the lack of a female character who stood up to an abusive man right from the beginning. Where is the author who writes a female character who says to the man who raises his hand the first time,"If you dare, they'll have to identify the body by dental records?" Also, there are too many characters. I want to follow one person's story and get emotionally involved. Jumping back and forth from one character's story to another's just made me care less about each one. I will always wait for a Marian Keyes book, but I did not keep this one. I donated it to the library.
love marian keyes July 24, 2008 I love her writting. I had to stop myself from reading it in one sitting so I could relish it.
Borrow, Don't Buy July 21, 2008 I agree with some others who have given this book a middling review. I've never read any other Keyes books, so I can't speak to how this one compares.
My main comments are: 1) I agree with reviewers who say the story of the first narrator, Lola, is written in a very annoying way that seems to ape "Bridget Jones' Diary" for no good reason, even when she's quoting others. 2) This book is very Irish, meaning there are lots of references here that may seem foreign and a little puzzling to the American reader. And 3)It is too long and slow in many parts.
Having said that, I'm not sorry I read it...just glad that I borrowed it from the library rather than spending close to $20 for a very disposable summer read.
Hoped for better July 20, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Have enjoyed other books by Marian Keyes, and eagerly awaited this one but after reading, came away disappointed with the story. It took a long time for the storyline to actually get going and develop (I was over the 300 page mark before it did pick up).
One issue I did have was the writing of Lola's character (portrayed only in diary format, and so only real perspective we get on her life, is by Lola - reminds me of those books that are written only in email conversations - lacking in character depth). Apart from this, the other characters were more interesting and better portrayed to the reader.
Finally, a poor ending in which "the charming man" was not dealt with adequately or realistically (or idealistically??) left me feeling that the author wasn't quite sure how best to end this story and took an easy and disappointing ending to a 650 page book.
Loved it! July 16, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Excellent book! It is slightly darker than her other novels, but it is just as good as all her books. I read it in 2 days. I highly recommend it!
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