h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A598755

There is definitely too much that could be said about this book, so I've tried to keep it comprehensive but minimal, also leaving room for an independent entry on the film of the book by not discussing it here.

Please comment - I value your input.

Pinkd.

v.g. short to the point, covers all the necessery parts for a novice reader and enough analysis for people who have read it.
Just 1 point [very columbo], I think you need to put in the ISBN number for those people in countries where they would have to order it.

Researcher PSG

p.s. I can't remember if you mentioned a ritualistic addiction to the scales, but if you haven't you should, if you have please forgive my lapse in memory.

Mentioned whole weight thing, but prob could have been marginally more emphatic - I'll read it over.

As for ISBN number...v.v.g. yourself. I didn't think of that at all. Off to look it up.

ta v much

Pinkd.

All right, I am now going to risk social ostracism. I read some of "Bridget Jones' Diary" - and didn't like it.
And this was a big disappointment, because I am an avid consumer of humourous books. Terry Pratchett, Sue Townsend, Nick Hornby, Sandi Toksvig, and of course DNA - all of these people have brightened my life no end.
But I just couldn't get on with "Bridget Jones' Diary" at all. Bridget seems like a character time-warped forward from an era before feminism was invented, pathetically convinced that everything will be OK if only she can Get Her Man. Matters aren't helped by the fact that she has terrible taste in men, being attracted to loathsome managerial types. I struggled through about half the book before getting bored and giving up, unable to care about the characters in the story beyond a vague feeling that they probably all deserved each other.
Now, I do realise that taking that view puts me in a minority. "Bridget Jones" is undeniably a phenomenon of our times, if not a classic, and there probably should be an Edited Guide Entry about it. But that Entry should not assume that everyone regards the book as a work of genius. Pink D, you begin by saying that the book is a modern classic because lots of people have read it and many more will read it. I'd say that makes it a best-seller, not a classic. I bought it because of all the hype around it, and then wished I hadn't. Massive sales alone do not a classic make - after all, lots of people bought Jeffrey Archer's books.
I don't think you've adequately explained what's good about the book, why it's funny - why these characters seem to strike a chord with so many people. They certainly don't seem much like anyone I know or would want to know - although of course, that possibly says more about my choice of friends than about Ms. Fielding's book. (And before anyone asks: yes, I do have quite a few female friends, but thankfully none of them are as pathetic as Bridget).
Finally, a couple of style points: if you're trying for an Edited Guide Entry, you should try to avoid writing in the first person. I also think it looks better if you avoid using words that have to be partially asterisked out, so it might be better if you could think of an alternative to "f**wittery", except when quoting from the book. I know it's one of Bridget's favourite words, but those who haven't read the book won't know that, and will think you're just swearing for no good reason.

OK, I'll take another look at it from your perspective, and I must say my first draft was very bland and unbiased, but after looking at other guide entries I decided it had more energy with a bit more of an enthusiastic approach. Maybe I should moderate that a bit.

You've got some really good points there, but I will indulge in a teeny bit of self defence, if only for the people I think will tell me I've underextolled the book's virtues.

As far as identifying is concerned, I think it is unfortunate that there are more single women in the world who rely on chocolate, fags and booze in those dark moments, or who've looked at a lad's mag centrefold and wanted to cry because they can't lose that spare tyre...than there are single women who are happy with their figure or their life. Of course there are some, and I envy them, but I certainly don't think they're the norm. Having said that, it does read unbalanced. I should perhaps add some of the feminist criticisms of BJ (she's also a feminist icon in some circles, go figure) as a subsection.

The other thing I missed out, (NB must rectify) which accounts for the happy ending as well as being a major theme of the book, is the Jane Austen parallels...which may also go towards explaining the non-pc subtexts. I think you're supposed to feel BJ's a bit sad, but so are lots of people, and that's fine.

RE: f*******ery - I may just need to put it in quotes to make it clear I'm not using it out of hand...tho it is one of the better words I found to describe the whole London dating process, believe me.

Pinkd...:o)

Not at all bitter, or twisted. I've been out of the London scene for only six months, and I'm still smarting from the f***witt..no, there really is no synonym.

OK, I'll take another look at it from your perspective, and I must say my first draft was very bland and unbiased, but after looking at other guide entries I decided it had more energy with a bit more of an enthusiastic approach. Maybe I should moderate that a bit.

You've got some really good points there, but I will indulge in a teeny bit of self defence, if only for the people I think will tell me I've underextolled the book's virtues.

As far as identifying is concerned, I think it is unfortunate that there are more single women in the world who rely on chocolate, fags and booze in those dark moments, or who've looked at a lad's mag centrefold and wanted to cry because they can't lose that spare tyre...than there are single women who are happy with their figure or their life. Of course there are some, and I envy them, but I certainly don't think they're the norm. Having said that, it does read unbalanced. I should perhaps add some of the feminist criticisms of BJ (she's also a feminist icon in some circles, go figure) as a subsection.

The other thing I missed out, (NB must rectify) which accounts for the happy ending as well as being a major theme of the book, is the Jane Austen parallels...which may also go towards explaining the non-pc subtexts. I think you're supposed to feel BJ's a bit sad, but so are lots of people, and that's fine.

RE: f******tery - I may just need to put it in quotes to make it clear I'm not using it out of hand...tho it is one of the better words I found to describe the whole London dating process, believe me.

Pinkd...:o)

Not at all bitter, or twisted. I've been out of the London scene for only six months, and I'm still smarting from the f***witt..no, there really is no synonym.

PS: sorry, where do I go into the first person? I just gave it a look over and I can't find the bit you're referring to.

OK, I've reread the piece and so it's my turn to apologise - you're right, you never actually go into the first person. I was wrong, and I'm sorry about that. But perhaps I got that impression because the Entry seems like such a personal endorsement of the book.
I didn't get the "Jane Austen" allusions, either, probably because I've never read that book; but if they're there, then that does confirm my feeling that Bridget seems like a heroine from an earlier era.

And of course Jane Austen was an author, not a book. But the point about Bridget being a distinctly old-fashioned kind of heroine remains valid.

Specifically, Helen Fielding has been quoted (darn, can't find an online reference but it was in the SMH the other day) that BJ's diary is a modern version of Pride and Prejudice.
Upon reflection this rises to the status of 'bleeding obvious' - she named the romantic hero D'Arcy for peats sake. Also the constant references to Colin Firth's portrayal of the original Mr D'Arcy in the BBC TV version of P&P as the ideal man for Bridget is a bit of a give away, or is it a red herring?

Anyone contemplating a movie entry to supplement this could write a whole think piece on the irony of casting one C Firth as Mark D'Arcy in the film.

Still a chick flick though

Same to you (on the sticking out tongue front)

Yes, P&P - in fact, isn't there a quote when she first meets Mark that anyone named Darcy really shouldn't stand in a corner at a party looking aloof because it just invites p**s-taking? (Can't be bothered to look up exact quote right now - too late in the evening, I mean morning, for thay.)

Anyhoo, I was clearly alluding to P&P - Like mr 47 here I did think it was bleeding obvious - so I apologise for being unclear there. And I take the point it does make her seem outdated. Unfortunately, not everyone's as trendy as they like to think...ha ha.

It's only a chick flick because no heterosexual male can really appreciate Colin in all his glory (and I'm referring to the BBC P&P as well) - love to know how they're intending to film Edge of Reason tho, considering it has both Darcy and Firth in it. Paradox or what.

You use the word f**kwittage twice in this entry. It is not a word I have ever heard. It it from the book or is it a word you yourself use? Perhaps you could think of some other way of saying it at least one of the two times.

Hiya

Yes, it is a word from the book. I think I'd better use quotes to make that obvious - and I agree I should probably substitute something else for one.

Thanks for taking time to comment
Pinkd.

I loved that word from the book, and was disappointed to see that it didn't make the film. It describes men to a tee. Nice entry btw.

I forgot to say that I'm not too keen on her being called slightly-overweight Bridget, as her weight as noted in her diary is fine, unless she's a midget.

The trouble is that is how Bridget sees herself.

Good point - am going off to think of way to describe person who thinks she's overweight but isn't necessarily by normal peoples' standards. (Any suggestions gratefully received)
Pink.

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to ''Bridget Jones's Diary' by Helen Fielding '.

This thread has been moved out of the Peer Review Forum because your entry has now been recommended for the Edited Guide.

You can find out what will happen to your entry here: http://www.h2g2.com/SubEditors-Process

Congratulations!