How is it possible that 14 years have flown by since British author Helen Fielding's hilarious second Bridget Jones book was released? The books spawned movies that have been on the perennial 'most-watched comedies' and forged a forever place in our hearts for the 'perpetual singleton' that is apparently, still Bridget.
According to a slew of social media and press reports ramping up in anticipation of an October 10th (Oct 15th in the U.S by Knopf) publication of "Mad About the Boy", Bridget Jones' appreciation society should brace itself for the reappearance of a somewhat more mature single mother of two, diligently keeping on with her infamous dairy while submerged in today's social media mad-making of internet dating, twitter and texts.
An early review by Mademoiselle says: “Bridget Jones is a joy and comfort, and Helen Fielding is bloody great.”
And, according to Newsweek: “Life is full of guilty pleasures, and reading Bridget Jones’s diary is one of them.... Being Bridget’s soulmate is also to possess a sixth sense for the zeitgeist, a clutch of faithful friends and bags of Panglossian optimism.... Like that other gifted commentator Woody Allen, [Fielding] makes modern urban neuroses, if not art, then at least very, very funny.”
The author has confirmed that bad boy Daniel Cleaver as well as the dashing Mark Darcy, Bridget’s long-time suitors (portrayed by Hugh Grant and Colin Firth in the film versions), will pop up again for our reading pleasure, so to speak!
Fifty-four-year-old Fielding decamped from the UK for the Southern Californian lifestyle, following her global success with Bridget Jones. Having always denied the likeness between herself and her hit character, she and then partner, Simpson's show Executive, Kevin Curran raised their two children together in Los Angeles until a separation two years ago brought the Yorkshire, Northern-England-raised author and her kids back to London.
It makes sense that she would pen a new chapter in the life of Bridget Jones. One that has, by all accounts, less focus on the size of her thighs and units of alcohol consummed per day and more on the perils and pitfalls of dating as a single mom in the digital age.
Seventeen thousand fans on Facebook voted for the UK cover for the new book:
Here's how it will look in its American incarnation:
Comments