Bridget Jones: Mad About The Plot

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imageIt was 11am and I was hanging out of the lounge window, smoking a cigarette. My head was pounding from the consumption of my entire bodyweight in Sambuca shots the night before and my feet were swollen and sore from the ridiculously high heels that I had insisted on wearing, despite knowing that I would only last half an hour in them before I had to take them off. I had make-up smeared down my face, my hair was creating it’s own style and had managed to stick up all over the place at the back and to finish the whole ensemble I was sporting my enormous blue ‘Winnie The Pooh’ dressing gown. Gorgeous. I heard the door open and in walked one of my nine flatmates (I lived in a flat of ten at my university Halls of Residence). He’d been up early and was returning from the gym, as he always did at the weekend. He looked at me, smiled and said:

“Morning Bridget!”

I laughed and greeted him and we had a nice little conversation before I went back to bed to sleep off the enormous hangover.

My name isn’t Bridget, but when I was at university several accurate comparisons were made between me and Bridget Jones, and the name stuck, almost as a nickname.

mark-darcy-bridget-jonesI didn’t mind in the slightest – I was a little late to jump on the Bridget bandwagon – but after reading the first book I was hooked. Despite being ten years younger than her at the time of my first encounter, I could relate to her in every way. I was single, smoked and drank too much with my equally ‘Bridget -esque’ friends, wore enormous pants, was dealing with my parents separation, I felt that I was overweight, I was having huge flirtations with my ‘bad guy’ boss at work and I was desperately looking for my Mark D’Arcy. I didn’t know any ‘smug married couples,’ mainly due to my age, but I certainly knew plenty of ‘smug couples’ and I dreaded going to their houses for dinner parties as I always felt like the odd one out. I also related to the endless, mortifyingly embarrassing moments that she experienced – these were (and still are) quite prevalent in my life, but I loved that she always managed to overcome them and land on her feet. Bridget became my idol.

When ‘The Edge Of Reason’ was released I enjoyed it almost much as the first book, which is unusual for me as I sometimes find sequels quite tedious. Yes, it was a little far fetched in certain places, but the same Bridget was there, bumbling her way through her various adventures. I believe that the only acceptable term for how I felt about the ending of the book was ‘squeeeeee.’ I was delighted.

When I heard there was a sequel I was ecstatic. However, a few weeks ago I went to stay at my mother’s house. I’d had a really tough time and the only place that I wanted to be was snoozing on her couch, surrounded by her stinky dogs. We decided to watch a film and chose Bridget Jones’s Diary, which is a favourite of ours – it isn’t as good as the book but they did a great job with adapting it for the big screen. Just as it started my mother said:

“Ooh have you heard? They’ve killed off Mark D’Arcy in the new book!”

Chuck-and-Sarah-season-4-zachary-levi-15615901-500-281I was gutted. Genuinely gutted. The news can only be compared to when my horrible ex-boyfriend bought the new Harry Potter, read it in a day and then handed it to me, saying, “Dumbledore dies at the end…” or watching the last half of Season 5 of Chuck (it broke my heart – they should have finished with Season 4).

I’m not good at dealing with tragedy, either in real-life or in fiction. I like my films, TV shows and books to end in a way that satisfies me, despite knowing rationally that life isn’t like that. I love the fantasy of the ‘happy-ever-after’ and in my mind that was the world in which Bridget lived with Mr D’Arcy. While some have applauded Helen Fielding for being brave enough to approach the plot from this angle, I’m actually a little annoyed at her for destroying this for me.

This is the main issue of my dilemma. Do I read the book (which hasn’t received good reviews at all), deal with the death of Mark D’Arcy and accept the ‘sloaney’ character that she has been repeatedly described as in these reviews, or do I just simply ignore the whole thing? Do I want my memories of Bridget to be completely changed???

Disclaimer: I’m aware that she is a fictional character. Just so you know I’m not insane.

Picture Credits:
Bridget Jones: Working Title Pictures
Chuck and Sarah: NBC

38 thoughts on “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Plot”

  1. I also loved the first two books but I didn’t know about the latest book, it’s been a while! I don’t know about reading it… often I think reviewers are hyper-critical and I’d like to read the book myself and make my own decision about it. Having said that though I don’t think I’ll rush out and buy this particular book. Have you decided yet Suzie?

    • Not sure yet – I’ll give it a while for the hype to calm down and may tackle it when i’ve got some time. So annoyed – I was really looking forward to it!

  2. LOL! You make me laugh. I love the entire Bridget Jones story, have both DVD’s and I recently heard about the killing off of Mr Darcy. I was bummed. How could this be? Yes, I know it is a piece of fiction, but still, it’s a story of love, and happily ever after. I’m totally devo about this. Why the need to kill off characters? Surely Helen Fielding could’ve come up with some other opening/ending? Arrghhh.
    I’ve not read the book. I’ll wait for the movie to come out and then watch it, and then pretend I didn’t know that Mr Darcy is up for the chop. lol

    Take it easy Bridget. :P~~

    • Haha! Thanks 😉
      I wonder how they’ll incorporate Colin Firth into the film? I read that he may return in flashbacks or as a ghost but I’m still annoyed about it!!

  3. =( That’s so sad to hear about Mark Darcy!!! =(
    I say still read it, though! You have to find out how he dies and what leads up to it and see how darling Bridget copes. Poor Bridget!! =(

  4. I read only 1st book as well as watched only the 1st film. Because I love to know only that happy ending version of my own Bridget Jones. Other that that, I won’t accept other endings at all even though the real author has written it.

  5. I had some logical, relevant comment to make, and then you mentioned season 5 of Chuck! I know! Most brutal ending to a comedy TV series ever, because it almost made the rest of it meaningless!
    Harry Potter spoiler alerts for books 5 and 6: I was there when friend A told friend B – who was reading the books for the first time – ; “I was so sad when Sirius Black died!”
    Friend A realised what she did when friend B glared at her. She apologised desperately, and said; “I’m sorry! I remember how angry I was when someone told me Dumbledore died in the sixth book!” and groaned when friend B decided she had to die.
    Another thought that relates a little more closely to your post; I remember watching The Simpsons, when Homer reads the Simpsons equivalent of Harry Potter to Lisa. They were supposed to read it together, every night. Then Homer peeks ahead and discovers Dumbledore dies. He knows Lisa will be gutted (like he was) so he makes a fake ending; where Dumbledore defeats Voldemort using his beard (in the Simpsons equivalent, it was his giant moustaches).
    But fictional characters and books when written extremely well have a life of their own. The original author has the licence to extend the reality with later books. Making up an alternative ending or pretending the next book plotline didn’t happen doesn’t really work. Deep down, you know Mark Darcy will die. But if you don’t read the book, you won’t know the circumstances or his last moments.

    • You’re absolutely right. Deep down, I know that he’s been killed off and there isn’t anything I can do about it. Still gutted about Chuck too! I didn’t watch it when it was on the TV – I bought all five box sets and watched them over the space of about five months, so I became attached to the characters really quickly.

      • I never watched it on TV either. A famous action author recommended I watch Chuck, and I went to the DVD store and hired it. This was when season three was came out. So I became very attached in a year or so.

      • It’s definitely one of the best TV shows I’ve ever seen – although i’m yet to tackle Breaking Bad which i’ve heard so many amazing things about!

  7. I love Bridget! More importantly, I love the eye candy that is Colin Firth… yes, I am bummed that he gets killed off, but as long as I can still see him in the film I will be fine…. as long as there is a fight scene with Daniel, I will be happy… great post. Thanks…

  8. Oh no. That’s so unfair. The author’s job is to keep those good characters alive for the rest of us! It’s hard to know if reading it would be beneficial or not. *sigh* Dilemmas.
    And I can’t even think about Chuck season 5. My heart is irreparably broken over that nonsense. 😦

  10. You’re gonna love my comment: I’ve never read Bridget Jones, either book. Saw one movie and thought is was OK but it didn’t ring the bells for me. You, however, have got me intrigued. I may have to read the books, at least the first. Thanks for the best promotion ever. Fielding ought to pay you a commission.

  11. I don’t know about you but I would have to read it anyway. Despite the fact that you already know the ending and it is a sad one… every one reads differently. That’s why books turned into movies are great at first til you see the movie. The story is always better in your own head. Let me know either way what you do!

  12. I love the books and the movies, but I hadn’t realized there was another one (in which he dies?! What is this?!)…I’m too curious a person to ignore another installment in a great series, but I totally get that attachment to fictional characters 🙂 I’d say go for it, at least you’ll know what happens!

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  16. I think it’s ridiculous she killed Mark, and I’m not reading it! I know this kind of thing happens in real life, but these were always humorous novels. I don’t care if she wanted it to be taken more seriously or what – for me, it’s just not in line with the other books!

  17. Aaahh, you are voicing my thoughts exactly – I NEED my happy endings!

    When I was a little girl I read a book about a horse; it started out awesome, but ended with the horse dying in an awful way. It broke my girly little heart. So I re-wrote that part to my liking and glued it in the book. Ha! Take that, bad ending.

  18. OMG, MARK DIES? The HORROR!

    I am obsessed with Bridget. They are my go-to feel good books & movies, and whenever I’m feeling sorry for myself she reminds me that it could be just a little bit worse. Loved this post!

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