T. Bowman 2008-11-23

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I love Marian Keyes and always will, so I was pumped to see she had another book out. I was disappointed in her last book (Anybody Out There?) and looked forward to this one.

Per usual, it was funny and sharp with the right mix of serious subject matter and girly fun. But I felt like the first third was a bit off. I got irritated with the lack of pronouns in the Lola sections (it felt gimmicky, and gimmicky is beneath the fabulous Ms. Keyes.)

But when things started to gel, it was a real page-turner. I wish I could understand how all those women from all those different walks of life would fall for this loser with puffy hair, but hey, it's Marian Keyes - - I'll take her word for it.

Not my favorite, but by no means one to overlook.

Valerie A. Hearon 2008-11-15

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I love Marion Keyes, but I cannot get past the first chapter! How in the world is anyone expected to like some girl that talks or even thinks in this way?? It's like reading someone that is speaking in baby talk. I cannot like the character, so how can I like the book? I'm going to keep reading, simply because my sister said it is worth it, but it's hard to keep reading with all it's doing is annoying the life out of you. PLEASE never write in this style again. It's painful to read this chopped and screwed verbage. I am so disappointed in this book. I just cannot say how much Lola annoys me. I promise, it's like listening to a 3 year old. I'm truly hoping it gets better, but the book is horrible so far.

Guillermo Amaro 2008-11-15

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This is an extraordinary novel which tackles rough and serious subjects such as domestic violence, alcoholism, rape, and sexual perversions. Marian Keyes is not only a great writer, she is also an artist who paints her characters in a warm hearted light and with very humane and lovingly realistic characteristics, but above all she can paint them with a touch of self deprecation and lightheartedness that let her readers read on without feeling absolutely taken aback or shocked beyond reason which makes her novels palatable and 200% unique.
I have read absolutely every single one of Marian's books and I wish to God I could someday meet her in person because she must be incredible adorable and fun even in the darkest hours. What an exemplary writer for us all.

"This Charming man" is a book which brings us four voices; four women who have loved the same man at one point or another in their lives and who have been permanently marked and damaged because of loving him utterly and beyond reason. Who is this man you might ask yourself, well you will meet heartthrob Paddy de Courcy, aka the JFK Jr. of Ireland who is hailed to be the political savior of the country and who is and always will be a savagely sexy and persuasive man who always gets what he wants until our four women gather forces against him.
We meet Lola Daly first and foremost, she is a stylist with purple highlights (Molichino is the color she always claims she has) who's voice is presented to us in the style of a diary or journal and which is written in a type of short hand which makes it extremely funny, and I mean laugh out loud funny, to hear her out. Lola was checking eBid for a handbag when she learns that her relationship with Paddy is over... De Courcy to Wed is the headline and her shock is just heartbreaking. I loved Lola the most for her openness and flat out vulnerability.
Then we meet Grace Gildee, the strong willed and sensible reporter who is one of the first to know, what with working in a newspaper when word came in from a political correspondent. She kept her cool and acted as the true professional she has always been.
Next comes Marnie Hunter, Grace's twin sister who is always depressed, feeling down and under, and who harbors suicidal thoughts and tendencies using alcohol to numb her pain and her sorrows.
Finally interspersed in bits and pieces in this story is Alicia Thornton, Paddy's horse faced new fiancée.

"This Charming Man" is really extraordinary and unlike anything Keyes has written before. She's tackled tough subjects in the past, it's true, but the devastating and heinous nature of the depraved acts of violence and degradation described in this book take her storytelling to a new level.
The storyline is exciting and fast paced and it has a wonderfully cohesive plot that comes together through the four very real and flawed characters.

A must read for everyone out there. You will simply love it as much as I did; it's impossible to put down... I even feel like reading it all over again this is how much I found it delectable.

Stacy Harris 2008-11-10

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This book certainly covers some heavy topics, but I was eager to steal opportunities to keep reading this engaging book. I had a hard time putting it down and I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. I recommend this one!

Maria A. Solovieva 2008-11-06

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Unlike some of the readers that seem confused and frustrated by the first chapter of the book, I actually really enjoyed it. It is supposed to be the inner monologue of a depressed tired angry and sad woman that just got booted out of a bad relationship. The fact that sentences are fragmented and erratic actually brings you into the character's mindframe that much faster and adds humor and color to what would otherwise be whining and boring. I actually like her last two books better than any of the rest (with the exception of the other side of the story which was great too). The characters finally have more than one dimention and the multiple narrative makes a book about love and relationships stand out amongst a sea of similar books.