Sushi for Beginners: A Novel

I love this book, although I wasn't so sure of it the first time I read it. I find it fascinating to glimpse into an idea of people's lives who have been brought up quite differently. Lisa is so hard, and tough, because - at least partially - she was dissatisfied with her poor upbringing. As she comes to understand herself better, she can be happy with who she is, and therefore be nicer to other people.Ashling is loyal and devoted, leading to her being walked on a fair bit. It takes a metaphoric slap in the face for her to experience and finally understand what her mother went through and allow her to process her childhood before she can mature.Clodagh is needed to make Ashling's 'slap' bigger, and to balance what Ashling is going through. She's the least likeable in my opinion, because although she is supposed to be devoting herself to rearing her children she doesn't seem to put much effort into them. I do particularly like that the book describes being alone with two small children day-in, day-out as being exhausting and lonely, though. That's something I personally experienced with my two boys when they were small.I read the US kindle version of this the other day, after 15 or so years of reading the paperback from Australia, and there are many small differences between them (lines left out or added, words/names changed, etc). I think it's sad that the versions can't be the same, which would give a more authentic experience to the reader. It makes me want to seek out the Irish/UK version in case my Aussie version is itself altered.

After not being totally impressed with the first Marian Keyes book I had read, I was a little hesitant to begin this one. I love this book! There are a couple of main characters and each has such a different personality and different obstacles in their life. It's funny how each person's life changes from what they learn from each other.This is a long book but worth every second you spending reading it. Some of the characters work in a new high fashion magazine, some are comics trying to make it and some are friends and relatives from the sidelines.The three main women in the book: Ashling is an ordinary girl with a compassionate and difficult past due to her mother is just trying to get by minimally in the magazine world, Lisa is the high flying editor knocking everyone over on her way to the top, including her parents and her husband, and Clodaugh the picture of a perfect life who is unhappy and bored with her life. Each person learns something from the others and their relationships change with the mistakes they make and the lessons they learn. It's a very good book!

'Sushi for Beginners' focuses primarily on two very different women thrown together by work. Lisa Edwards is a London sophisticate on a hot career track while Ashling Kennedy is the perfect second in command type person who wishes she had Lisa's elan and attitude. The two women meet at the start up of Colleen, an edgy Irish fashion magazine. The magazine and the two women's personal lives allow the introduction of a variety of interesting characters including Lisa's almost ex-husband, Ashling's feckless boyfriend and best friend, and Jack Devine, the handsome boss that both Lisa and Ashling find attractive.'Sushi for Beginners' follows Lisa and Ashling as they seek professional and persona success. As Lisa's marriage with the husband she still loves comes to an end, she discovers new aspect of herself and new priorities. The journey, however, is filled with funny mis-steps and misunderstandings. Ashling begins to learn to stand up for herself, and discovers true love simply by being herself.This is a very enjoyable novel, and one I found difficult to put down. The characters have enough foibles to be real, and the reader can empathize with the humiliation and embarassment both Lisa and Ashling encounter. The surrounding characters are personable, interesting, and accessible. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys 'chick lit' or Marian Keyes' other books.

I really enjoy Marian Keyes books, especially Lucy Sullivan Gets Married and Rachel's Holiday, I didn't like this book very much.I don't think the way the story is told allows you to have any real empathy of the characters. Lisa is too mean for you to care about, Ashling to much of a doormat and Clodagh is way to spoiled and selfish. Icouldn't care about these people because I didn't like them. I kep asking myself questions like: If Lisa wants to be with Oliver, why does she keep acting like such a fool and what does she gain by being so awful to everyone around her? Why would Ashling keep Clodagh as a close friend after she had already betrayed their friendship by helping herself to her friends boy friend? Mind you, I'm not saying you should ignore the man's part, but what kind of friend has so little respect for you that she would do this, and why would you want her in your life after she's done this? Why is Ashling such a door mat?I even put this book down and picked up Babyville (great book) so I could try to get back into it. Alas, by the end of this book I was just glad it was over, now I'm waiting for her next one. I hope it's better than this.

If you are a fan of Marian Keyes work, as I am, you may want to skip this book. (I can't believe I just typed that!) I found the subject matter in "Sushi" to be compelling, but Keyes just didn't give me any interesting characters! There was no one to cheer for. I didn't even care enough about Ashling to be on her side when she was getting jerked around! It may have had something to do with the way the book erratically skips around between their stories, never giving the reader time to bond or relate to any one character.It's a shame because I felt character development had been one of Keyes strongest talents. The Bottom Line: Make your way through Keyes' other books first!

I fell in love with Marian Keyes' work after reading  This Charming Man  so rather wildly I bought ten more of her books to read over the holidays. This was the first of the ten and thankfully she doesn't seem to have fallen into the trap of repeating the same material with just a different title. The characters were well described and the story was very easy to slip into. I found it very difficult to put down and kept making excuses to read more of it, at times I wished the commute to work could be longer just so I could get another chapter read! I couldn't predict the turns the story would take and I felt happily controlled by Keyes' great writing into hating some characters and loving others. The story doesn't have one main character and each of the characters are either written from the third person or think differently so that it is clear whose mind you are following at the time. My only gripe with this novel (and other ones that I have read) is that the female main characters all seem to be either unhappy with their bodies or do ridiculous things to keep them at the shape that they love. However this is probably just an accurate portrayal of how all women have little moans about some parts of their bodies but in truth we love them to pieces when we've got the right pair of undies or little dress on! This Charming Man

Overall impression was that Marian Keyes has written an enjoyable and lighthearted account of love, power and despair. The theme is a fairly well worn path of different personality types coming together and seeing how the mix reacts. I realised fairly early on who would end up with who but even so it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Can't say I laughed out loud at all but the humour was there, although for me rather understated. It would be nice if once in a while not everything ended up with happy smiling faces all round, I mean it doesn't always in real life does it? The argument might then be put forward that the humour would be out of place if the ending wasn't all hearts and flowers but I don't believe that. Black comedy can be a way of finding humour where unhappiness appears to reign. For some strange reason, not sure myself why, I thought that the last part of the book was the most satisfying. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the characters were starting to make sense not just to themselves but to others as well.

Love her books

One of my favourite books. Bought to give away

gift