Posted on by Tulika

F for Helen Fielding


Born 1958

F brings out
another woman – Fielding, Helen, of Bridget Jones fame. A self confessed Austen
fan Helen says she picked inspiration from her books. I mentioned it here while talking about Austen. Fielding gave chick-lit a whole new dimension. Rather than looking at pure romance she tackled a thousand other issues that plague single women.

Early days

Fielding studied
English before she started working with the BBC as a researcher. While at the
BBC she travelled to Sudan and then wrote and produced documentaries in Africa
for fundraising broadcasts. That’s where the idea for her first book Cause Celeb
came from. The book was praised but made little money. Meanwhile,
Helen turned journalist and wrote columns for various newspapers even as she
struggled to work on her second book. Bridget Jones’s Diary brought her instant fame and was followed by a sequel, Edge of Reason and then Bridget Jones – Mad about the Boy. She has done other books too including Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination.

The birth of
Bridget

When she was
asked by a London newspaper to do a column on her own life as a single woman
she had no idea it would lead to Bridget Jones. She refused to do the column
saying it would be too embarrassing, too personal. However, she did agree to write
anonymously creating a fictional character in her 30s negotiating single life
in London. The column became immensely popular. She was still trying to finish her second novel. However, her identity as the person behind the column was revealed and her publishers asked her to convert it into a book.

I love
Bridget Jones’s Diary because…

Bridget refuses to fit into any regular ‘heroine’ mould 
She’s neither pretty and delicate nor strong and capable. She’s just funny and sweet and goofy and self deprecating. Just like me, is always struggling
with weight troubles and (not quite like me) boyfriend troubles. She has a mother who refuses to
leave her alone (mine doesn’t either!) and friends who keep giving her all kinds of bizarre advice. Even
better – in the end she finds a wonderful man who is good-looking, rich
and above all loves her ‘Just as she is’. What’s not to like? I’ve actually done loads of things that happen in the book like..

– Hitting the gym with a vengeance in anticipation of a big event.
– Or wallowing in self pity
– Or yelling out to my kids during a phone conversation with someone like a typical Smug married.

I love the diary format of the book
It makes the whole story-telling much more personal and Bridget can get away with saying a lot of hilariously embarrassing (sometimes downright gross) stuff because she’s only talking to herself.

I love the vocabulary.. 
..that Fielding coined. Smug marrieds, Singletons and mentionistis.

I also recommend the movie, if you’ve not seen it already starring the amazing Rene Zellweger, a very delicious Colin Firth and a devilish Hugh Grant.

************

Tomorrow’s author, ladies and gentlemen, isn’t an easy one to guess. Here’s the clue – she’s a British lady who wrote historical romances with a dash of mystery and loads of wit. No googling please!
This post is part of the April A to Z Challenge, 2014 for the theme AMAZING AUTHORS.


Also linking to the Ultimate Blog Challenge.

48 Replies to “F for Helen Fielding”

  2. I seem to have missed BJ-Mad about the boy. Must look it up.
    My main crib about the movie is Renee Zellweger as BJ. I imagine Drew Barrymore a better fit. But that's just me, I'm sure. Colin Firth is himself, adorable! 🙂

    Reply

  5. Haven't read the book, but I loved the movie and the sequel. 🙂 I think many of us can relate to certain aspects of Bridget's character.

    Reply

    1. Well some Chiklits are plain romantic drivel and some are sweet romances and some offer much more. I think it's not a good idea to club them all together and write them off. Do try one of these.

      Reply

  15. Have seen the movie in bits and pieces and haven't read the book. Have added it in my TBR list and will be bought soon!! Love the way you are doing this series, Tulika!! ♥

    Reply

  19. Ye ye — the delicious Colin Firth… 🙂 Have read one book and seen the films.. Too funny, at least the first one was hilarious… Lovely write-up:-)

    Reply

  24. Hey, that's an interesting and innovative take on the author, Tulika. I admire the way she led her life on her own to carve her own niche and place in a word set by rules.
    Cheerz

    Reply

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