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Looking For Recommendations > A little help pls with Marian Keyes

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message 1: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of reading a Marian Keyes next and these are the ones I have on my bookshelf:

Angels
Anybody out There?
The Other Side of the Story
Last Chance Saloon
Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married

Just wondering if you kind people could recommend which of the above I should read first, which one did you like?

Thanks heaps everyone. Been able to do quite a bit of reading lately because was in a minor car accident on Saturday and have had to rest up, it's great to be able to read books and posts on here, although I haven't been contributing as much but be sure that I am reading them.

Have a great day :)


message 2: by Bluedaizy (new)

Bluedaizy | 135 comments Sorry about the accident Mandy. Hope no one was seriously hurt and that you'll be back on your feet soon.

I can't help you with your selection as I've never read any of the author's books, but wanted to express my condolences as I totally empathize with you as I was in an accident about a month ago. I don't think I was seriously hurt, but the insurance companies are trying to give me a heart attack. My blood pressure is certainly on the rise! :)

Take it easy and take care of yourself! :)


message 3: by Jen (last edited Jul 16, 2008 06:01PM) (new)

Jen | 278 comments Mandy - I haven't read any Keyes so I'm not much help in that area. I just wanted to send you some best wishes. I hope you are feeling OK and heal quickly!


message 4: by Mandy (last edited Jul 16, 2008 05:50PM) (new)

Mandy Thanks, Bluedaizy. Nothing too serious thank goodness, some whiplash and damage to the back but I'm having physio and that seems to be helping. A couple of other ladies involved have broken ribs so I came off better than them and of course there's damage to the cars but at least we're alive.

It's more the inconvenience of all the paperwork you have to fill out, can't believe how much!! And I got a letter from the insurance company and it was rather brash, I felt like I was being yelled at but that would just be their standard letter. Still it's the last thing you want to be worried about, filling out all that paperwork.

Sorry to hear about your accident and I hope no damage pops up in the future for you.

Thanks again for your well wishes :)


message 5: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Thanks, Jen. Oh, this group is fantastic, you guys are making feel better already!!


message 6: by ScottK (new)

ScottK | 535 comments ew back problems suck, I have continual problems with my L4/L5 area. At least that's what the Dr. says. Heal well and fast!!


message 7: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Thanks, ScottK. Back problems do suck and they interfere with everything, especially seeings as my job is as a typist of court documents, just no way I could sit in the chair all day and type. I hope you don't suffer too badly with your back problems.


message 8: by Liz (new)

Liz | 6 comments I liked

The Other Side of the Story and Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. I haven't read any of the others Hope that helps :-)


message 9: by Bluedaizy (new)

Bluedaizy | 135 comments I'm betting my advice of "get a lawyer" would go to waste, hunh, Mandy, seeing as how you're a court reporter? :)

I'm hoping no lasting damage, too, but the insurance companies are seriously driving me crazy. I'm in the process of getting legal advice and I'm so tired of telling my story over and over and over. I have to keep telling it in different ways to get people to understand the problem. ARRRGGGGHHHHH!

Seriously, I hope you know a good lawyer. I pooh poohed the suggestion when I first had the accident. I'm sorry about that now.

Rest easy and gather your strength. Best wishes to you! :)


message 10: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Oh, I'm sick of telling the story indeed!!

Lawyer - hm, well Mum suggested that too and I will give it some thought but really compared to what other people must claim surely they'd just want to pay me my bit to cover physio etc and forget about me. I know a bit about the law so hopefully that will help me out when I'm dealing with them. If they give me trouble then I may call on a lawyer and luckily I've heard a few good lawyer's names in my time so should be able to find a good one easily.


message 11: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Thanks, Liz, I've heard a few people mention Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married was quite good.


message 12: by Sherry (last edited Jul 16, 2008 07:00PM) (new)

Sherry Hi Mandy,so sorry to read of your accident.I was in a minor one years ago and my back has never been the same.Just don't close any doors until you know for sure.

Sorry to read of your troubles as well BlueDaizy.

Mandy,I have read most of these as she is one of my favourite authors.I loved Anybody Out There.It is really a wonderful story and is so well done,it's one of my favourite books.

Last Chance Saloon is very good as well,but not as good as AOT.It does offer several stories from different characters points of view which makes for a good read.


message 13: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Thanks, Sherry. These books all look so big but I'm guessing they're pretty easy to fly through??

Seems like everyone's had an accident somewhere along the line, sorry to hear of yours as well, Sherry, and that your back has never been the same, it definitely gives me food for thought and that I best document everything, even if it's a year down the track.


message 14: by Lori, Super Mod (new)

Lori (tnbbc) | 10620 comments Mod
Mandy, wow. Sorry to hear about your accident. Sometimes just the accident itself is painful enough (on the car, the wallet, and the head) without all the other body pains. I do hope you are following drs orders.. and reading really can take the mind off the problems, even if it is only for a little while :)

I know Ive read at least two of those (Last Chance, and Lucy) but Im having a hard time remembering them. I would have to say Lucy Sullivan b/c that one just triggers my memory better.


message 15: by Sherry (new)

Sherry Absolutely!Don't compare your injuries with the others and then make the mistake of minimizing them.You could still be having problems down the road and I imagine things aren't feeling so hot right now!

The books do fly by quickly,and because there are really several stories in each book(with the exception of AOT)the books feel easier to get through.Your interest is always maintained.

AOT skips back and forth in the time line which also makes for a very interesting and quick read.


message 16: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Thanks, Lori, Drs orders indeed, I love reading and all but I do feel a little useless at the moment :)

I must say that the pain seems to be in the back of my mind whilst reading, so any excuse to keep reading right - ha ha!!

Sherry, seeings as she's one of your favs what book of hers is your ultimate favourite? Not that I want to buy any more books (she says smiling coyly)


message 17: by Sherry (new)

Sherry Without question Anybody Out There.It was the first I read of hers and I immediately had to go out and buy the rest,I loved it that much.That book had me laughing and crying,it's a really lovely story.


message 18: by Mandy (new)

Mandy I think I may go with Anybody Out There and then Lucy, they seem to be the ones that I've heard along the lines and through the threads the most.


message 19: by Sherry (new)

Sherry Hope you enjoy it.


message 20: by ScottK (last edited Jul 16, 2008 07:30PM) (new)

ScottK | 535 comments Sherry not to horn into another topic but with your comment above (#17)That is exactly how I felt about repairman Jack series. Once I read The Tomb I was hooked.


message 21: by Lori, Super Mod (new)

Lori (tnbbc) | 10620 comments Mod
(smiles in Scotts direction and gives a descreet thumbs up)


message 22: by Bluedaizy (new)

Bluedaizy | 135 comments ok, I'd love to see a discreet thumbs up. I don't think that's possible. (sniffs in disbelief)




message 23: by ScottK (new)

ScottK | 535 comments Sure there are many ways to do it :
1) Act like you are scratching your head.
2) Hide it behind a scarf or jacket corner.
3) Put it behind your back and act like you have an itch. The list could go on and on , however I am at a loss as to what else to put on it. :)


message 24: by Lori, Super Mod (last edited Jul 16, 2008 07:53PM) (new)

Lori (tnbbc) | 10620 comments Mod
I like to pull mine out of my pocket. just a peek of a thumb... hee hee

btw Scott, I think Daizy is still sniffing your sarcasm from the other post... hahaha


message 25: by Bluedaizy (new)

Bluedaizy | 135 comments hehehehe :)


message 26: by ScottK (new)

ScottK | 535 comments I tend to be a bit full of it .......sarcasm that is sarcasm. It is one of my more loveable traits.


message 27: by Lori, Super Mod (last edited Jul 16, 2008 08:00PM) (new)

Lori (tnbbc) | 10620 comments Mod
Is it cute sarcasm, like Chandler from friends, or assy..I mean sassy.. sassy sarcasm like Adam Sandler? teehee... Just had to ask!


message 28: by ScottK (new)

ScottK | 535 comments As I get older I get more assy or is that gassy????!!. Anyway Mr Sandler and Chandler are both guys that I would be honored to be lumped together with......that leads to another comment but I will NOT go there.


message 29: by Lori, Super Mod (new)

Lori (tnbbc) | 10620 comments Mod
Oh My!!! I do like both as well. Well, for different reasons, but still...

Scott, you are the resident funnyman tonite! Im loving it :)


message 30: by ScottK (new)

ScottK | 535 comments It's a curse really. :)


The Book Whisperer (aka Boof) Mandy sorry to hear about your accident but enjoy your relaxing/readaing time.

I haven't read any of Keyes yet but I really think I should as I have heard great things. I have Anybody Out There on my shelf but does anyone who has read Keyes recommend reading them in order (I understand that all her books are about one family, a different sister each time so does it matter which order you read them in?)

Get well soon!


message 32: by Mandy (new)

Mandy Thanks, Boof!


message 33: by Jessica (new)

Jessica | 1000 comments Boof, I have only read two books of Keyes and I would personally recommend reading Rachel's Holiday before Anybody Out There, simply because you get some back story about Rachel's life who makes several apperances in AOT.


message 34: by Sherry (new)

Sherry Boof,Anybody Out There was my first book of hers I read and did not feel out of the loop by having read it first.Actually I enjoyed re-visiting the character and seeing how she had grown.


message 35: by Joanie (new)

Joanie | 714 comments Hi Mandy, Hope you're up on your feet soon!

I love Marian Keyes-she's great. Lucy Sullivan is hysterical and not part of a series so you could start there. Both Angels and Anybody Out There are about the Walsh sisters, Angels comes before AOT but after Rachel's Holiday and Watermelon. I liked AOT but after having read the other books about the Walsh sisters I was really really annoyed at how they changed Anna's character of AOT. If you haven't read any of the others you'll probably enjoy the book more. I liked both The Other Side of the Story and Last Chance Saloon but not as much as Lucy Sullivan-I'd definitely start there.

Feel better!


message 36: by Terri (new)

Terri (terrilovescrows) | 218 comments I LOVED both Rachel's Holiday and Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. I never even noticed they were about the same family. That shows how stand alone they were to me


message 37: by Mandy (new)

Mandy (mettakaruna) What did you think of the books? My favorite is Lucy Sullivan is getting married.


message 38: by [deleted user] (new)

I love Marian Keyes! Read Last Chance Saloon first. Oh, and get your hands on Rachel's Holiday, its brilliant!


message 39: by Claire (new)

Claire | 30 comments About the Walsh sisters ones - I read Anyone Out There on recommendation first, and I went back and read the others in order - Watermelon, Rachel's Holiday and then Angels, which worked pretty well.

My favourites were Rachel's Holiday and Anyone Out There.


message 40: by Angela (new)

Angela | 1934 comments Watermelon was my first and favorite... I also enjoyed This Charming Man


message 41: by Jeane (new)

Jeane (icegini) | 4891 comments I only read one and it was a couple of weeks ago, Angels. I thought it would be an empty, stupid and light story. Only light was correct because I really enjoyed it and it didn't seems stupid or empty. I think I might read others from this author.


message 42: by Erin (new)

Erin (echoudhary) | 2 comments ok - love Marian Keyes and I would recommend starting with Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married. If you like Marian Keyes, you should try Jane Green too. I loved Jemima J A Novel About Ugly Ducklings and Swans


message 43: by Carol (new)

Carol (caroldias) I´d start with Watermelon. I never read her, and I´m starting from the beginning lol But that´s just me, I like to read Series in the order they were published


message 44: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Ashman | 15 comments Terri wrote: "I LOVED both Rachel's Holiday and Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. I never even noticed they were about the same family. That shows how stand alone they were to me"

I think they are actually stand alone books. the walsh family books are: watermelon, angels, Rachel's holiday and Anybody out there. lucy sullivan is separate to the walsh family i think...


message 45: by Jeane (new)

Jeane (icegini) | 4891 comments I have watermelon from a friend who told me it is very good.


MB (What she read) I'd go for "Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married" then "Anybody Out There". The others you have listed are not my favorites by Keyes. I'd recommend "Watermelon" and "Rachel's Holiday" if you can get copies.

If you want to read about the Walsh Sisters in order, start with "Watermelon".


message 47: by Liz (new)

Liz Mandy, I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. Also, it's not one you said you owned, but I read Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes and really enjoyed it. I'd highly recommned it!


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