Okay, okay, I kind of cheated with this one. I listened to the audiobook. But since I’ve only previously watched the film, I think it counts. I adore the film, as I think most women of my age do, so I was apprehensive about not enjoying the book.

I shouldn’t have worried. I love the book. It did take a while to get used to the writing style (or listening style in this case), but once I was in the flow, I finished the whole thing in under two days.

The plot

30-something Bridget is single, “overweight”, in a job she hates with a mad crush on her boss and has a mental mother. As a new year begins, she vows to keep a diary to hold herself accountable to some dubious new year’s resolutions. What follows are some mad escapades, a fair amount of sex and swearing, and a whole lot of reality and humour.

I don’t want to say much more as firstly, most people have seen the film. Secondly, it’s based on the famous book pride and prejudice, so most know the outline anyway, and thirdly, it’s fun to find out more yourself. I’d encourage you to read it.

The Book

I went into this reasonably confident I’d be fine. I knew the story, enjoyed the sense of humour, and as I was listening to the audiobook, I thought it would be a breeze. Ten minutes in, and I was not happy.

I hadn’t prepared myself for the writing style. It’s a diary, and while the film voiceovers are true to the book, the film has visuals that explain everything else. I wasn’t prepared for the short snippets, unusual punctuation and sudden time changes. It made it hard to really get stuck in like I do with other books.

Furthermore, I love film-version Bridget; Renee Zellweger is stunning and so loveable. But I found book Bridget much harder to love. To begin with, she comes across as much weaker, with less of a backbone, and she just complains nonstop. In one sentence, she says one thing then, thanks to the style of the book, the following line is her not keeping her word. It goes on like this for a while until she actually starts to voice her opinions and take control. Then she becomes a much stronger character and, consequently, more likeable.

Another major character change was Daniel. Perhaps it is just Hugh Grant being soppy, but he’s much more dislikeable in the book and not nearly so suave as he comes across in the films. An improvement, in my opinion. He was the only character I imagined differently. Everyone else was exactly as they are in the film.

I also noticed a major difference in the general storyline compared to the film. Films are never as detailed or nuanced as the book, and this was no exception. The ending with Bridget’s mum and Julian is the most significant plot change, and I see why they kept it out of the film. It all felt a little too much for me. Arguably the first time I think a film handled something better than the book!

If you enjoyed the film, you’d love the book even more.

The Cocktail

Champagne and strawberries… yes, please!

Champagne reminds me of parties, and since the book starts and ends with the new year, it’s an excellent base for the cocktail. A little bit of fizz never hurt anybody. The strawberries, of course, were a delightful addition and sweetened the drink just enough without being overpowering. The touch of lemon juice stopped this from being the kind of drink 16-year-olds would enjoy and gave it a tiny kick.

I will say that I didn’t get the strawberry consistency right at the start (I didn’t have a blender!) and ended up just drinking champagne with a tiny taste of strawberries at the end. Once I’d scooped the mess out the bottom with a spoon, I tried again, and the second attempt went much better. Maybe you need a glass to get you going before you get it right.

Sparkling and fruity but able to get you drunk fairly quickly means this cocktail was a perfect companion to the book. It’s just a little bit extra, totally over the top and unnecessary for a Wednesday evening and yet was very enjoyable.

If Bridget was a drink, she’d be this (but maybe with prosecco, not champagne)!

Book: 7/10

Taste: 8/10

Pairing: 10/10

Up Next: Gulliver’s Travels/ Gulp-iver’s Travels

The Mockingbird Project: Bridget' Jones’s Diary

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