Cause Celeb [Import] [Paperback]

Helen Fielding (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Picador; New Ed edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0330340395
• ISBN-13: 978-0330340397
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,035,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting, engrossing, pretty unique read, September 8, 2000

By 

E. M. Carey "LGW" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cause Celeb (Paperback)

Having enjoyed the Bridget Jones books like so many others, I was curious to see what else Helen Fielding had written, and came across Cause Celeb. I didn't have any specific expectations, although I suppose I was hoping for more of Fielding's wit and keen observations. I was very pleasantly suprised by this book, and came away from it quite impressed by Fielding's capabilities as an author.

This time, the heroine is Rosie Richardson, a London woman who has somehow fallen into a career that she doesn't quite seem to like or understand, has a penchant for the wrong type of man, and ditches it all to go do relief work in famine stricken Africa (the last bit was definitely not what I had expected!). As the 'wrong' man is somewhat of a celebrity, the readers get a peek into the exclusive world of the famous, with it's etiquette, rules and self-importance. The contrast between this world and that in Africa is, of course, enormous, but Fielding does not get overtly moralistic and simply presents the two universes as they co-exist and occasionally intermingle.

The characters are wonderful, from preening celebrities to other relief workers to the Africans. Rosie's encounters with all of them are funny, interesting and well-fleshed out. And Fielding has great fun with the concept of celebrity and it's ridiculousness, with using the famous to raise money for causes and whom it helps more - the celebrities orthe needy? The descriptions of the horrors of famine and starvation are presented speak for themselves. I got so engrossed in the book that I found myself having to put it down at times, too stressed the relief wouldn't arrive in time for those who needed it!

My one minor complaint about the book - which did not prevent me from enjoying it tremendously - is that there was so much going on that I didn't really feel I knew Rosie all that well. I appreciated her wit, her humanity, her togetherness and so on, but I never got a clear picture of her - it was kind of blurry amidst so many other characters and such a huge background. But this is a small issue, and I problably noticed it only because the Bridget books were so much about Bridget that we saw everything through her eyes. Although Rosie narrates the book, it isn't quite as much her story.

Still, I highly recommend Cause Celeb to anyone who enjoyed the Bridget books or who would like to read an engrossing book that tells an interesting, not overdone, story.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swam right through it..., January 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cause Celeb (Paperback)

Having absolutely LOVED "Bridget Jones' Diary" (Can't wait for the sequel! ), I was glad to find another title by Ms. Fielding. This book didn't quite have the ever-present humor of "Bridget", but since it's set in a more sobering community I can forgive. I thought it was easy to read, kept me interested, and gave me some small sense of Learning Something. I enjoyed it very much.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something to tide me over..., March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cause Celeb (Paperback)

After gobbling down The Edge of Reason I was curious to read Fielding's first novel, and hoping to re-experience some of the style I so enjoyed (actually, loved!) with Bridget. Cause Celeb fits the bill. While the protagonist is a less-extreme Bridget, more sure of herself in general, you can see Bridget's roots in Rosie and Fielding's style evolving. While the Bridget books are, let's face it, poor, unbridled silliness (Hurrah! What fun!), Cause Celeb has more of a social conscience, not only regarding the plight of Africa but with Rosie herself acknowledging she is worthy of more than being a doormat for the lunacy of a man. And, the best thing, tho superfluous...it's a slower read than Bridget, delaying the inevitable "What do I read now?" feeling! Keep 'em coming, Helen! Mmmmmm...