Customer Reviews

Sushi for Beginners : A Novel (Keyes, Marian)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

This is the sixth Keyes novel I have read. Generally, I find that she provides average-to-good reads, although for the type of fiction she writes, I find her books to be a bit too long. This novel was no exception, as the first half of the book really dragged; in particular, it was hard to get into the story because one of the main characters, Lisa, was not at all likeable. However, the book definitely picked up in the second half, when the characters became more three-dimensional and better developed. The story centers around Lisa, a hotshot London magazine editor who has been banished to Ireland to start up a new magazine; Ashling, the plain Jane who gets a job as an assistant editor of the magazine; and Clodagh, Ashling's gorgeous best friend who feels smothered by her roles as wife and mother. All three women are trying to sort our their work and love lives while also dealing with demons from their respective pasts. The cast of supporting characters adds interest, including Jack, Lisa and Ashling's boss; Joy and Ted, Ashling's supportive friends; Boo, a homeless man who Ashling befriends; and Oliver, Lisa's estranged husband. My actual rating of this book is three and a half stars: if you can hang in there through the somewhat boring first half, you'll be rewarded with several unexpected twists in the second half. A worthwhile read for fans of Keyes, but perhaps not for others.

Marian Keyes is deservedly known as the queen of contemporary womens' novels, and SUSHI will not disappoint either her long-time fans or those new to her work.

Set in the glitzy world of a high-fashion magazine with a detour through the madcap comedy club circuit, this book has its hand and heart on the pulse of young Dublin singles and marrieds who aspire to be successful, wealthy, and happy.

Ashling Kennedy is the heart of the story---the everywoman with boyfriend problems and weight problems. When she is offered a second banana spot on "Colleen" a new magazine for the upwardly mobile Dublin woman, she feels she has latched on to something really good. Unfortunately, her boss and editor-in-chief is the very disappointed Lisa Edwards. Instead of a big promotion to the New York office, this assignment feels like a passport to hell to the ultra-ambitious fashionista. Horrified at being shuffled out of London and off to Dublin, she vows to make this new magazine one the world will sit up and take note of.

Rounding out the trio of women is Ashling's best friend, Clodagh Kelly. Married to a handsome professional, the mother of two children, and tucked away in a beautiful home, Clodagh seems to have it all. The only glitch in her life is that she is bored and miserable.

The lives of the three women weave together and eventually collide as life takes some unexpected turns. An ex-husband, a wayward boyfriend, a handsome managing director, and staunch friends add interest to this story of surviving the daily grind and making it work for you.

Marian Keyes does it again with "Sushi For Beginners". This talented Irish author tackles the world of fashion magazines with her new tale, and does it with her usual charm and humor.

The backdrop of "Colleen" magazine is the perfect place to set up the main characters. First you have Londonite and fashionably dressed Lisa Edwards, who thinks that her life is over when she is shipped off to the great north to be the editor of this new magazine with a the smallest staff known to man, no perks, and well ---- it's in Ireland (which she thinks is a fate worse than death.)

The bright spot is the really sweet (sometimes overly sweet) Ashling Kennedy. Ashling is everything that Lisa is not. She's not fashionable, she's not worldly, she's not --- well, posh. But, she's the foundation of this book and really the driving force behind this great tale of work, love and friendships.

I don't think there is a better author out there than Marian Keyes and she didn't let me down with this one. I love "Sushi for Beginners" and would suggest it to any lover of this genre or great fiction in general.

Cheers!!!!!!

This is my first Marian Keyes's books and I understand now why she has so many fans. "Sushi For Beginners" deals with the world of magazines in Ireland. Lisa, a powerful editor for a magazine in London was transferred to Ireland to start a new magazine targeted at women called "Colleen." Lisa was terribly unhappy at this transfer as Ireland was dull and dreary compared to London and she considered it an insult. At the same time, she was recently divorced from her husband of four years. Lisa is one of those difficult boss/supervisor as she is extremely competitive, arrogant and expected nothing but the best. Her assistant editor, Ashling was the complete opposite.

Ashling is a big worrier and with somewhat low self-esteem. However, she is extremely kind, sensitive and caring. She found out that working for Lisa was extremely difficult as Lisa seemed to take it upon herself to make Ashling's life miserable. Then there is Jack, the managing editor at Colleen who also seemed to bully Ashling and Lisa had her eyes set on him. Other characters in the book include Clodagh, Ashling's best friend who is an unhappy housewife and mom, and who seemed to blame her husband for everything; Ted, Ashling's stand up comedian friend; and Marcus, another stand up comedian who seemed to be interested in Ashling.

There are definitely a lot of characters and plots in this book which at times can be a little confusing but once you get the hang of it, you will enjoy the book. The storyline is nothing new - the whole arrogant editor and victimized assistant but Marian Keyes adds subplots which makes the entire book quite a treat. In addition, there are definitely humor and romance in "Sushi For Beginners". This is a great summer read!

Marian Keyes shoots and scores again with another fantastic novel which centers around three modern singletons. Magazine editor Lisa Edwards meets with her bosses about a new job they have lined up for her to launch a new magazine called Colleen. Lisa is already visualizing a new posh lifestyle for herself in New York.

However, New York isn't quite where her new job has been set up. She's pretty much being deported to Dublin to fend for herself, start anew and make this new magazine the next big thing.

Ashling Kennedy is the assistant editor for Colleen. She's a bit frumpy and unhappy with her non-existent waistline and her non-existent social life.

Meanwhile, Ashling's best friend, Clodagh Kelly, is living the high life and seems to have it all. But she's searching for something more.

The transition from one singleton's point of view to the next is smooth and unmistakable. And the ups and downs these women go through are hilarious to follow.

This is a romantic comedy that hits just the right tone with the writing style and comedic dialogue. It's like getting three novels in one. With Sushi for Beginners, Marian Keyes does a great job in capturing perfect settings and following these women on their search for happiness.

I would not recommend this book if it is your first one by Keyes.
Keyes is a scream, an absolute sarcastic scream. I usually love her because of her wacky outlook on things. Her books are hysterical, but at the core of them they take on very serious issues (drug use, alcoholism, depression, difficult childhoods), which I think is why Keyes is so successful in the realm of chick lit. She's the perfect blend of humor and seriousness.
I have read everything that she has written so far, and have to admit that I was a little disappointed with Sushi for Beginners. This book is not one of her best ones, and after reading her latest paperback (Angels) I guess I expected more.
In this book her characters come off flat and whiny. Lisa and Ashling are trying to get a new Irish womens magazine off the ground, and the basic premise of the book revolves around their trials. Clodaugh, the other woman, is a friend of Ashlings who is terribly unhappy with her marriage and kid filled life.
More than once I found myself wondering what the point of the story was. Keyes is a good writer, and the story isn't bad or anything, its just a little flatter than a lot of what she has written before. Her characters usually start off as either depressed or silly people who evolve throughout the book to become better, deeper, self fufilled ones who learn about themselves and what is really important in life. Lisa and Ashling get there eventually, but with two chapters left in the book it was too late. Only a teeny bit of true Keyes tried to shine through at the very end. And while I did laugh out loud a few times, Keyes trademark humor is overall missing from this book.
I'm not sure why this is. To me, her best books have been those that involve the Walsch sisters (Watermelon, Rachel's Holiday, and Angels), so maybe that blend of family humor is what shows Keyes at her best, maybe its what her books need. Because this one and "Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married" are both not Keyes' best at all.
So read one of the Walsch sister books or "Last Chance Saloon" before "Sushi for Beginners".

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.

Having read Marian Keyes's previous books, I knew I had to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed. Once again, Keyes writes a wonderful novel that mixes a dark plot with sharp and witty situations.

Sushi for Beginners, like Last Chance Saloon, focuses on various characters in third person narrative. Set in Dublin, Lisa, an ambitious Londoner, has been given the task of launching a new fashion magazine for Irish women. After she somewhat recuperates from the initial culture shock, she meets some rather eccentric characters at work. She decides she dislikes Ashling, the sweet deputy editor, and develops a crush on Jack Devine, the Managing Director and notorious maverick. What develops is a tale of betrayal, deceit and heartbreak. One of these people is on the verge of a nervous breakdown... Who will it be?

The focal point of this novel is depression. Ashling suffers a bout of the aforementioned mental illness when Clodagh, her best friend, shows her true colors. Ashling's world captivated and spoke to me. What I love about Marian Keyes is that she mixes tender romance with a serious subject matter that readers could relate to. I love the wit in this novel -- much more subtle than her previous efforts. I also love all of the secondary characters -- namely Trix, Dylan and Jack Devine. As mentioned, Sushi for Beginners is my favorite Keyes novel. Highly recommended...

I absolutely LOVE Marian Keyes and have read all her books. I couldn't wait to get this and read it. I was so anxious, I broke down and bought hard cover. This book is HORRIBLE. It is so boring. I cannot get into any of the characters. Normally, I am laughing out loud when I read Ms. Keyes books, but she just wasn't funny in this. I couldn't even finish it. Maybe it gets better during the second half, but I may never know.

Ashling is the star of this show, kind of plain and good hearted, she can hardly believe it when she is given the job of editor's assistant on a fabulous new magazine starting in Ireland -Colleen. This is a huge jump up from her old job at the Women's Weekly.

Lisa is immaculately groomed, extremely ambitious, gorgeous and has a heart of coal. She can hardly believe it when she is made editor of Colleen -it's a huge step down for someone who had their heart set on the editorship of a trendy magazine in New York.

Clodagh has it all: gorgeous husband, two beautiful children and all the money in the world to shop to her hearts content. But her heart isn't content at all -she looks around and finds her life somewhat lacking in the excitement department.

Ashling and Lisa work together, Clodagh is Ashlings best friend. Things begin to unravel for all three women. Ashling realises that her "Little Miss Fix-It" persona is not working for her anymore, Lisa starts to miss her gorgeous estranged husband way more than she ever thought she would, and CLodagh embarks on a passionate and reckless afair.

All three stories weave together seamlessly, and are so absorbing you will obsess about finishing the book like I did. Magnificent writing, I hope we get to read more of Marian Keyes soon -highly recommended