We all have one of those days occasionally – all we want to do is kick back and switch off. Maybe we’ve had a hard week at work. Or we are stuck at an airport, with nothing but ‘Delayed’ showing on the departure board. Maybe we’ve finally reached the holiday season and are sunning ourselves before a long, indulgent lunch. At times like that, many of us reach for a good thick page-turner.
This Charming Man certainly fits the bill. At 885 pages, it’s not a quick read, but it’s certainly a page-turner. In the cover notes, Marian Keyes is described as a comic writer and the book described as hilarious – but don’t be fooled. Below the comic surface, there are some very serious themes dealt with, including alcoholism, corrupt politicians and battered wives. It says a lot for Marian’s skill that she manages to maintain the humour without in any way debasing the message.
The book tells the stories of four very different women, all connected by their relationships with an Irish politician Paddy de Courcy – the Charming Man of the title. The four stories are skilfully interwoven. Each woman has a distinct voice, underlined by a different font, and different reactions to the man. One woman’s story made me smile from beginning to end. Another’s was heart-rending right to her final appearance. All were recognisable and understandable, even when flawed.
I bought this book on Saturday morning. I finished it on Monday evening. I read it in the sunshine during the day, in bed late at night, in bed early in the morning, during lunch breaks, even during advertising breaks while watching TV. This book ate my weekend – and very glad I am that it did!
