Again, Rachel, the sequel to her ground-breaking novel Rachel’s Holiday, will be Marian’s fifteenth novel. It wasn’t the first time I felt as if I was on Cosmic Candid Camera. My life was prone to veering out of control and I had long stopped believing that the God who had been assigned to me was a benign old lad with long hair and a beard. He was more like a celestial Jeremy Beadle, and my life was the showcase he used to amuse the other Gods. During her appearance on Desert Island Discs in March 2017, Keyes told the host that "[by] conditioning women to think that what they find empowering or valuable is worth less than what men consider to be worthwhile, women are prevented from reaching for parity and the gender gap in power and money between men and women is kept in the favour of men". [11] McGreevy, Ronan (16 October 2019). "Marian Keyes becomes first Irish writer to donate digital archive". The Irish Times . Retrieved 16 September 2021.

Now the ending. It more than made up for my expectations because my recent reads just didn't satisfy me enough. Rachel's Holiday's way of handling everything and the resolution just made me satisfied. Actually, I was horrified when I was close to the ending--you know, if the epilogue didn't happen, I would be horrified and traumatised for sure. Come on, she's got to be with Luke! Although many of her novels are known as comedies, they revolve around dark themes, often drawn from Keyes's own experiences, including domestic violence, drug abuse, mental illness, divorce and alcoholism. Keyes considers herself a feminist, and has chosen to reflect feminist issues in many of her books. [4] He was right. And we’d been getting along a whole lot worse since she’d made that phone call and brought the interference of my family tumbling down on top of me. I was furious with her and for some reason she seemed to be furious with me too. But Brigit was my best friend and we’d always shared a flat. It was out of the question for someone else to move in with her.

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Congratulations to the gifted, gorgeous literary princess Marian Keyes, on 25 years of bringing joy, comfort, laughter and wisdom to millions around the world. As a reader, I adored Rachel's Holiday for its tender heart and humour. As an author, I saw the book as a masterclass in the art of writing from the perspective of the most delightfully flawed unreliable narrator. Marian is so good she makes it look easy, but it's not easy. Her wit is uniquely hers. The clarity of her writing and authenticity of her characters are impossible to imitate. She is an extraordinary talent. What I love about Marian's writing is that sense of conversation with the reader; she's your best, funniest friend telling a story, a story that's honest, sometimes darker than you initially expected. In the case of Rachel's Holiday, Marian absolutely nails the gulf between how the addict sees themselves and how they're seen by those that care for them. It's a generous, loving, insightful book that never shies away from the horrible reality of dependence and addiction. Margaret was only a year older than me but it felt more like forty. She was intent on ferrying me to Ireland to the bosom of my family. Where I would stay briefly before being admitted to some Betty Ford type place to sort me out ‘For good and for all’, as my father said when he rang me.

Keyes has written frankly about her clinical depression, which left her unable to sleep, read, write, or talk. After a long hiatus due to severe depression, a food title, Saved by Cake, was published in February 2012. [8] She's been living it up in New York City, spending her nights talking her way into glamorous parties before heading home in the early hours to her hot boyfriend, Luke. I loved this book. Marian Keyes is real and raw and knows what she’s talking about, having walked the talk. It makes me feel the same way as when journalists write crime fiction, I know I am in safe hands. Having gotten sober herself in rehab, her writing has flourished since. Over 22 million copies of her novels have been sold worldwide and her books have been translated into 32 languages.Marian's writing is a talisman of hope in my life, and in the lives of millions of people. We can hold on to her words, laughing and crying and knowing we are not alone. She writes for all of us. I can remember reading Rachel's Holiday 25 years ago and thinking that this writer, this amazing woman, understood all the contradictory things in my head, and how could she, because this wasn't my story and yet, she understood about being human like nobody else. And could write it. Her words are a gift and her talent is glorious. Congratulations, darling Marian. Meet Rachel Walsh. She's been living it up in New York City, spending her nights talking her way into glamorous parties before heading home in the early hours to her adoring boyfriend, Luke. But her sensible older sister showing up and sending her off to actual rehab wasn't quite part of her plan. The group therapy is harsh, even more so is the inclusion of loved ones filling in forms as to the worst behaviour of the patients - and these intimate details being open for discussion in a group setting! How dare her ex boyfriend and parents say these dreadful and untrue things?! a b c Taylor, Sarah (17 March 2017). "Desert Island Discs". BBC Radio 4 . Retrieved 20 October 2017. Keyes writes perfectly of the addict who is 'not like the others', Rachel is just visiting, those poor people have it bad, they are fat, skinny, they are addicts with terrible problems - unlike her. Who just likes a party, and wondering when the bloody hell the renovations are going to be completed at the treatment centre, surely the lino is temporary?

Will make you laugh and make you cry, but will also reveal the truth of who you really are' Louise O'NeillMarian Keyes has a feeling for character, an ear for dialogue and a proficiency for plotting that should make her the envy of most Booker listees. Her love and understanding of people and the foibles, follies and frailties that make them human are clear in the spaces between every line she writes. With each and every book, she proves that it's possible to be profound while being hilariously funny. OK, so I was a 27-year-old woman and it shouldn’t matter if my father knew I was sometimes late for work. But it did matter. I felt the way I had twenty years earlier when he and Mum were called up to the school to account for my on-going dearth of completed homework. Marian Keyes is a phenomenon. The multi-million copy, internationally bestselling author of some of the most widely loved, genre-defying novels of the past thirty years – such as Rachel’s Holiday, Anybody Out There and Grown Ups – has millions of fans around the world. They are irresistibly drawn by her warmth and wit, fearless honesty, relatable characters and relationships, and sheer storytelling magic. Not only has Marian inspired and entertained countless readers, but also the next generation of writers too. The first person point of view is expertly employed to hide certain things from the reader, revealing them only as Rachel herself is forced to face the truth. (I'm not usually a fan of first person POV because it feels like sleight of hand or amateur hour all too often, but it's absolutely appropriate and effective here.)